Swanson taking off as YMCA’s new sports director

Sarah Swanson may be just seven months removed from college, but her wealth of experience in athletics has enabled her to hit the ground running as the new sports and recreation director at the Newton YMCA.

A two-sport athlete throughout college, the Britt, Iowa native took over the position on July 5. Coming from a town with a population of roughly 2,000, she said she’s been pleased with what Newton has to offer.

“The people I’ve met are very friendly,” she said. “It’s not too big of a town but it’s not too small, either. There’s a lot more to do here than what I’m used to back home. I really like it so far.”

After high school in Britt, Swanson double majored in Wellness and Fitness Education at nearby Waldorf College in Forest City, where she played basketball and softball for the Warriors.

On the court, she scored over 1,000 points in her four-year career and earned first-team all Midwest Collegiate Conference honors as a junior. On the diamond, she was part of a team that made it to Nationals in Alabama. She also received honors as an Academic All-American for the 2009-2010 school year.

Between the two sports, she said basketball is her favorite. She’s also stayed busy the past five summers by coaching softball.

After graduation this past December, Swanson substitute taught from February until the end of the school year in Garner, Iowa — an 11-mile drive from Britt. Following that, she began applying to colleges for a teaching position. She checked the YMCA’s national website to see what was available, applied for Newton’s, and here she is.

“This job wasn’t teaching, which is what I went for in the first place but it kind of has the same type of thing. It was a great fit. When I came here and did my interviews I just felt like the staff was great. I really liked the facilities and felt like it was a really good fit. I was very excited from the beginning to try and get this job and end up here.”

Swanson already has a number of ideas for sports programs to add to what the Y already has. They include a Powder Puff football league, a kickball league and a competitive volleyball league.

“This winter I really want to add a competitive volleyball league,” she said. “I know that’s something they’ve had in the past but not the past few years. I think that’s something that could be a good program.”

Swanson also has plans in store aimed at Newton’s fifth-grade crowd.

“We’re going to have a ‘Wacky Wednesdays’ type thing where the kids can sign up, play kickball one day, dodgeball one day, something where they can come hang out for a couple hours and we’ll play games with them.”

Swanson and other YMCA staffers finished coaching a youth basketball today that ran throughout this past week. The Oak Trails Day Camp runs Monday through Friday of next week for boys and girls ages 7-12. Sign up for youth flag football and soccer is on Aug. 8 and 15 at the YMCA from 5-7 p.m.