Three local teens earn distinction in academics and athletics.

[Basking Ridge, NJ--] Three local teens, all of whom swim for the Somerset Hills YMCA Swim Team, have recently been named to the 2009 USA Swimming Scholastic All American Team for achieving success in both the classroom and the swimming pool. Stephen Raynes, Marissa Immormino and Janelle Zee earned this much coveted award that recognizes high achieving high school academic and athletic students.



The 2009 Scholastic All-America Team includes 26 girls and 15 boys from New Jersey with a 3.5 grade point average. With a grade point average of 4.0, and a very competitive time standard in an individual event, Stephen, Marissa and Janelle were given special recognition and were also awarded a special pin.



Moreover, when many teens focus on catching up on sleep, these teens spend many Saturday afternoons volunteering at Saturdays in Motion, a recreational program for children with autism and their families, held at the Somerset Hills YMCA. Peter Barry, Head Coach of the Somerset Hills YMCA, comments, ‘The commitment required when you belong to a swim team can be enormous and it is often a challenge for some of these kids to balance their athletic life with their academics. Marissa, Janelle and Stephen are unbelievable role models for others in their ability to keep equilibrium in their lives and to be such dedicated volunteers to help those less fortunate than themselves. We are all so proud of them here at the Somerset Hills YMCA.’