Manta Rays 2025 Showcase Program

June 14, 2025 3:30 - 4:30 PM MADISON AREA YMCA Walker D. Kirby Aquatics Center 8-Lane Pool

2nd Annual Showcase

WHO ARE THE JERSEY MANTA RAYS?

Jersey Manta Rays Coaches Bryanna Fogel, Andrea Diaz, and Madelyne Rinaldo.

The Jersey Manta Rays are the competitive artistic swimming team based at the Madison Area YMCA. Artistic swimming—often called “the ultimate team sport”—blends music, dance, and swimming into a dynamic and expressive athletic discipline. Through the artistry and athleticism of the sport, along with the spirit of team competition, athletes build lifelong friendships, develop confidence, and gain skills that extend far beyond the pool. The Jersey Manta Rays embrace the Y’s core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility, creating a positive and character-building youth sports experience. The team welcomes athletes ages 6 to 19 years and offers multiple levels of instruction and competition to support a wide range of abilities and goals.

The Jersey Manta Rays participated in the following competitions: March 23, 2025; Invitationals, Cheektowaga, NY May 3 - 4, 2025; New Jersey Association, Madison, NJ May 17 - 18, 2025; Regionals, Phoenixville, PA June 7 - 8, 2025; Intermediate Championships, Cambridge, MA Upcoming: June 27 - July 5, 2025; Junior Olympics, Arlington, TX GOOD LUCK, JUNIOR COMBO!

2024 - 2025 TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

2024 - 2025 Jersey Manta Rays Back Row (L-R): Coach Maddy, Jordyn, Ellie, Kate, Nastia, Emma, Siena, Jillian; Middle Row (L-R): Coach Bryanna, Elina, Zuri, Ivy, Juliet, Jasmine, Myra; Front Row (L-R): Josie, Violette, Lucia, Coach Andrea. Not pictured: Freja.

SHOWCASE PROGRAMMING “Welcome to the Circus” Intermediate 13-15 Solo Juliet “Tango” Youth Duet Jasmine, Nastia “Feeling Good” Master Solo Coach Maddy “Flamenco” Junior Trio Emma, Kate, Skylar “Swing” Junior Duet Ellie, Siena ”Friend Like Me” Intermediate 16O Team Ivy, Jasmine, Jordyn, Juliet, Myra, Zuri “Good Looking” Youth Solo Jillian “Level Up” Surprise Guests!

“I’m Just Ken” Surprise Guests!

SHOWCASE PROGRAMMING “Blue Danube” Junior Tech Solo Kate “Almost There” Novice 10U Trio Josie, Lucia, Violette “Little Things” Master Duet Coach Andrea, Coach Bryanna “Try Everything” Intro to Artistic Swimming Students “Warrior” Intermediate 16O Solo Jordyn “Rock N’ Roll” Junior Combo Ellie, Emma, Nastia, Siena “Cowboy Carter” Master Trio Coach Andrea, Coach Bryanna, Coach Maddy “Dog Days are Over” Finale All Jersey Manta Rays Swimmers

WHAT IS ARTISTIC SWIMMING? Artistic (synchronized) swimming is a unique combination of dance, gymnastics, and swimming. Athletes perform acrobatic routines in the water, perfectly timed with music and their teammates - all while never touching the bottom of the pool!

Spectators have been awed by the grace and power of the sport of artistic swimming since the inception of the sport in the early 1900s. Artistic Swimming requires a unique combination of overall body strength and agility, grace and beauty, split-second timing, musical interpretation, stamina, and dramatic flair. The goal of every performance is technical excellence, artistic impression, and synchronization with the music. It is an incredibly strenuous and skillful sport.

A test on all the Olympic sports before the London 2012 Olympic Games found artistic swimmers ranked second to long-distance runners in aerobic capacity! Artistic swimmers need strength to perform twists and lifts and can hold their breath underwater for around a minute. Below are some rules and facts that most don’t know about the sport!

WHAT’S IN OUR HAIR? Artistic Impression is a large part of a routine score and athletes use unflavored gelatin in their hair to keep it in place during their swims... yes, Jell-O! NO TOUCHING THE BOTTOM One of the things that makes the lifts all the more impressive is that artistic swimmers are not allowed to touch the bottom of the pool at any point during their routines.

NO GOGGLES During competitions, the use of goggles is prohibited! We only use them at practice.

TEAM MEANS TEAM Teamwork is ESSENTIAL to our sport. Athletes learn to work well with teammates and work together for a common goal. Teams normally contain eight swimmers, but the minimum number for a team is four.

How to Get Involved:

INTRODUCTION TO ARTISTIC SWIMMING The Jersey Manta Rays periodically offer an Introduction to Artistic Swimming course through the Madison Area YMCA. If you enjoy swimming, gymnastics, and dance—and want to try something new—this is your chance to explore an exciting Olympic sport. Participants will learn foundational skills such as sculling, body positions, and a short routine set to music. Swimmers must be able to swim 25 yards of front crawl and be comfortable going underwater. No prior artistic swimming experience is required.

For details on the next session, please contact: Associate Aquatics Director Caitlin Balagtas at cbalgatas@madisonymca.org.

NOVICE TEAM Our Novice program introduces athletes to the fundamentals of artistic swimming. Participants learn basic water skills including sculling, body positions, figures, and a choreographed competition routine. Dryland training includes stretching, core exercises, and land drilling. No prior experience in artistic swimming is required.

INTERMEDIATE TEAM Designed for athletes with 1–3 years of experience, the Intermediate team builds on foundational skills and introduces more advanced movements and routines. Athletes practice two days per week, compete in four East Zone competitions, and perform in our Annual Showcase.

AGE GROUP TEAM Swimmers progress to the Age Group level once they have mastered both basic and advanced skills and are ready for a higher level of commitment.

Age Group athletes train three days per week, compete at regional, zone, and national competitions, and participate in our Annual Showcase.

MADISON AREA YMCA MADISONAREAYMCA.ORG FAMILY CENTER 111 Kings Road, Madison, NJ 973-822-YMCA (9622)

F.M. KIRBY CHILDREN’S CENTER 54 East Street, Madison, NJ 973-377-4945

PROJECT COMMUNITY PRIDE 973-845-6480

As a cause-driven 501(c)(3) charitable organization, the Madison Area YMCA believes everyone, regardless of age, income or background, should have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. For more information about financial assistance or to make a tax-deductible donation, please call 973-822-YMCA (9622) or visit us at madisonareaymca.org.