Press Releases

For the past six years, a thriving martial arts program has been conducted at the Dalton YMCA for students of all ages in an area that was shared with the gymnastics program. Due to a steady increase in participation, it became necessary to look for a new location, preferably in the Orrville area. Sensei Michael Antonides, the YMCA 5th degree black belt instructor from Ashland, and a real estate appraiser since 1982, found a promising site at 1448 West High that is next door to New Orr Not clothing store. Michael and the YMCA plans to move all of the current martial arts classes to the Orrville site starting March 1 in the evenings and weekends, and open up additional time for new students. The gymnastics program will also be able to expand at Dalton with new classes offered on additional days. Some of the martial arts classes available will include preschool karate for ages 5 and 6; youth beginners for ages 7-12; adult advances for ages 13 and over; a black belt club, Ju Jitsu class, family karate, and eventually women's self defense seminars. Uniforms are not required for beginning students. Karate demands physical conditioning, but also teaches how to set and achieve goals, how to be successful, and establishes qualities that will last a lifetime. Advancement is achieved through classroom instruction, personal supervision, and periodic testing of skills. Check the YMCA web site at www.orrvilledalton-ymca.org. for more details on class schedules or call 330-682-1033. Registration for all YMCA classes will continue to be handled at the Orrville or Dalton front desks.

     Laughter could be heard throughout the evening at the Orrville YMCA, as about 180 women attended the second annual �What Women Want� FREE event on January 19. Women were greeted with a delectable assortment of tasty treats provided by the YMCA Friends, Board, and Staff as well as members of Women�s Network. The YMCA and Women�s network were co-sponsors of the event again this year.
     Dr. Kathleen Fearon, DO from Comprehensive Internal Medicine, Inc. was the first speaker of the evening. She offered her insights about becoming the best person you can be, from the perspective of a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend and a physician who has had conversations with thousands of women.   She shared �Make the commitment to self-discovery, surround yourself with positive messages and people, and most importantly pray regularly. Feel the energy of your life, the passion, purpose, and peace.�
     Psychotherapist Traci Hanger-Hoffman from Summit Therapy Center immediately won the audience over with her humor-laced true tale of the flat tire she encountered earlier in the day and the very nice man who came to her rescue. She talked about �The more time and energy we spend comparing ourselves to others or trying to be someone we are not, the less we have to put toward developing our own true selves. We are each unique masterpieces that are designed to fit perfectly in the greater puzzle of life, working together for the benefit of all.� She encouraged participants to �know yourself, accept yourself, and accept and encourage others.�
     The YMCA Belly Dancing Instructor Nicole Scaggs topped the evening off with Belly Dancing demonstrations aided by YMCA member Jackie Panyard and Operations Manager Mistie Ankeman.   Although most in the audience simply watched, much interest was generated about future classes.
     Special thanks to Brenda Blackwell owner of B-Well Body and Skincare Salon, Dr. Fearon, and Christine Beichler, owner of Cruise Ladies, for their generous donations of gifts to raffle off along with the YMCA�s gift bags. A 50/50 raffle raised $116, and a donation basket collected $155 to benefit the YMCA.

On April 12th, the Dalton YMCA archery program held a competition for our current archery students. Participants from Left to Right are: Alexandra Smith, Blake Scott, Sam Auble, Justin Hare, Trevor Shetler, Eric Wade, and instructor John Woodlock.

Archery is an on-going program at the Y and is held every Monday night from 6:00- 7:00 (indoors in inclement weather). The class is currently taking registrations for new participants. All equipment will be furnished and more information may be obtained by calling the Dalton YMCA @ 330-682-1033.

The Dalton YMCA, with John Woodlock, a certified level 2 Archery instructor, is proud to introduce our new Archery program for local youth who are wheel-chair bound, but have upper body capabilities.

The foundation of the YMCA has long been encouragement of exercise and fellowship and offering this new program will open an avenue of movement, sport and opportunity to those who might not have participated in organized sports before due to their physical limitations.

Archery is a sport where participants don�t have to be the tallest, or the strongest, or the biggest or the fastest. As long as participants have the dexterity to hold an arrow and bow in place, they have what it takes to be an archer. Because Archery requires movement of the upper body, it is a perfect individual activity, but at the Dalton YMCA it is being introduced as a team sport; a way of developing camaraderie while boosting self esteem through healthy competition with others.

On Monday, May 3 from 7-8pm in the gymnasium at the Dalton YMCA a FREE wheel-chair Archery class will be introduced for ages 8 and up, all equipment will be provided. Call the Dalton YMCA at 330-682-1033 with any questions, register prior to May 3.

The Orrville/Dalton YMCA and Orrville Christian Church combined efforts to bring Christian principles to Youth Sports for local 4-7 year olds with a spring T-ball program. Utilizing volunteers from both the YMCA and OCC, and playing on OCC baseball fields, youngsters were grouped by age; either 4-5 year old or 6-7 year old. A fantastic turnout of 92 boys and girls packed the fields for games on Saturdays and practices throughout the week. With color coded t-shirts proudly displaying the OCC and YMCA names; Ball caps displaying Brenn-field Nursing Center as the cap sponsor; the OCC Snack Shack opening for end of game treats; and the many volunteers it took to run this league ~ it was a fantastic season!

Saturday June 19th, 2010 the USA Jujitsu Midwest Regional Championship and US Team Trials for the USJJF Team for the Pan American Games in Mexico City, Mexico were held at Vincent- St Mary High School in Akron Ohio.

Students from the Wayne County Center for the Martial Arts, Orrville Kwanmukan, located at 1448 W. High Street Orrville (offered through the Orrville/Dalton YMCA) competed in the Judo and Ju Jitsu Tournament. Competitors came from as far away as New York and Illinois. The students who competed from the Orrville Kwanmukan have been training for months and have competed in numerous local Ohio tournaments in Maple Heights, Medina and Orrville over the last year.

Students from the Orrville Kwanmukan placing in the tournament were:
Elizabeth Graf from Jackson Township in Stark County who is a long time student of Karate and Jujitsu at the Orrville Kwanmukan took First Place Medals in Judo and Jujitsu division for Girls 9-12 age group. She went undefeated on her way to the finals where she won first place. Elizabeth also was undefeated in the overall division that included boys and girls, which was an exhibition division and did not award medals.

Hannah Graf of Jackson Township in Stark County took second place Girls 9-12 Division for Judo and Jujitsu from the Orrville Kwanmukan.

Megan Perkins of Orrville took third place Girls 9-12 Division for Judo and Jujitsu from the Orrville Kwanmukan.

William Shearer took second place in the Boys 9-12 Division for Judo and Jujitsu from the Orrville Kwanmukan.

Brandt Woodruff from Orrville who is also a long time Karate and Jujitsu student of the Orrville Kwanmukan took First Place, both in the Judo and Jujitsu Division in the 13-15 age groups. He was also undefeated.

Classes for Judo and Ju-jitsu as well as Karate are available at the Orrville/Dalton YMCA sponsored location at 1448 W. High Street, Orrville Ohio. For further information contact the YMCA in Orrville or Dalton or Sensei Mike Antonides at 419-651-5228.