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YMCA in Bethel Park hosts Princess Cup

By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 3 min read
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Throughout the morning and most of the afternoon, the Spencer Family YMCA in Bethel Park buzzed with activity involving elementary-age girls, their homemade boats and bunches of electric fans.

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Harry Funk/The Almanac

A fan does its thing in propelling the boat of Graycin Baldassare.

“They’re racing all day to find out the ultimate fastest boat in the entire program,” Andrew Pricener, director of parent-child programs at the Y, explained.

That honor ended up going to Emma Mycoff of Upper St. Clair, who bested Graycin Baldassare of Peters Township in the finals of the annual Princess Cup.

The racers are part of the YMCA Princesses program, which for more than 65 years has provided South Hills fathers and daughters with opportunities to spend quality time together.

“This is basically our keystone event for the year,” Pricener said during the March 9 festivities, which pretty much took over the Spencer building. “We have more than 230 boats that are at this race, so that means 500 people who are here right now having fun.”

Harry Funk/The Alamanac

Harry Funk/The Alamanac

Emma Mycoff cheers for her boat.

Races are on water-filled straightaways, with fans, rather than the wind of the high sea, propelling the boats that the girls modified and decorated.

“They’re working with Dad. They’re painting it. They’re designing it,” Pricener explained. “They’re doing the whole layout to come here and have an awesome race.”

The Princess program features special activities each month, including a Daddy-Daughter Dance in June that regularly draws some 700 people. In all, the program has about 1,500 participants, according to Pricener.

“It’s a scheduled time for dads to hang out with their kids, because everybody’s so busy,” he said. “You have that opportunity to really spend time and connect with your daughter.”

The YMCA also hosts a South Hills Questors program for girls who pass Princess age.

“We try to have engagement for kids from kindergarten all the way up ’til they’re 18,” Pricener said, and along with youngsters spending time with their fathers, they also get to meet plenty of people their age. “So you’re developing these friendships and relationships from kindergarten all the way through. That’s what we’re all about.”

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Emilie Angel of Peters Township enjoys herself during the Princess Cup festivities.

The boys’ counterpart to the Princess program is the Guides, and they have their own special event on March 23 at the Spencer Family YMCA: the Chule Car races, using – you guessed it – cars instead of boats.

“It’s really cool seeing the differences for the dads,” Pricener said. “They’re used to building both, and you see which one they think is harder and how the different parts of it work.”

For more information, visit www.pittsburghymca.org/locations/spencer-family-y.

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Lily Chase gets ready for the fan to start propelling her boat.

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