PHOTO PROVIDED Coaches and members of the Loggerheads swim team are pictured with their cardboard boat, which they used during an invitational event, in the summer of 2025.

LOCK HAVEN — For decades the Loggerheads swim team has offered swimmers the opportunity to take part in both competitive and more relaxed competitions and meets.

This generational program is currently facing difficult financial decisions, as it continues to be without its home pool, making its leadership question if a season for 2026 and beyond will be possible.

The Loggerheads, which has shifted to a strictly summer team since the merger of the Lock Haven YMCA with River Valley Regional, in years past utilized the Mill Hall Community Pool for its practices and meets.

However, for the last three years — with the pool closed and fundraising ongoing to rehabilitate the aging structure — they’ve utilized either the indoor pools at Commonwealth University-Lock Haven or the YMCA on East Water Street.

Parent Board Member Nicole Montarsi said the use of either pool comes at a rental fee cost which has eaten away at the team’s savings.

“Thankfully we had a really nice savings built up which carried us through last season,” she said.

Last year, the team spent about $5,000 on rental fees alone.

Now, the Loggerheads are looking for the community’s help to ensure they have a season this summer and for many to come.

Montarsi said to help alleviate costs, the team will not be hosting its clinics in May and plans to only offer its summer swim season that runs from June to the last week of July.

The Loggerheads are part of a regional swim program called the Greater Susquehanna Valley Aquatics League (GSVAC).

“This is the fun season for many swimmers and it’s a way for younger kids to ease into it,” Montarsi, whose children have both been on the team for years, said. The team includes children ages 5 to 18 with many of them either swimming competitively in school or on the YMCA’s winter team.

According to Montarsi, since having to move indoors, registration for the team has seen a decline. She and other members of the Parent Board are hoping sponsorships and fundraising efforts will be able to help ensure the team’s future.

The volunteer-board has set up a tiered sponsorship opportunity for those who would like to help. They are:

— Gold Sponsor, $250 and up: This includes a business advertisement at practices and swim meets, shoutouts on the team’s social media accounts and a business name being printed on the back of team T-shirts.

— Silver Sponsor, $100: This includes an advertisement at practices and swim meets and shoutouts on the team’s social media accounts.

— Bronze Sponsor, $50: This includes a business advertisement at practices and swim meets.

Montarsi noted the team is a 501c3 non-profit, meaning the sponsorship is eligible for a tax deduction.

Those interested in being a sponsor can do so via check, by making checks payable to Loggerhead Swim Team and mailing to 40 Market St., Lock Haven, PA 17745; or via the team’s Venmo account by visiting www.venmo.com/u/LoggerheadSwimTeam.

Montarsi stressed that individuals who would like to help don’t necessarily have to pick a particular sponsorship tier.

“If you want to donate we’ll take any donation no matter big or small,” she said. “This is a lifelong sport and we want to continue to provide this opportunity for kids.”

Montarsi noted the team is very grateful for the use of both pools at the university and YMCA, and added she understands the need to charge. However, it isn’t something that the Loggerheads are able to sustain.

“We are so grateful for the pools we do have. It’s just not sustainable,” she said.

Donations would not only assist in paying for the cost of the pool rentals, it can also ensure registration is minimal and affordable for families.

Montarsi said registration for the team’s upcoming season is expected to begin in April. Without the clinics, she said the regular season will be expected to start in July.

That’s if they’re able to raise the funds to ensure they have a space to swim.

Otherwise, the Loggerhead name may disappear after decades.

“If we can’t find funding we would need to go to Jersey Shore and we would lose the Loggerhead name,” Montarsi said.

She said she and the other parents don’t want to see that, however.

“The Loggerhead name, that’s what I’m fighting for,” she said.

For those interested in donating, or to learn more about the Loggerheads, you can email summerloggerheads@gmail.com.