Personal Y Stories

When Audrey first joined the Y in December 2023, she was committed to working out—but despite her efforts, she didn’t lose a single pound. Then, during a class with Angie recently, she heard about the

We first featured Cheryl and Jess Schlicht in the fall of 2023, when they were celebrating over 400 consecutive days of exercise since September 2022. Fast forward to now, and their streak has skyrocketed to an

Emily Little, a young woman with Down Syndrome, was very active in high school participating in numerous activities. She continued to be involved in the 18-21 program, but once she officially graduated at age 21,

Tom Schober has been a member of the Y for 35 years. After surviving a heart attack 19 years ago at age 57, he was determined to prioritize his health. He began early morning workouts

Three years ago, Anthony Chentis injured his shoulder, eventually requiring rotator cuff surgery last year. What was expected to be a month of recovery turned into a longer, challenging journey. When Anthony joined the Y, it

Cheryl Buske is a widow, a mom of three grown boys, and a proud grandmother of six. She enjoys volunteering at Blue Butterfly and Red Cross blood drives and sewing with a close friend once

At the YMCA, Ms. Nancy is a standout instructor known for her diverse skills, particularly her popular Babysitting Training and Home Alone Workshops. On Saturday mornings, the small classroom at the YMCA is filled with

After Darlene Borchardt and her husband, Phillip, retired, they moved to Lake Country and joined the YMCA at Pabst Farms. Every morning, Monday to Friday, Darlene took water classes while her husband worked out upstairs

In 2023, Jennifer and her husband, Josh, decided it was time to commit to a healthier lifestyle. Josh, who had overcome a liver transplant in 2018, joined Jennifer at the Y to kickstart their fitness

Greg had long contemplated joining a gym to enhance his muscle strength and flexibility. When the Y opened just down the road, he thought this would be a great opportunity to pursue these goals and

Callie and her husband moved to Oconomowoc in 2016 and joined the Y, which is just across the street from them. Callie quickly discovered the warmth and friendliness extended by the staff, instructors, and members.

Rose, daughter Dawn, and granddaughter Stephanie enjoy staying strong physically and bonding as a family at the Y. They are regulars at Monday morning Zumba where at 84, Rose is one of the oldest participants.

Since COVID-19, Lori has been unable to find a secure job. In late 2023, she was unexpectedly laid off and felt she had lost hope. Stuck in a rut with no job or place to

Tim had been traveling frequently for work and his lifestyle of fast food and not exercising resulted in becoming overweight. During the pandemic shutdown, Tim found himself questioning how this happened to him

When Sean first joined the Watertown Area YMCA in 2015, he had a great first impression. Now he’ll tell you he has an even more elevated impression that “stemmed from participating in fitness classes which

We lost one of our heroes at the Y. Roy Benford, aka Chako to many, lost his battle to cancer in early January, 2024. Chako was a regular in the YMCA at Pabst Farms branch

In September 2022, longtime Y member Cheryl Hoegele-Schlicht was enjoying a weeklong trip to Las Vegas with her adult daughter, Jess. The two ladies realized that they were easily achieving 15k plus steps each day,

“Being a volunteer has truly given me a sense of purpose and accomplishment,” says Doug. “There is very little that compares to walking in and having these children crawl to me to be picked up

For many Y members, the sport of pickleball can be a fun workout, as well as a wonderful social activity. Gaining in popularity over the last several years, pickleball, which combines elements of tennis, badminton

This month, we’d like you to meet…

Health & Wellness Director at the Watertown Area YMCA, Dawn Liddicoat.

Dawn enjoys encouraging members on their fitness journey. Here’s a bit more about Dawn…

Watertown Area YMCA members enjoy time spent together. Whoever said “blood is thicker than water” certainly never met the rousing group of friends who make up the “One Big Happy Y Family” at the Watertown