Riverbrook Regional YMCA Names Employees of the Year

l. to r.: Tom Jagelka, Todd Stevens

WILTON, CT -- The Riverbrook Regional YMCA has named Tom Jagelka, director of gymnastics and Todd Stevens, head senior coach, the 2018 recipients of the Karen Strickland Employee of the Year Award.

Tom Jagelka first joined the Wilton Family YMCA as a volunteer gymnastics coach in 2000. He was soon called upon to become an employee of the Wilton Family YMCA in 2003 as Head Coach. Soon after that he was promoted to the director of gymnastics and since has been instrumental in growing the gymnastics program at the Y. Concurrent with his YMCA duties, Tom held assistant coach positions at two private clubs, Cherry Lane Gymnastics and Richmond Gymnastics Center.

Todd Stevens joined the Wilton Y Wahoos team as Senior II coach in 1998. He came to the Wilton Family YMCA from the Cheshire YMCA Water Devils where he served as head age group coach. Since 1998 Todd has also been the head coach for the Wilton High School women’s and men’s swimming and diving. Todd was a Coach of the 2016 Paralympics Trials finalist and American Paralympics record holder, named the 2008 and 2017 FCIAC Girls High School Swimming Coach of the Year, as well as the 2008 CIAC/CISCA Girls High School Swimming Coach of the Year and the 2009 CHSCA Girls High School Swimming Coach of the Year.

Robert McDowell, CEO, Riverbrook Regional YMCA, said: “Tom and Todd are outstanding employees who provide their expertise, enthusiasm, dedication and commitment to the Y and the community. Through their hard work and years of service, our YMCA continues to grow and provide young athletes in our competitive sports programs with innovation, inspiration and compassion. I am honored to recognize them for their excellence and exceptional performance.”

The YMCA Employee of the Year Award is named in honor of Karen Strickland who served as a staff member of the Wilton Family YMCA for over 26 years from 1988-2014. Recipients of this award "must have demonstrated the passion for the YMCA in similar ways that Karen did during her tenure with the Y," the YMCA said in a release.