YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago Athletes Advance to State in 2026 Skills Competitions
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is proud to announce that two of our youth basketball teams have earned their place at the 2026 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) & Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) State Skills Competition finals this March!
Each year, YMCAs across Illinois participate in statewide sports skill competitions—an initiative created through the Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs’ partnership with IHSA and IESA. The program gives young athletes an exciting pathway to showcase their talents, culminating in a one‑of‑a‑kind experience: competing during halftime at the IHSA state championship games.
This year, Metro Chicago saw remarkable engagement, with 43 teams participating in our local 2Ball competitions across the Association. That enthusiasm and growth reflect the dedication of our Sports Directors and the families who make youth sports such a vibrant part of our Y community.
Congratulations to Our Advancing Teams!
We’re thrilled to celebrate the three teams who will represent Metro Chicago on the state stage:
- Lake View YMCA – 9U Boys
- Lake View YMCA – 9U Girls
These athletes will head downstate next month to compete among the best youth talent in Illinois.
- Girls’ State Finals: Saturday, March 7, at Illinois State University in Normal
- Boys’ State Finals: Saturday, March 14, at the University of Illinois in Champaign
A Big Thank-You to Our Dedicated Sports Directors
We’re grateful to all of our sports Directors who helped build excitement and participation across our branches. Your efforts have made this year’s turnout our strongest yet!
And we want to extend a huge congratulations to Dorothy Arroyo and Anthony Goodwin, whose leadership and commitment elevated their teams and contributed to an outstanding competition season across Metro Chicago.
More updates will be shared on our social media channels as the finals approach, but for now, please join us in celebrating our athletes and cheering them on as they represent the YMCA of Metro Chicago at state!