GALION — The Galion Community Center YMCA has a new program director, but he’s definitely not new to the organization – or the community.
Eric Neal, 29, took over the position Nov. 6 after a teaching job at North Union Middle School in Ridgewood. The Galion native is back on home turf, and happy to be working at the facility that was his second home growing up.
“I worked with kids at school who sometimes didn’t want to be there and now I get to work with kids who want to be here,” Neal said as he waved to a familiar face outside the window of his lower-level office. “It’s really nice to come back to Galion.”
Neal, the son of Chuck and Maureen Neal of Galion, is a 2008 Galion High School graduate, where he was captain of the football team and lettered in tennis three years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sports and leisure studies from The Ohio State University in 2012.
But as a youngster, the Galion Y was always a hangout, from the time he was enrolled in Tumble/Plunge classes (exercise/swimming) as a toddler to youth basketball and flag football. He also played YMCA soccer at the former Renschville Elementary School in town.
“I’ve been at this Y so long that I remember where the old drinking fountain was and the stairwell to the Y basement,” he said. “It’s always cool to see people who I know that say, ‘I remember when you were this big.’ That’s been the norm around here.”
Since coming on board, Neal said his first big project was to organize leagues for the youth basketball program, which kicks off in December. Three teams of students in kindergarten through sixth grade already have started practicing, he said.
Finding programs to encourage new members is always a priority for the program director’s position, he said, but bringing back the adult basketball league also is a goal.
“When you create that interest, then people see other things that are going on at the Y,” he said.
Four years ago, Neal trained at the Marion Y, where he served as their program assistant. At Ohio State, he was a football intern for the 2011-12 season and worked as an equipment manager for the women’s rowing team.
Nowadays, when he’s not in his office he’s greeting early-morning regulars at the front desk, saying hello to those lifting weights in the nautilus room or peaking in at the SilverSneakers class for older adults going on in the multi-purpose room.
He also drops by the Gill Avenue facility after dinner to say hello to children taking karate or other classes.
“I’m very approachable,” Neal said. “I like to talk, even if it’s just to say ‘Have a nice day. Have a good workout and let me know if you need any help.’”