New YMCA head on fitness programs and Ted Lasso advice
Zachary Ames talks about why he loves the Y, hates New England sports teams, and how to be your best self
Sept. 22, 2026
Zachary Ames of Penobscot has been in his new position at the Y for three months. Photo courtesy of Zachary Ames.
By Maizy Weirich
BLUE HILL - The Rising Tide spoke with the new branch executive director at the Blue Hill YMCA, Zachary Ames, to learn more about him and what the Y has to offer the community.
Being from South Florida, Ames moved to Maine in April of 2022 with his wife, Sarah, who he happened to meet at a Y. They had family in the area and had been visiting since 2019.
Ames says his experience with YMCAs has been extensive and rewarding, and he is looking forward to continuing that in Blue Hill.
Q: You have quite the background in YMCAs. What is it about them calls to you as opposed to other fitness organizations?
A: I think the biggest thing about YMCAs is the mission and the impact it has in community. My dad did not make a lot of money as I was growing up, and the biggest thing that I had and I was able to do was be able to participate in YMCA sports because they offered scholarships. So that's always kind of like something that stuck.
Outside of the fitness side of things, being able to offer random programs for the community. These people may not have any other place to talk with these friends or make friends, especially like our active older adults. They come here, and they’ve made these friendships for years, in a fitness class or the coffee room upstairs.
Q: What is something you want the Y community to know about you?
I’m always available; I'm always here to talk. If anybody wants to come on by, they certainly can.
Also…
I hate all New England professional teams. So I know that ruffles a lot of feathers. If I can take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the Patriots, all day, I know it's going to make a lot of people up here mad.
Q: What should the public know about the Blue Hill Y?
A: So there’s a couple of things we’ve been doing for a while that people don’t even realize. We want to make sure that we get communication out a little bit better. Towns in the surrounding area basically help support the YMCA, and then we, in turn, are able to offer services for the community.
Here at the Blue Hill Y, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have a free walking track from 10 a.m. to 11. Where people can come in and use the walking track. Saturdays and Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30, our pool and track are available for anybody who lives in the supporting community for free.
If you live in one of our supporting towns and you're a second grader, you get one free session of swim lessons. Every sixth grader in our supporting community also gets a free membership to the Y. So we want to be a place for kids who are just kind of transitioning into that middle school age. If you have a family membership, we will watch your kids for free for a two-hour block while you go work out.
We’ve got travel basketball coming up. We have a new strength training water aerobics class. We want to do a women on weights class coming up here soon in the fall. We have homeschool gym classes. There’s a lot that we can do, and that we’re trying to offer.
Lighting Round
Q: Favorite hobby
A: Honestly, just hang out with my family. We just had a new baby, so, like, every minute that my wife and I can spend together with our baby, I love it.
Q: Favorite sport
A: Hockey
Q: Favorite pump-up song
A: Something old school by Eminem.
Q: What is a piece of advice you have been given that you take with you through different steps in your life, like this position here?
A: My dad was a super influential person in my life. He always had something to say or some advice to give you, whether it was good or bad. One of the things that always stuck with me from him is it doesn't matter what situation you're in, where you're at, what you're doing – whether it's work, life, friends, whatever– just be yourself, be the best version of it you can be. He was such a good model of work ethic for me. And so I try to base a lot of what I do around that style.
But then I also like Ted Lasso. And I love ‘be a goldfish’ [with a 10-second memory span]. It’s one of my favorite things ever. It’s so relatable outside of sports. Like, that sucked for a little bit, shake it off, forget about it, and just move forward. And if you don’t forget about it, at least remember what it feels like, of falling down, and then we get back up and keep going.
To learn more about schedules, community events and offerings, visit the Y’s website or Facebook.
