Dixie Zone Relay | USMS SC Championships | Incredible 85+ Relay | Tip of the Month: Osteoporosis
USMS Convention 2000 | On a Sad Note | Dixie Zone LC Championships | Raging Bull Open Water Start
To Swim Again | Strokes for Stroke | No Last Swims Here | We Are More than Just Swimmers
NC Masters SCY Championships | Things My Mother Never Taught Me but My Coach Should Have
The Other Masters in Augusta | USMS Mentor Coach and Swim Clinics
The zones were challenged to a relay by the Executive Committee on Friday, April 28 at SC Nationals in Indianapolis IN. The relay members had to be officers or committee chairmen. Each relay consisted of 8 persons swimming 25 yards. Not being noted for my sprinting and due to my age, I tried every way possible to get others for our Dixie Zone relay. But in the end, even I had to swim.
The Executive Relay was made up of all of the elected officers and their eighth member was Tracy Grilli. Six or seven relays competed. I have yet to see the official results; however, I am pleased to tell you that our relay came in second to the Colonies Zone. I believe that the Executive relay came in third (I could not find the results in the meet's Final Results).
We really did great and I thank all those that participated: Scott Rabalais (Southern - Sanctions), Jerry Clark (North Carolina - Chairman), Randy Nutt (Florida Gold Coast - Open Water)m, Debbie Cavanaugh (Florida Gold Coast - Chairman), June Krauser (Florida Gold Coast - Registrar), Jean Fox (Southeastern - Registrar), Cav Cavanaugh (Florida Gold Coast - Top Ten), and Ed Saltzman (Georgia - Treasurer).
There were 548 women and 842 men who participated in the meet representing six different countries. They generated 5553 splashes, swimmers broke 108 USMS National Records, there were 62 DQ's, and for the first time in a long time, there were no protests.
In the Combined Team Scoring category for Medium Teams, North Carolina Masters Swimming was 4th and Georgia Masters were 6th out of 15 teams. The rest of the Dixie Zone teams were in the Small Team category. Gold Coast Masters were 7th, St. Pete Masters 9th, Florida Maverick Masters 17th, SWIM Florida Masters 20th, and Music City Masters 21st. These teams all had over 100 points and there were a total of 105 teams in the Small Team category.
The Indianapolis facility is one of the best in the country. We thank those meet directors for doing all that work in such a short time: Mel Goldstein, Kris Houchens, George Quigley, and Doug Church. It was a very successful championships.
Last month's issue mentioned this first time ever 85+ relay. In typing the names, I inadvertently left off one of the Frank's last names. I had the first name, nut not the last name for Frank STARR.
Frank, Florida Maverick patriarch, celebrated his 90th birthday by winning all five of his events in the St. Pete Championship meet in April, and established two FL LMSC records. Starr received his BA from Loyola University in Montreal in 19312. He began his career at a radio station in 1938, broadcasting sports in 1951, performed various emcee jobs and acting gigs. He married Pauline in 1951, and both did photo modeling. Their trips south began when they followed a Canadian baseball team to Florida.
Starr started his swimming career with Coach Joe Biondi at Clearwater Y, at age 70. At 80, he had a heart attach, and at 85 fractured his spine. Starr attributes both recoveries and longevity to his swimming workouts, a diet including lots of fruits and vegetables, walking five miles to work for 20 years, and giving up smoking at age 55. He and his wife spend the summer in Montreal, operate their 10-acre apple orchard, and drive to Clearwater for the winter. They will join the team in Munich for his first World Meet.
by Paul Hutinger
This silent disease causes your bones to become thin and weak, leading to broken bones. What has this to do with swimming? What has this to do with younger Masters swimmers?
Exercise that puts stress on bones reduces the risk. There is a pervasive myth that swimming isn't recommended because it isn't weight-bearing.
This isn't true for Masters swimmers. Push offs against the pressure and resistance of water are equal to one vertical jump, especially when you push off to the flags. A 2000-yard workout could give you 80 horizontal 5-yard jumps. The force of your arms sculling and stroking, especially in sprints, is a positive force on the arms stimulating the body's mechanism for keeping bones at maximum strength. Adding some type of resistance training such as weights will provide extra benefits.
The research on the negative aspects of swimming and bone density used easy recreational swimming with less effort and short push offs off the wall. Swimmers under 40 may be susceptible, as youth is no guarantee of protection. A healthy diet, high in calcium, in the formative years, builds the formation for healthy bones. Women over 65 are at most risk, especially with a thin bony frame. Even men, compared 1 to 4 to women, are susceptible.
Doctors recommend 1000-1500 mg of calcium and 400 IU of Vitamin D, good nutrition, fruits and vegetables, no smoking, and alcohol limited to no more than two drinks per day. Any broken bone as an adult from a minor fall is a warning of risk of osteoporosis. If you are inactive, underweight, have a family history of osteoporosis, hyperthyroid, check with your doctor about a body density test. A simple x-ray is not adequate.
Notices for the annual convention of USAS (United States Aquatic Sports) including USMS have been distributed. This year's USMS convention will take place October 11-15 at the Hyatt Orlando Resort in Kissimmee, FL. A tentative USMS Convention Meeting Schedule is available. I understand that there will be a SCM meet that same weekend at the YMCA in Orlando. Perhaps some of us can compete on Sunday.
Dorothy (Dot) Donnelly, former Executive Secretary of USMS< passed away on Wednesday, May 17, at the age of 78. A great sprinter with a sharp wit who contributed an astounding amount of service to Masters swimming over many years, she will be sorely missed by all. Florida Gold Coast Masters have sent a contribution to the United States Masters Swimming Endowment Fund in memory of Dorothy Donnelly. Doug Church, Chairman of the USMS Endowment Fund Board of Governors, looks forward to the day when we can begin to make grants and every time we do, we will remember Dot and all she gave to Masters Swimming.
This will be a well-run meet in a beautiful outdoor 50-meter facility. Great location, too -- by Jekyll Island & St. Simon's! For questions, contact meet director Carlton DeVooght at 912-638-7047 or e-mail cdevooght@ghgsm.com. One further note: Georgia DOT has been busy confusing everyone by renumbering all of the interstate exit numbers. The new exit number off I-95 is now 38, not 8.
Saturday, May 20 couldn't have started out any better for the day's planned two-mile open water swim at Ft. Yargo State Park in Winder, Georgia. The wind was calm, the only ripples on the lake caused by fish feeding on surface insects; the water temperature was a near balmy 78 degrees. The sky was just slightly overcast when the 48 competitors lined up for the 9 AM start. Out of the 47 swimmers who finished the race. Dynamo accounted for 30 athletes. Ten of the top 12 overall finishers were Dynamo swimmers.
Long time Georgia Masters swimmer Susan Westnedge was recently featured in the Asheville Citizen-Times newspaper's "Living" section. Susan is recovering from a stroke that occurred after minor knee surgery last August.
The article attributes Susan's tenacity and determination to get back to Masters swimming as one of the reasons for her progress through rehabilitation. Her case manager, Michael Faulkner, is quoted as saying, "She has embraced her rehabilitation like she's embraced her sport."
The article pints out some of Susan's many swimming accomplishments: Manhattan Island (28.5 miles), the Maui Channel, Key West, and Chesapeake Bay. Although the road has been long and she still has only limited use of her left arm, Susan's outlook remains forward as she works toward regaining her full mobility: "Yesterday is too late," she says. "I will get the use of my arm back. It's just a matter of time."
from the President, Nancy Ridout
USMS is partnering with the National Stroke Association and USA Water Polo to raise public awareness of the prevention, symptoms, and the treatment of stroke. USMS and USA Water Polo will try to swim around the world, a distance of 25,000 miles, between June 2 and July 4 to highlight this health risk in the national media. The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness of stroke. Through our partnership, USMS will benefit by gaining a great deal of national and local exposure and the funds raised will be shared by the National Stroke Association (50%), USMS (25%), and USA Water Polo (25%). If only half of us would swim a mile in the "Strokes for Stroke" effort and submit it with the entry fee, we would have contributed 20,000 miles to the goal of swimming around the world and raised $400,000. That's Awesome! Any funds USMS receives will be donated to the USMS Endowment Fund to help fund research in adult health, fitness, training, and competition.
If you have a story about your own experience as a stroke survivor, or one of a family member or a friend for whom swimming has played a role in the prevention, lessening of effects, or recovery from a stroke, please share it with me. I will forward any of your experiences to the National Stroke Association and post them on the USMS web site. You can e-mail them to me at president@USMS.org or mail them to Nancy Ridout, 580 Sunset Parkway, Novato CA 94947.
Stroke has affected almost all of us in one way or another. That is why I am excited about the opportunity to support this cause. A healthy lifestyle including exercise and a good diet (both staples of Masters swimming) can prevent or lessen the effects of stroke. Let's take this opportunity to "give back" and support this worthy goal. It's our chance to make a difference!
by Judy Wagner, Masters swimmer and coach
Fellow swimmers and friends, this is part of a speech I made at the Texas Swim Coaches Convention in April and I thought I would share it with you. This is the story about the young high school swimmer I talked to at the high school regional meet I helped run in College last February.
I was officiating the meet, and during the break I began to talk to a young man who was waiting to swim. He was very upset and in a true state of panic. He told me he was a senior and that this was his "last swim." That was a red flag for me. I talked to him a little while, and after he swam his coach came up to me and said, "What the heck did you say to that young man? He just did a performance of a lifetime."
I told the coach I had asked the young man why he swam and got him to admit he swam because he like it and that swimming was fun. I told him to look at me. I said I am older than dirt and I still swim and compete on a regular basis. I reminded him he could swim for the rest of his life. I told the young man this was just one more swim and to go out there and have fun!!!I said look to the right and to the left, smile at the competition, and Kick Butt!!
I did my best at the coaches' convention to encourage all coaches to quit talking to their swimmers about training for that "Last Swim" -- Tags, junior cut, state meet, Olympics, whatever... There is no such thing as a Last Swim until you die. I told them about Fred Wiggins who died swimming the 400 IM at nationals a few years ago. I reminded them that Fred's wife said that was the way he would have wanted to go. I encouraged the coaches at all levels to recognize the most important thing they are doing is teaching a way of life, a healthy life, and that is more important to any kid than winning any particular race.
I figure it is more important to add 10 years to someone's life than to win a race. I encouraged them to keep it fun. After all, swimming is a Lifetime Sport. I would like to challenge all coaches to help their swimmers learn one of the most important lessons swimming has to offer. The lesson is that no matter what your goals may be, there is no such thing as your last swim. The beauty of the sport is that swimming goes on providing new challenges, new goals, new rewards that are ever changing. Happy laps!
When you share a lane with someone, you probably think of them as another freestyler or butterflyer. Do you think of them as a secretary, a CPA, a retiree? Do you ever wonder what they do when they are not swimming or what they did before you knew them? St. Pete Masters have quite a few members who have done interesting thins in their lifetimes.
Kay Schimpf was recently made a Gold Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League. Kay achieved this award by amassing 2500 masters points. Very few bridge players, other than professionals, ever achieve this goal. Kay has played in many tournaments over the years and has worked hard to reach this level. Many players her age and younger will never earn enough points to become a Gold Life Member.
In a totally different direction, we find John Lee. John has been a member of St. Pete Masters for a number of years. We don't see him often because he lives in Anna Maria, FL. On April 15, John was inducted into the New England Wrestling Hall of Fame. John was a national AAU wrestling champion in 1951. He placed third twice, in 1952 and 1953, in Division I of the NCAA wrestling championships. He placed second and was an alternate to the Pan American Games. In 1952, he placed fourth at the Olympic trials and went as an alternate. John coached wrestling at Harvard University for 32 years, from 1955-1987.
For this article, we want to feature John Maguire as a stud. No, not that kind of stud! When John finished serving in the Navy in 1972, his dad wanted to reward him so he took him to Ireland, the home of his ancestors. They met various people there, which resulted in John getting a job as a stud groom at Wood Park Stud. This stud farm was located in Dunboyne, slightly north and west of Dublin. He worked there for a year before returning to the US. John worked long hours and had little opportunity to travel, but he hopes to return to Ireland someday to show his family this beautiful country.
by Kin Stott
The Raleigh Area Masters team welcomed 212 swimmers to the Pullen Aquatic Center in Raleigh. Meet director Tim Sexauer said it was the biggest state meet in recent years. The meet attracted swimmers from near (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill-Cary) and far (Florida, Washington DC, Maryland, South Carolina, and Virginia), as well as teams both large (Raleigh, Charlotte) and small (The Montgomery Ancient Mariners, Maryland Masters, Orlando Masters, and St. Pete Masters all brought one swimmer to the meet). Competitors ranged from novice (RAM's Cathy Davis swam in her first meet), to the Olympian (Virginia Masters Chris Stevenson competed for Greece in the Olympics). Challenges ranged from posting personal best times to breaking state records to finishing that 200 fly or 400 IM.
by Nancy Ridout
We all arrive at a meet full of excitement and anticipation of good times -- both in and out of the water. To help ensure this will indeed be a good and perhaps even memorable experience, we hope you will take not of and consider the following (in other words, friends, educate yourselves regarding meet etiquette!).
After you have found your chosen spot to settle and hang out (optional) and have checked-in for the day's events (mandatory each day), you have a choice to make. Which lane shall I warm up in? If you look, you will see small signs by each lane indicating the pace for each lane. But, each of us has our own priorities for this choice -- fewest swimmers, closest to the ladder, mostly females, mostly males, not too fast, not too slow -- but whatever they are, enter the water cautiously and feet first. Slide in. Don't make a big production out of it by doing a life-saving-jump-for-distance! It will definitely not be appreciated by your fellow lane mates!
Now you're warmed up and ready to go. It's always a good idea to watch the first heats to see how the Starter and Referee are going to handle each race. We have a new starting procedure this year so this is an especially good plan. Watching heat #1, it is gratifying to see swimmers in their 80's and 90's up on the blocks and eager to compete, but what's this? There is someone swimming like a speedboat lapping the field. He finishes the race, exits the pool, and is walking out the gate to go home before the rest of the heat is finished. This is not cool! Enter a reasonable seed time. Likewise, don't show up 10 or 20 minutes late, after check-in has closed, and expect to be put in a heat. In most cases, it's not going to happen. Whining and pleading are also not cool!
Speaking of leaving (or injury, fatigue, or declining interest), if you have entered events you have decided not to swim, please let the meet personnel know -- and SCRATCH. The remaining swimmers and officials will be very grateful. By knowing about the scratches before the event is seeded, often one or more heats can be eliminated and everyone is delighted to leave earlier.
Another rather short-sighted decision is to see an empty lane in a heat and swim in it even though you haven't entered the event. This causes insurmountable problems for the computer and results people. Don't even think of trying it! The penalty could significantly hamper your Masters swimming career.
This brings us to our relationship with our officials, without whom we could not have any meets. Our officials are USA Swimming and Pacific Swimming certified, highly qualified, experienced, volunteers (that's right, THEY ARE NOT PAID TO DO THIS), and among the most dedicated supporters of our program. One thing I'll bet your mother did teach you was to treat everyone with respect -- even if they are officials and they disqualify you! Arguing -- or worse -- with our officials does you no good and it discourages them from helping us out again, as well as others who might be interested in becoming officials. Any of our officials will be more than happy to explain the reason for the DQ. Aside from asking "Why?" zip it up!
If you have a question during the meet, here's how to get the quickest and most accurate answer: for rules interpretations, disqualifications, or conduct of the meet -- ask the Referee. For eligibility, entries, seeding, results, snack bar, time lines, toilet paper -- ask the Meet Director.
If you find you have time on your hands, try timing -- you get fed and watered for your efforts. If you enjoyed your day, the officials and meet hosts would be thrilled to receive your "Thank You!" If you think this article is appearing because of a lack of common courtesy among some of our swimmers has been observed, you get an "A." I'm sure this article doesn't apply to you, but just in case you would like to educate a fellow swimmer, feel free to post it in the locker room!
The YMCA Aquatic Center Masters proved there are other champions besides golfers, competing in Augusta, Georgia. With only 14 swimmers, Team Orlando won 45 gold medals and finished a respectagle fourth out of 55 teams at the recent YMCA Masters National Swimming Championships.
Cathy Shonkwiler, 40 years young, broke YMCA national records in the 200 free and 50 back while winning five gold and three silver medals. Linda Visser (30) not only shattered team records, but she also won six of her eight events. Jennifer Twiford (33) backstroked her way to three first and five other top finishes. Not to be outdone, former UF Gator Erin Yarbrough (24) swept her six individual races with ease. The women combined their talents to win the medley and freestyle relays as well as the mixed relays with the men. The men's squad was led by Andy Farrell (29) who won all eight of his races and broke three team records. The gold rush continued with Cleo Ferreira (27) winning five gold and a silver. Tom Bliss (45) with four gold and two silver, Jerry Glancy (62) two gold, two silver, three bronze, and Tom Koenig (68) one gold, one silver, five bronze. Personal bests and top ten swims were also turned in by Steve Boney (33), Scot Weiss (35), John Keen (36), Brian Hendrickson (37), and Charlie Weatherbee (67). All of the men's relays were tough to beat as they too swept the field. "We're rally please with our team's performance. We encourage all former swimmers to grab their goggles and join us. Next year we'll have our goal ont he Championship," said Luck Meisneheimer M.D., club president.
In April, the dynamo swim Center in Atlanta GA was the site of a USMS Mentor Coach and Swimming Clinic. Nine Georgia Masters coaches attended the clinic with featured speaker Coach Emmett Hines of H2O Houston Swims. The subject of Emmett's presentation was to show ways Masters coaches could make a legitmate living. Emmett used himself as an example, saying that he began coaching with the attitude that "I don't believe the world owes me a living, but it certainly owes me an apology."
The turning point for his career and his ability to make a viable living was when he started thinking of coaching as a business. He went on to point out that each of us has a commmodity valued by the adult swimming community -- knowledge. And just as with other professionals, there were people willing to pay us for sharing that knowledge. After a brief break for lunch, about 35 swimmers gathered for the Swimmers' Clinic and Emmett's presentation "Well balanced for Success." Emmett challenged the gathering to come up with the definition of balance. After some prompting, they came up with "body mass properly distributed over a support base." The swimmers were worked through several drills.