| JUST FOR FUN |
| Why do we swim? For Fitness, Yes! ....but, really, it's for Fun...the fun of doing something just for ourselves - away from the home and the cooking, cleaning and caretaking - away from school or the office and all those responsibilities - it's a way to enjoy swimming again, escaping back to our youth, for FUN - FUN - FUN!! |
| Why do we compete? Competitions are held away from home, sometimes in exotic places around the world - sometimes to areas of the country we have never seen, etc. - competition gives us a chance to 'Get Away from It All' for a short time and to share some good times with good friends. |
| MEMORABLE MOMENTS - 2002 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS |
| 'We're not in California anymore!!! What to do.... .....No Phone....some cell phones worked, most did not, unless you drove about 15 miles up Highway 14 toward Geneva. .....No Coffee Pots.....and no restaurant within 15 miles....hot tap water coffee will do when there is no other choice. .....No Room Fridge or Microwave.....well, those are luxuries anyway. The no fridge was easily solved, just go to town to grocery shop and hang food outside on the motel doorknobs. Even milk stayed fresh for 5 days. Really! |
| Where are we??? No Phones.... No Coffee Pots..... No Room Fridge or Microwave..... The leaves were red, yellow and orange - the night was pitch black and we saw stars - the moon shown over a georgeous lake view - the highways were marked with Mennonite buggy crossings but not with highway markers saying what number highway it was. It was a summer resort area but it wasn't summer! And the nights were so quiet and so very dark |
| Police Escort!!! One car with 5 swimmers got lost on the drive back to the motel, a half hour away in the dark, after the athletes' meeting. After driving for almost an hour, they finally arrived at a village where they spotted a policeman. He tried giving them directions and finally, after seeing how confused they were, escorted them back to the Showboat Motel where we were staying. Coach Dawn said she was a bit concerned when they didn't arrive and had some momentary concerns until she saw their car following the police car which had arrived with all its red flashing lights.. |
| They really are annonymous in those black suits, caps and goggles!!! One of the husbands along on our trip was seated in the bleachers several rows below me. Tech routines were going on and after some time, he turned to me and asked, "Are they going out of order?" I said no. He replied, but my wife is number 25 and now they are on 28. I told him I had her on video, she really had swum! |
| Not in California! (part deux) Jon purchased gas and inadvertently left his wallet on the roof of the car and went driving off. He didn't realize he didn't have it until they stopped for food. He drove 40 minutes back and found it in clear sight alongside the highway across from the gas station. Some money and papers had blown out, but those all important credit cards, driver's licence and airplane ticket were all there! |
| Goodie Bags with Champagne! This was New York Wine Country and all the athlete goodie bags had a small bottle of champagne in them, complete with the meet logo on the bottle. The champagne was donated by the Pleasant Valley Wine Company who had helped sponsor the meet and provided the special souvenir bottles. Now, don't you all wish you were masters and that you had been there. Thanks to Nancy, Ed and all the committee! |
| Have Meet - No Power! A big rain and windstorm blew out the power to Keuka on Friday night. Athletes and officials arrived at 7 am on Saturday to find the city and college totally dark. The power company said the electricity would be restored by 9 am so everything went on hold....people sleeping and chatting all over the lobby of the Weed Athletic Center, just waiting out the delay. But, at 9 am, the lights momentarily flickered and then with a big poof followed by a fire and mushroom cloud, the generator in front of the building blew. With power not to be restored until 4 pm, it was a question of cancelling the duet and trio events (act of God), or trying to find somewhere to hold them. Meanwhile, everyone got a nice opportunity for visiting with many friends from other clubs, something that doesn't usually happen with the pressure of time constraints at most competitions. |
| Have Meet - Will Travel! Meet managers Nancy and Ed Wightman of the 2004 nationals, were successful in arranging to move the meet to Hobart & Williams Smith College in Geneva, a 45 minute drive away. With just a hand drawn map on the door of Keuka College, which told us to go north on 14, turn right on highway 5&20, and go until we see fraternity row and then ask how to find the pool, everyone made it and the meet resumed by 1 pm. The pool was fairly similar, so everyone had to compete with no real spacing drills, the banquet was cancelled in favor of completing the events. Thank you Ed and Nancy for seeing that the 'show' went on!! |
| Sightseeing! Rochester, Canandaigua, Geneva, Seneca Lake, Keuka Lake, Hammondsport, Penn Yan, Dundee, Watkins Glen, all places we've seen. What an experience! |