| THE 2002 MAY MC EWAN MEMORIAL AWARD |
| 2002 AWARD TO PENNY The 2002 winner of the May McEwan Memorial Award is Unsyncable member Penny. The Award is given each year to a Masters Athlete competitor who has also contributed to the development of the program. Her nomination came from the team. Supporting Information Nominee Penny has a lifelong love for the sport. A member of the Southern California Unsyncables, Penny has been a swimmer, coach, judge, committee chair, and helper - swimming and helping wherever necessary, including helping coach last year when breast cancer surgery and treatment caused her to miss nationals. Masters Swimmer: Masters became part of Penny's life in 1991, beginning because of the friendships she had made with various team members and because, she said, "it is more fun to swim than coach or judge." She has won many gold and silver medals in her 12 years competing in masters. Highlights included participation in 5 World Championships. But she has found that masters synchro has nvolved more than being a competitor; it has brought close friendships with teammates who help each other through various life problems and challenges as she herself helped her group prepare for nationals last year. Weak and sometimes sick, she began training for the New Zealand Worlds while still undergoing chemotheraphy. With the competition just two months after her last chemo treatment, her team wore caps since she had no hair to which to pin a headpiece. She swims for fitness and fun and her involvement has always had a positive effect on her teammates. Her dedication to the sport and her determination to swim through her treatments has provided inspiration to the others. Youth Competitor: Beginning at age 12, Penny was one of the original members of the Dayton Aquanymphs, competing from 1956-60. She won solo and team medals in U.S. Junior and Senior Nationals. She continued swimming in college (1963-64) and was one of the early members of the Ohio State synchro club. The highlight of her early swimming career was taking part in the Round-the-World Exhibition Tour group that performed at the Olympic Gala in Rome, 1960. |
| Past Recipients 2001 - Holly Kyle, Ca. 2000 - Laura Soles, Va. 1999 - Barbara Browne, Ca. 1998 - Mary Kay Adams, Ma. 1997 - Fred Wing, Me. 1996 - Scotti Nichols, Mi. 1995 - Jeanne Ulrich, DC 1994 - Sherry Weinberg, Wa. 1993 - Elizabeth Knowles, Va. 1992 - Sue Bessette, NY 1991 - Nanette Zack, Wi. 1990 - Jeanne Struck, Az. 1989 - Sue Dmytryszyn, Mo. 1988 - Margaret Forbes, Tx. 1987 - Jane Katz, NY 1986 - Linda Lash, Oh. 1985 - Eleanor East, Fl. 1984 - Marian Kretschmer, Oh. 1983 - Barbara McNamee, Va. 1982 - Barbara Eaton, Va. 1981 - Louise Wing, Me. 1980 - Peg Hogan, Va. 1979 - Nancy Weiman, DC |
| Coach: After retiring from competition, Penny continued in the sport by helping coach, first her club in Dayton, and then after moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, she helped coach the San Jose Rhythmettes and then the San Francisco Merionettes. After marrying and moving to Southern California in the 70s, she continued helping coach local clubs. She founded her own club, the Beverly Hills Synchro Club, but when no coach could be found for the team while she was in England, it disbanded. On her return, she decided against forming another club and taught a synchro unit for her daughters' high school. She continues to assist local clubs and swimmers when asked. Judge: Penny began judging local competitions in the Pacific Association. She earned a National Judges Rating and continues as an active judge in National and Association events. At Masters Nationals, she is one of the judges sometimes asked to help, judging events in which she is not entered. While in London with her family for three years, she represented the U.S. as a F.I.N.A. International Judge. Committee Chair and Worker: Penny has been a member of both local and national committees, chairing the USSS Education Committee in the late 80s and she has been Education Chair for her Association. She has chaired committees for national and international events in Southern California, including U.S. Junior, Senior and Age Group National Championships, the Olympic Festival, several American Cups and the 1984 Olympic Games. Penny is the ideal winner of the May McEwan Memorial Award. |
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