Jack Arnold, Doug Springer, Jeff Eighmy and Ted Pierce
All-American swimmers: Dick, Harold and Jack. Not pictured Walt.
Edward Thompson
US Masters Swimming (USMS), the governing organization of nearly 60,000 Masters Swimmers across the United States, has just announced the recipients of All American status for the 2013 swim competition season. To become an All American, the USMS swimmer must have achieved the fastest time either individually or as part of a relay team recorded for his or her age group in a USMS sanctioned swim meet for the entire year. This is no easy achievement considering the thousands of competitors and swim meets held throughout the United States. USMS gave a very welcome surprise to the SaddleBrooke Swim Team by awarding the coveted All-American status to nine SaddleBrooke swimmers!
Achieving All-American status for the 400 Yard Medley Relay by recording the fastest age group time in the United States for 2013 were Jack Arnold, Backstroke; Jeff Eighmy, Butterfly; Doug Springer, Breaststroke; Ted Pierce, Freestyle.
For the 200 Meter Freestyle Relay, All-American recognition was awarded to: Richard Price, Jack Fritz, Harold Peter and Walt Howland.
In addition, swimming as part of an Arizona All-Star team in the 200 Meter Freestyle relay, Catherine Vorrasi was awarded All-American status as well. Catherine is Aquatics Director of the Oro Valley Pool which hosts the SaddleBrooke Swim Club for three weeks each spring and she swims with the SaddleBrooke Masters, the competitive arm of the SaddleBrooke Swim Club.
Although unexpected, the All-American status accorded SaddleBrooke relay swimmers no doubt resulted from recent coaching emphasis on relay events to supplement traditional individual swim events. In addition, the swim team’s practice regimen has enabled beginning and recreational swimmers to become more comfortable in a variety of swimming situations including the relay format. The team now consistently fields more competitors, swimming more races than our more powerful rivals. As a result, the SaddleBrooke Masters, the competitive arm of the SaddleBrooke Swim Club, won both major Arizona state swim championships for 2013.