Congratulations to Glenn and Patricia (Trish) Tewksbury!
Phil Simpson
On the weekend of October 31-November 1, 35 SaddleBrooke Masters swimmers of the SaddleBrooke Swim Club ventured to the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center at Arizona State University in Tempe to compete in the Ron Johnson Invitational and Arizona Short Course Meters Championships. A spooky omen, the event’s Great Pumpkin – inspired, Halloween-theme emblazoned race shirts, seemed to presage a haunting spell cast on the team results, as the end of the meet found the SaddleBrooke swimmers outpointed by the host Swim Devils Masters team by a razor thin margin.
However, the final team standings could not overshadow the team’s exceptional showing as the SaddleBrooke swimmers dominated the more senior age groups and delivered an impressive performance. Highlighting the team’s outstanding individual efforts were the swims of the husband and wife team of Glenn and Patricia (Trish) Tewksbury. This dynamic duo excelled and were awarded high point honors for their age groups. Points were garnered for placement in events, beginning with nine points for a first place finish. Glenn and Trish each swam the maximum of eight individual events. Trish won five of her races and Glenn two of his. They are the Arizona state champions for those events.
The full complement of SaddleBrooke swimmers distinguished themselves as four other team members earned high point honors. They were Coach Doug Springer who won all eight events entered, Steve Roberts, Ken McKinney and Gloria Tolaro. In addition, in a remarkable showing, 22 SaddleBrooke swimmers in addition to Glenn and Trish can claim bragging rights as Arizona state champions in those events where they captured a first place.
Much appreciated were the efforts of club members Nancy Springer and Joan Pierce who were relentless in doggedly herding the SaddleBrooke swimcats to their assigned heats and lanes. All in all, when the waters calmed, the SaddleBrooke Swim Club came away from this championship event justifiably proud of its swimmers and their overall outstanding team effort.