Corina Goodman, Joan Pierce, Jill Fritz
Glen Peterson, Al Worth, Ken McKinney
Gloria Tolar, Jack Fritz, Jill Fritz, Walt Howland
The SaddleBrooke Swim Club recently gathered to celebrate the 2016 swim season. Looking around the room, there were two things that an outsider would be certain to notice; first, the people in the room were some of the fittest people you would find anywhere and second, the fellowship among the club members was warm and sincere. The camaraderie and friendships that develop at the pool were evident as the swimmers mingled, nibbled on desserts and prepared to celebrate the 2016 season.
The number of Swim Club centenarians, national record holders and world record holders is impressive. Fred Klein, 100 years young, established the national record for the 100-104 year age group, 50 yard backstroke. Mary Anne Cooper, 103 years, set the national record for the 50, 100 and 200 yard backstroke. Coach Doug Springer set national records in the 100 meter breaststroke, 200 meter butterfly and the 100, 200 and 400 meter Individual medley events and a world record in the 100 meter breaststroke. Among those honored were the 2016 U.S. Masters Swimming 75 plus All American 200 yard mixed relay team (fastest time nationwide) of Jill Fritz, Corinna Goodman, Al Worth and Ken McKinney. Also honored within their age group were the women’s All-American 400 meter freestyle relay team of Joan Pierce, Jill Fritz, Corinna Goodman and Patricia Tewksbury. All tallied there were 11 short course yard national relay records, four short course meter relay records and 20 All American swimmers. Other swimmers that were awarded the prestigious All American relay team designation were Glenn Tewksbury, Lew Hamburg, Gloria Tolaro, Barry Deats, Carl Marriott, Craig Shaffer, Doug Springer and Ted Pierce.
The celebration recognized not only record breaking swims, but also record breaking goals. There are new club members celebrating that they are now able to swim a length of the pool, or swim continually for several hundred yards. Whatever the goal, no success was any less important than another. The club is all about promoting the sport of swimming whether it is for recreation, fitness or the fun and excitement of competition.
Currently the club has over 130 members that swim together in organized practices at the DesertView Pool. Some swimmers participate in meets with the USMS SaddleBrooke Masters team while others swim to stay healthy. Swimming is a perfect anti-aging elixir. Swimmers of all levels are welcome in the club.
The club offers several clinics each year to help SaddleBrooke residents improve their efficiency in the water. The Let’s Swim clinics were attended by over 80 SaddleBrooke residents in 2016. The next one will be offered this July. Also being offered this summer will be a Learn to Swim class for adults that are non-swimmers. You are never too old to learn to swim! Contact the swim club at saddlebrookeswimclub@gmail for more information on the clinics’ dates and times.