2023 - Present
World Records – 1 Individual
USMS Records – 1 Current, 1 Lifetime
USMS All American Honors – 3 Years, 14 Individual
USMS Top Ten Achievements – 35 Individual
NELMSC Records – 20 Individual
I started AAU swimming in the Chicago area when I was 8 years old. I was on a private club team and traveled all over the Midwest for meets, year-round. Along with three of my siblings, we were all slow to take to the sport initially, then totally got into it. I was a distance swimmer in the 1970s in college, but by my senior year I was pretty burnt out from all the grueling distance training. I took a break from swimming that ended up lasting for 48 years.
In December of 2022 I decided I needed a year-round physical activity instead of the road cycling I had been doing just in the warmer months. I started out at a local YMCA pool for a few weeks, but then found the Beede Community pool in Concord MA, which is a beautiful facility close to where I live in Bedford. I trained almost every day for months and found that the much shorter workouts of 2,500 to 3,000 yards (compared to my college twice per day workouts) were far easier to stick with.
I entered my first Masters meet on a whim in March 2023, and that reminded me of the fun days I had at meets as a child. I also found that my solo workouts had gotten me in pretty good shape. I met other Masters swimmers at that meet (and subsequent meets) and realized it is a wonderfully friendly group of people of all ages that are very supportive of everyone’s efforts.
Joining a team, first with the Granite State Penguins so I could compete on relays (my favorite swimming events), and then for training with a local Masters swim team (the Otters at the Beede pool) has been another great addition to my swimming life.
It has been truly wonderful and positive experience meeting so many kind and outgoing people, as well as reconnecting with several college teammates (shoutout to John Seelen ‘77 and Tom Wolf ‘76!) at Masters meets over the past few years. I am so happy I took that first step in deciding to get back into the pool four years ago!