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USMS Relay 2024
by Terri Stauffer-Schmidt
Members of our AZLMSC community attended the USMS Relay 2024 event in Houston, Texas. It is held every year and is dedicated to community development and collaboration. It is attended by Coaches, LMSC participants, Officials, USMS Board and committee members, and swimmers interested in getting more involved.
Relay is about recognizing the efforts of volunteers that make USMS happen. Many who attend are unpaid volunteers who devote 1,000’s of hours supporting and promoting all the various programs USMS has to offer, including: competitive swimming, recreational swimming, college clubs, Adult Learn-to-Swim, Grown up Swimming and Lane Mate. Multiple presentations and resource sessions were held throughout the 3-day event.
Marketing sessions for Clubs and LMSC, Recruiting New Volunteers 101, and a Leadership Skills Workshop. Community via Competition discussed how pool meets, open water events, virtual national championships and informal competition during workouts or elsewhere can help develop community. Social Media for Clubs and LMSC discussed the best practices for leveraging social media. These were to name a few of the ways those attending could obtain the tools, to help grow and develop what USMS has to offer.
Coaches and officials devote their time, talents and treasures to their local LMSC’s, serving on National Committees, and promoting outreach in their local communities.
What Does Relay Mean to Me
Barb Sloan wrote. TEAM is something I have used throughout my career in an International Non-Profit organization that could not survive without volunteer support (much like USMS). The Relay weekend is all about recognizing and highlighting the volunteer contributions of ALL who participate to make USMS so successful. It was eye opening to again see just how involved USMS is in communities across the country.
Swimming in a relay refers to a team race where each swimmer completes a portion of the total distance before tagging the next teammate to continue the race. It’s TEAM work – Together Each Achieves More.
As a member of a volunteer board (AZLMSC) teamwork for me means working collaboratively withing USMS and achieving the organization’s mission and goals. It involves each member contributing their skills, expertise, and time, supporting each other, and communicating openly and effectively.
What we experienced this weekend is that teamwork is essential for making collective decisions within USMS (at all levels), addressing challenges, and achieving the members objectives. We also learned that it means respecting diverse opinions, building consensus and maintaining a sense of shared responsibility for the organization’s success up and down the ladder.
As a volunteer member of the AZLMSC board, I clearly see the importance of fostering a positive and cohesive team dynamic which is so crucial to keep everyone engaged and motivated to contribute their best efforts.
I am blessed to be a part of USMS at the National, State and local levels. I personally get back more than I ever expected, which makes me better as a Coach, Instructor, LMSC Board member and participant on a few National Committees. The friendships we forge are the “icing on the cake”.
It must also be noted that before the weekend was over there was some fun competition. Some of our members came together as a team “Mermaids of the Desert”. Their intent was to exhibit diversity and inclusion within USMS.
They did a great job. CONGRATULATIONS on 4th Place! Love the trophy.
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Chair Katy’s’ tribute to Gaile Harden (1940 – 2024)
by Katy James
My friend and fellow competitor, Gaile Harden, passed away comfortably at home, October 8, 2024. For over 30 years, she competed in swim meets and senior games representing Prescott and Arizona, in eighteen states, including nationals. From 1995 to 2020, Gaile placed in the top ten national rankings 15 different times, mostly in 200 backstroke and 200 breaststroke. Gaile didn’t start swimming competitively until she was 54. She was 84 at her passing.
Gaile’s Celebration of Life service will be held, November 3, 2024 from 2:30-4:30 at The Adult Center, 1280 E Rosser St, Prescott, AZ.
She and I attended nationals together last in 2019 in Mission Viejo. We swam together on the 280+ mixed 200 medley relay. I will really miss her.
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USMS Summer Nationals
Its a WRAP!
221 Teams Represented 1268 Swimmers Entered!
by Terri Stauffer-Schmidt
The Summer Nationals Swim Meet in Mission Viejo is over, but how amazing those 5 days were. The weather was more than perfect, and the officials and volunteers carried it off without a hitch. The Marguerite Aquatics Center was a beautiful location that easily accommodated the swimmers and the cheering crowds. The Arizona swimmers were amazing. They not only competed with their strength and their hearts, but they had fun enjoying the event.
Kelly Harrigan shined. This is what she had to say:
Summer Nationals are a wrap. A few months back I decided to look up records for my new age group, 40-44. After seeing the 200 back I thought “hey, that’s possible”. Immediately after, the self-doubt inner voice said “no way, you will fail”. I knew I would have to fight with this voice to succeed and after a few weeks I bought a bracelet that came with a positive quote. “There are sharks all around you, but you’re a shark too. So sharpen your bites, and strap on your fins. Jump into the water and get after those wins”.
Slowly I started to think the world record was achievable, but I was still keeping it a secret. I was afraid if I let people know but then failed, I would not only let myself down, but also my teammates, coaches, family and friends. I knew this was a stupid thought to have and everyone would support me no matter what, but my inner voice was still there.
About 6 weeks ago I pushed through my fears and quietly mentioned to my coach Laura Smith/MAC Swim coach that I thought I could break a world record. I knew Laura would be anything but quiet about it. I was flooded with support everyday at practice from coaches and teammates. That was the last little thing I needed to kill off the little voice saying I couldn’t do it.
So now I am going home with a world record, six gold medals, four top 3 all time world times, two top 10 all time world times, six individual gold medals and multiple best master times. I know I could not have done this without the support I received. I am so thankful to everyone!
Nationals is a great time to find old friends!
On the left is Al Keith, a friend I reconnected with after not seeing him in 20 years (he was swimming for a team in Virginia). In the middle is my husband, Geoff Glaser, who was serving as the coach for Dolphins of the Desert.
Jeff Commings on the right, broke a World Aquatics Masters world record and a USMS record in the men’s 50-54 breast stroke with a time of 29.23.
WHAT'S NEW
AZLMSC Board Meeting News
Hello from Katy James, Chair AZLMSC
A couple great things happened at the July 24, 2024 AZLMSC Board meeting. We selected our delegates to the Annual Meeting to be held virtually September 11-13. There’s a lot of preparation and commitment involved to be a convention delegate and we’re very pleased to announce that our delegates include Judy Gillies, Kathy Gallagher, Virginia Baker, Marnie Whitley and Rome Yount.
We also selected our delegates to Volunteer Relay 2024, October 18-20 in Houston. I can say that this event is the best and most exciting volunteer opportunity that USMS hosts. Our delegates will come back energized and full of fresh new ideas to improve our Arizona swimming experience. They are Liz Hobbs, Barb Sloan, Marnie Whitley and Samantha Martoni.
For the first time, the AZLMSC will reimburse all clubs attending 2024 Summer Nationals August 21-25 in Mission Viejo for relays that they enter and for deck shade tents rented from the facility. Relays typically cost $16 for the 4 relay members and tents (check with the host) cost about $150 each for a 10 x 10. Submit your receipts to AZRegistrar@usms.org after the completion of the meet.
See you in the pool!
WHAT'S NEW
Swimmer Recognition: Gynt Clifford
On May 23, 2024, The Recreational Centers of the Sun City West Governing Board presented Gynt Clifford with a Certificate of Accommodation in Recognition of her Master Swimming Performance at the 2024 World Masters Championship held in Doha, Qatar, February 29 through March 2, 2024. Gynt competed in five events and medaled in every event, receiving three gold and two silver medals!
Gynt is a member of SCW Masters Swimming.
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Swimmers came out in force for Sedona Meet
The Paul Cate Sedona Spring Classic Swim Meet and Social was held May 4th this year. It was one of the best weekends to spend in the beautiful Sedona Community Pool.
This year’s theme was Star Wars. May 4th is Star Wars Day, an informal day to celebrate the Star Wars franchise. The date comes from the popular line, “May the force be with you”, which is often said by Jedi masters in the movies as a sentiment of goodwill. At some point the saying became May the 4th be with you and thus the theme of this year’s swimming meet. The swimmers got into the act celebrating the day.
Sun City Masters and Sun City West Masters brandishing their light sabers
The meet was named in honor of Paul Cate. He had been honored in years past. It’s only recently that the swimming meets have started up again in Sedona and once again named in recognition of Paul.
Paul grew up swimming in Tucson. Around 1985 or 1986 he along with Kelly Donatell’s mom, K. Busche, started a summer swim team in Sedona. The team grew quickly and joined USS for the few swimmers who wanted a longer swim season. They founded the local U.S. Masters division of the Sedona Swim Team as well as what is now the Sedona Swordfish in 1987. He transitioned from the Swordfish to an assistant coach with the Sedona Red Rock High School swimming teams when the program started. Paul grew the program from nothing to its peak of 80 kids,”. Paul’s wife Monika donated to this year’s high point winners. Paul won his decade for high point winner at the meet. Cups were given out in his honor.
Even though he is retired, Paul continues to help where needed and can always be found cheering on the pool deck. He has always done what he could to provide opportunities for people to swim. He is a huge reason why there has been and still are opportunities for both kids and adults to swim competitively in Sedona.
People came from all over the country to participate in the Paul Cate Sedona Spring Classic and Social. Haley Penfield (previously Holverson) flew from Tennessee specifically for the event.
Paul was her coach for 3 years when she swam at Red Rock. Cathy Harrington came for her first competitive pool meet since 1977 after being encouraged by Kelly Harrigan. Lynn Morrison and Paul have been best buddies since grade school and the neighborhood swim team Kingston Knolls. Paul was her superhero. She called him “Fido.” When she was being bullied, she would call out “Fido” and within seconds Paul was by her side – to be her protector. They won all their swimming events as long as it wasn’t breaststroke. Lynn said, “he will always be my Fido and definitely why I traveled from Dallas to be here with everyone to celebrate Paul Cate (Fido)”. This was Linda Marousek’s first swim. She’s been swimming for about 1 ½ years but was mostly on top of the water with competitive rowing in California. She cam from New Mexico and is happy to be participating. Devi Piper said Sedona is her favorite place and was delighted to attend this meet with a couple of swimmers from her club in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
A huge thank you to everyone for a fun, competitive experience. Great swim everyone!!
Article by Terri Stauffer-Schmidt
COMPETITION
2024 SCY State Championship
The weather was warm, and the swimmers were HOT at this years SCY State Meet at the Saddlebrook Swim Club in Oro Valley. There were 27 total events with 12 in state teams and 6 from out-of-state; Colorado, Nevada, California, Washington State and New York. A big thank you to Rome Yount and his crew who did a wonderful job officiating the meet and moving it along. A big thank you to the young volunteers and all the meet officials.
The following SCY National Records were set this year:
- Jeff Commings from Dolphins of the Desert 50-54 Age Group
- 200 Back 1:53:63
- 100 IM 53:41
- Richard Burns from Tamalpais Aquatics 80-84 Age Group
- 50 Fly 32:12
- 200 Back 2:44:23
- 200 IM 2:50:39
- 50 Back 33:72
- 100 Fly 1:18:55
- 100 Back 1:15:20
- Laura Val from Tamalpais Aquatics 70-74 Age Group
- 500 Free 6:13:73
- The Saddlebrook Masters 75+ Relay – T. Ashton, J. Spiegel, D. Springer and L. Moreno
- 400 Medley Relay 6:37:39
Congratulations to these outstanding swimmers. To check all the meet results go to our Events page.
Annual Meeting
On Saturday afternoon the annual meeting was held with 49 in attendance. There was plenty of food for everyone, but the beer went fast. Jeff Commings talked about the Nationals and a new program called “Grown-Up Swimming”. It’s geared toward getting fun adult summer leagues in major cities across the country. It’s meant to rekindle the fire and passion for adult league swimming. USMS agreed and has partnered with Grown-Up Swimming to help get the organization going – and growing. The mission is to get as many adults swimming as possible. Hopefully getting people into a pattern of fitness. It’s about bringing a fun atmosphere to swimming. Jeff is in hopes of bringing it to the Phoenix area by next year.
Arizona Masters Swimmers and the AZLMSC Board of Directors attending the annual meeting.
This year’s winner of the Gruender Award was Leslie Nock, the coach of the Sun City Starrs. Leslie grew up in Central New York. She swam in age group swimming throughout high school. She went to college for music, her instrument being the trombone. Her grandparents lived in AZ and encouraged her to check out ASU. She got her bachelor’s in music from ASU. After graduation she was looking for a job and found the military. As it happened, they had an opening in the music program. It was a perfect fit.
After a distinguished military career of 30 years, Leslie settled back in Arizona. She swam with the team in Sun City from 2019-2020. Then the current coach had to leave. Leslie volunteered to take on the job. Her physical training from the military helped her to decide, although shoulder issues were keeping her sidelined. She worked to become a level 3 coach and a certified USMS official. She enjoys the challenge of a diverse group of swimmers. Some are highly competitive and others not. Trying to balance all that she feels makes her a better coach. Approximately 50 swimmers have access to the pool every Monday-Friday for 2 hours. Leslie could not do all the training and teaching without the help of other swimmers in the club who are also certified. She draws from them, and they from her. Someone is always on deck, but not necessarily Leslie. She feels this is a way for other team members to give back. She credits Barb Sloan and Coke Lepinski with collaborating with her to make it all work.
Her team was the mid-size team winners this year. Nineteen members were in attendance when Leslie received her award at the luncheon. Well deserved!
Achievement awards were also presented. Barb Sloan presented to Gynt Clifford for her outstanding performance in both the National Senior Games and the most recent Masters World Meet in March in Doha, Qatar. Leslie Nook awarded Mary Ann Case for her participation in the 2024 World National Swim Meet in Doha, Qatar. Coach Jeff Commings presented to Aiden Barg- in the one-hour virtual swim, he won 1st place in his 18-24 age group. He swam 3,870 yards. In addition, Jeff presented to Relays:
- Men’s 18+ 1st place: Aiden Barg, Julien Mathias, and Marcelo Cabral. They swam 12,420 yards.
- Mixed 18+ 1st place: Aiden Barg, Julien Mathias, Ellen Geiger, and Christina DiGiacomo. They swam 17,545 yards.
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It’s a Wrap: Ron Johnson Swim Meet 2023
By Jeff Commings – Dolphins of the Desert Masters
Swim Devil Masters just wrapped up work as host of the 21st annual Ron Johnson Invitational, a meet that has become a destination for Masters swimmers from neighboring states. In the early years, only Arizonans came to the meet, but in the early 2010s, athletes from California and Colorado came to Tempe to race in the mid-fall short course meters meet. This year, athletes from as far away as Minnesota came to race at what has become one of the top short course meters meets in the country.
This year, the meet celebrated record attendance, with 266 swimmers competing at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center on the campus of Arizona State University.
“The meet was up and active months earlier than in previous years,” Katy James said. “I think that brought in more out-of-state swimmers because they were able to make travel plans early. It also helps when we have the fastest pool in the place with the best fall weather in the country!”
Though the meet competed with the ASU football game on Saturday and the Ironman Arizona triathlon on Sunday, everything went fairly smoothly. Each day finished at least 15 minutes ahead of the timeline!
Mother Nature made a nasty appearance during the Saturday distance session, with rain falling through most of the 800 heats. But, the clouds parted during the Saturday afternoon session, and spectators were rewarded with three world records, all in the 50 breaststroke.
I was not expecting to lower my Masters world record in the 50 breast in the 45-49 age group. I had set the record at 45 years old in 2019, and was only trying to see how close I could get to it in my final year in the age group. Stepping up on the blocks next to world championships participant Youssef Elkamash and Olympic gold medalist Roland Schoeman gave me the boost I needed to shave .01 off my record with a 28.64. Schoeman took down the world record in the 40-44 age group with a speedy 27.05. Elkamash, a native of Egypt who represented Grand Canyon University, just missed the world record of 26.99 in the 25-29 age group with his final time of 27.46.
Katie Glenn, representing Off Piste Aquatics in Colorado, made the trip to Tempe and was rewarded with a world record in the 50 breaststroke for the 45-49 age group. Her time of 32.59 took down the six-year-old world record of 33.01 set by Australian Olympian Linley Frame and the 13-year-old USMS record of 33.82 by Olympian Susan von der Lippe. In a situation very similar to mine, Glenn said she just wanted to see how close she could get to the record, and surprised herself by dropping more than a second off her recent best time.
Brent Creager of Swim Devil Masters got in on the fun as well on Saturday with a national record in the 100 butterfly. His time of 55.53 was good enough to beat Mike Ross’ 15-year-old record of 55.82.
The atmosphere at the meet was at an all-time high, perhaps likely due to the record attendance. Even after the sun set on Saturday and relay teams were bundled in parkas waiting to swim, cheers from teammates keep spirits high. As a longtime member of U.S. Masters Swimming, I always enjoy seeing and hearing the excitement on the deck at a swim meet, and even seeing swimmers dressed in funny outfits.
Another great highlight was having some of the Arizona State swimmers racing in exhibition swims during the relay breaks. A lot of Masters swimmers gathered on the side of the pool to watch these young swimmers in action, and I could hear some people making comments about how they can apply what they saw in the NCAA swimmers into their own swimming. Perhaps that can be a regular feature of the Ron Johnson meet. Some years, we get Olympians racing throughout the meet. In 2021, Ryan Held wowed the crowd with quick swims, and Darian Townsend gave swim racing clinics over several years. I’m still crossing my fingers and hoping that a certain 28-time Olympic gold medalist will use the Ron Johnson Invitational as his Masters swimming debut.
Jeff Commings is a Masters world and national world record holder. He is the head coach of Dolphins of the Desert Masters in Tucson and the co-owner of Dolphins of the Desert Swimming Academy.
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Why We Compete
I recently had the pleasure of speaking to several individuals who belong to swim clubs across the valley. They ranged in age from 37 to 73. I wanted to answer the question…why we compete. What they told me was so inspiring. All of them began swimming at age 6 or 7, and most of them joined a swim team at 8 years old and are still competing today.
Terry DeBiase swims with the Swim Devil Masters. He told his mother he liked the swim team t-shirts. To get one she told him he had to join the team, so he did. His coach said he was a natural. When you swim and win blue ribbons it motivates you.
Lindsey Urbatchka swims with the Swim Devil Masters, Mesa Aquatics, and the Phoenix Swim Club. She grew up in a small town in Wyoming. Her parents enrolled her in swimming lessons at the YMCA. When Lindsey had completed all the lessons, the swimming instructor recommended she join the swim team. Her mom didn’t know what the swim team was. At 8 years old Lindsey won her first state championship.
Katy James swims for the Swim Devil Masters and is the AZLMSC board chair. She began swimming at 6. Her dad signed her up for the swim team at the YMCA at the age of 8. She remembers being able to swim backstroke the length of the pool.
Karen Loring swims with the Sun City West Masters swim club. She walked 1 ½ miles with her brother to watch him swim. She told her parents she wanted to swim too and began lessons with the Red Cross. She didn’t swim competitively until the age of 65, when a friend wanted a companion to swim the 1650 with her at the Senior Games. Karen did swim with her friend and also swam her first 50 freestyle.
Keisuke Yagi swims with the Swim Devil Masters. He was born in Japan. His mother was a swim coach and had him in the water at less than a year old. The swim coach encouraged him to join the team. After moving to the United States, he began swimming with a swim club to be around more English-speaking people.
Marc Valle swims with the Swim Devil Masters. He remembers learning to swim in the community pool with his parents and swallowing lots of water. For Marc the swim club was all about training. He did not enjoy swimming until High School when competition was not the primary motivator, but swimming was more about comradery and the team.
All these amazing swimmers began swimming at a young age. If there were lapses in their swimming, they found themselves coming back to it. They are high achievers, but what kept them swimming and competing was not their achievements but their friendships with other team members, the fun they had competing, the memories. Marc has travelled to Russia, Budapest, Italy and South Korea swimming with a Master’s swim club. He loves seeing new places and sharing these times with good friends. Marc came back to swimming when his doctor told him he had high blood pressure. He didn’t want to take medicine to control it and remembered that swimming was how he used to keep in shape.
Lindsey was recruited to the University of Kansas. She loved the family atmosphere and the feeling of swimming for something bigger than herself. I liked it when she said, “It’s you versus you. You don’t have to rely on anyone else. It’s your fault you have the race of your life. It’s your fault if you don’t.”
Terry still enjoys competing, but more for fitness. It’s now as important as competing. If he’s sore and stiff in the morning he gets into the pool and gravity takes over and the soreness and stiffness is gone. Terry said, “I don’t want to survive a competitive event, but I prepare for it so that I can enjoy swimming it when competing.” All the swimmers said staying fit was a large part of why they still compete and swim.
The rule in Karen’s family was if you joined a sport you had to complete the season. They emphasized the importance of team spirit. Marc mentioned that the Swim Devil Masters club is a very large group, but only a small number of people compete. The coach is great at getting people to come out to stay fit. He makes it fun. It’s about the club as a whole coming together and supporting each other to compete, stay fit, and have fun as a team.
Keisuke is now a pilot for Delta Airlines. He swims every day but can be gone for 3-5 days at a time. When he gets back in the pool, he feels like he has lost what he had gained. But he loves swimming and will always be swimming.
As Katy James said she intends to keep swimming. “Forever, or until I die.” Everyone I spoke to says the same. Competition keeps them motivated, but swimming to compete, competing to swim is part of their lives.
Article by: Terri Stauffer-Schmidt
WHAT'S NEW
2023 USMS Annual Meeting in Houston
This past weekend, September 8-10th was the 2023 USMS Annual Meeting (Convention). This is the annual meeting of delegates from each LMSC that get to review, and vote on Legislative, Rule, Distance events, and governing sections of our USMS Rule book.
The number of delegates each LMSC is allowed to send depends on their registration amounts. AZ has been allowed three for multiple years. Our LMSC Chairman sends out a blast to the membership to see who would like to attend. This year we had four swimmers from our membership send in their letter of interest. All four, including Jeff Commings who is an “automatic” delegate attended. Jeff is an “automatic” since he is currently the Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee AND he also the SW Zone At Large Delegate to the USMS Board of Directors.
This year’s four delegates were, Barbara Sloan, Gini Baker, Jim Rowland, and Judy Gillies. Prior to the actual meeting in Houston, there were multiple Virtual Committee Meetings that all delegates were encouraged to attend to get a feeling of what was going to be voted on during the actual House of Delegates (HOD) at this annual meeting. Then, after the meetings, each delegates fills in a review of all of the meeting, and the meals, and a second follow up form where they can select which committee’s they would like to be on.
The photo above shows the four of us: Jim Rowland, Judy Gillies, Barbara Sloan, and Jeff Commings. Gini ended up doing the annual meeting virtual since she had a family emergency the week before leaving for Houston.
Article by Judy Gillies