• 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.

  

  For further information contact us: Lisa or Barb

• 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.

  Obituary: https://www.dcourier.com/obituaries/obituary-gaile-james-harden/article_03a6843a-881e-11ef-9ea3-332050e26250.html

• 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.

  

• Swimmers came out in force for Sedona Meet

  The Paul Cate Sedona Spring Classic Swim Meet and Social was held May 4^th 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

• 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.

• 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

  

• Master Swimmer Gynt Clifford

  Still Competing at 85 and Inspiring Others

  To the Sun City West Masters Swimming club Gynt Clifford is our Star and the rock that joins us together as a team on race day.  Barb Sloan has coached the team for the last year and a half and said that “coaching Gynt has been one of the most rewarding and joyful experiences I have had.”

  

  Swimming at any age has so many benefits.  Better lung capacity, bone health, improved sleep and improved mood are just a few.  No one talks about the mental stress though that comes from being a master swimmer.  Competing in any competitive event can be gut wrenching.  Having someone on your team that inspires, mentors, and encourages everyone to do their best can make a big difference.  That person for the Sun City West Masters Swimming club is Gynt Clifford.  Whether you are new to the morning workouts or been around awhile, she is always willing to help you.  Whether it’s your flip turns, which she does beautifully, the best way to bend that forearm to get the maximum pull of the water swimming freestyle, or rotating the shoulders while swimming the backstroke, Gynt is there to help you and encourage you in your efforts.  Of course, watching her in any competitive event is amazing.  She swims with such grace and strength.  Having overcome some physical and family hardships over the years and still persevering through it is inspiring.

  Karen Loring was invited to swim on the team in 2014.  She said she would not have continued if it wasn’t for Gynt being on deck and encouraging her.  Karen commented that “She would step in wherever there was a need and help.  She would do for each one of us.  Gynt taught her the beginning of everything and always encouraged her.”

  Gynt has 20 years of top 10 achievement rankings dating back to 2004 at age 65.  In 2010 at age of 71 Gynt achieved an all-star listing for her swims at the San Diego Imperial pool event.  In the 2012 FINA World Masters SCM ranking Gynt Clifford was #1 in the 100 butterfly.  She has 8 Individual All American Listings from age 68-83.  Gynt is the current Arizona State USMS record holder in the 80-84 age group for both the 100 and the 200 SCY freestyle records she set in 2020 and 2022. This year at the National Senior Games in Pittsburg in July in the 85-89 age group Gynt had 5 first place finishes.

  The one thing about Gynt that is to be admired most is not so much the importance of the medals she has won and what she may win in the future, but what she has achieved competing against herself.  The goal is to be the best you can be, and she has done that and more.  At 415 USMS recorded swims she is an all-star.

  Earlier this year, an Italian film crew came to Sun City West.  They interviewed and filmed Gynt for a documentary on aging with a healthy lifestyle.  They could not have picked a better role model.

• It’s Never too Late to Conquer Your Fear of the Water Become an Adult Learn to Swim Graduate

  I think I was five years old when my parents took us to a nearby lake to swim.  I was floating in the water in an innertube watching my older sister and the other kids swimming in the distance.  I decided it couldn’t be that hard to swim and scrambled out of the innertube.  I immediately sank to the bottom.  I remember sitting there in this green murky water looking around.  For some reason I was not afraid.  Then one of my mother’s friends tripped on me and pulled me up.  After that my parents made sure I could swim.  We moved to the suburbs of Chicago and joined the YMCA. 

  My experience was unique, but for many others the fear of water is very real.  It could be they were never around water, or that a bad experience when they were younger influenced them for the rest of their lives.  For whatever reason that fear only grew exponentially as they got older. 

  In the spring of 2023 Barb Sloan, with her Adult Learn to Swim certification, advertised new Adult Learn to Swim classes to Sun City West.  The response was overwhelming.  During the 8 one-hour sessions in a walking pool, swimmers were helped with breathing, kicking, and freestyle arm movement along with a high dose of encouragement and confidence. 

  To pass the course swimmers must swim the length of the pool, but not without Barb and her helpers walking beside them and cheering them along.  The excitement and joy in the eyes of the men and women alike is so amazing when they reach the wall at the other end.

  Today these graduates can be seen at the pool continuing to determinedly swim the length of the larger RH Johnson pool in Sun City West.  Many of them swim with other graduates encouraging each other.  It’s truly amazing to watch and see the satisfaction on their faces. 

  

  

  Additional classes will be held this fall starting in September.  You must live in Sun City West.  For more information go to: The Sun City West Masters Swimming Website.

  Authored by:  Terri Stauffer-Schmidt of Sun City West

• I’m a Happy Camper

  My journey to Kona Swim Camp hosted by globally renowned swimmer, Karlyn Pipes

  By Lisa Harris (MAC Masters, AZLMSC – Communications Chair)

  

  “Swimming the Ironman World Champion waters in Kona is a spiritual experience” – straight from badass Karlyn Pipes – Faster Freestyle Camp/Kona – owner and chief guide.

  As an avid | novice swimmer – obsessed with open water swimming, that was all I needed to hear to add this camp to my dream list. Although it took a minute, from meeting Karlyn at a triathlon shop presentation in Denver to the shores of Kona – my bestie and I ventured to the Big Island in February.

  My goals were to experience a guided tour of various swim areas across Kona, knowing that the swims were carefully curated by Karlyn and her team, gain confidence in ocean swimming, and seek that ‘spiritual’ experience. The faster part of camp would be icing on the cake. 

  

  Our first and last days of camp included 1:1 endless pool instruction where Karlyn spent as much time as needed to understand my strokes and to guide me on a path to gain efficiencies (and I even attempted a flip). My key learnings on my freestyle stroke was the 10 and 2 entry – this has really helped my pull. These sessions were followed by a delicious buffet and social time in Karlyn and Christopher’s idyllic home with a breathtaking ocean view. 

  My first dive-in I brought my camera in hopes of seeing a few friendly fishies and to my shock there were heaps of posers along the way.

  

  Through the week we journeyed through many magnificent destinations around the island each one bringing new sites, adventures and swim experiences in distances, surfs and beauty.  Each swim included exceptional guides, making us safe and capturing progress footage. Each destination included a site-seeing opportunity of caves, ponds, landscaping, and beaches.  We never rushed exploring land and sea.  Post camp time allowed for luau’s, whale watching, dinner cruises, volcano park visits, turtle ogling, sushi, Kona coffee, local jewelry shopping (oops) and sunset cocktails.  I think one of our campers walked the Ironman run course!

  

  To crystalize the week-long experience, we celebrated our accomplishments with homemade lasagna and cookies and relished in our newly formed life-long connections and spectacular sunsets over mystical waters.

  

  Upon return I competed in our state meet and scored one minute faster in my 1000!

  My sister asked when I was going back – maybe thinking about camp in Sicily – Italy sounds fun!

  Majalo

  Contact Karlyn Pipes – Hall of Fame Swimmer, NCAA Champion, Olympic hopeful and Author of The Do-Over with roots in Coronado currently residing in Kona

  For questions contact Lisa Harris

• It’s A Wrap: 2023 Nationals Held in Irvine

  By Jeff Commings – Dolphins of the Desert Masters

  During my warmup on the first day of competition at the 2023 USMS spring national championship, it suddenly dawned on me that this was the 20th anniversary of my first national championships, which was held on the campus of Arizona State University in May 2003. As I made my way through the yardage of my usual warmup routine, I flashed back to those hot days in Tempe, when I was in awe of the environment of my first Masters nationals, seeing men in their 90s swim freestyle and backstroke races.

  Not much has changed in my view of the scene at nationals. I am still in awe of the variety of people on deck, including first-time competitors, Olympians, grandparents, recent college graduates, and 101-year-old Maurine Kornfeld, easily the top celebrity of the meet. The only thing that has really changed about nationals is the size. Nearly 2,500 people attended this year’s meet in Irvine, California, a record number of swimmers and a positive sign for the growth of U.S. Masters Swimming.

  This was the first time I’ve attended the national championships as a full-time coach, guiding 13 members of my team, Dolphins of the Desert Masters, through four days of events. Last year in San Antonio, I was also coaching and swimming at the same time, but with only four other members of my team in Texas, it was easier taking on the dual roles. This year, being coach and swimmer was challenging, but very rewarding. All of my swimmers swam at least one Masters-best time, and many were already making goals for their next nationals.

  

  I am always amazed at the efficiency of the meet, and this might have been the first nationals in a few years to end every session within 10 minutes of the timeline. A lot of moving parts combine to make that happen, and when a meet is run efficiently, everyone has a good time and can concentrate more on their swimming.

  In between watching my own swimmers and competing in my own races, I cheered for as many people from Arizona as I could. The Arizona Masters regional club was one of the best teams in the pool, placing third out of 20 regional teams with 1,159 points.

  Ten men and seven women from Arizona won individual events, led by Doug Springer and Kelly Harrigan as the only Arizonans to win all of their individual events. Springer won five events in the 75-79 age group, highlighted by a 1:15.92 in the 100 breast. That time was only seven tenths off his own national record! Harrigan’s top swim was the 100 backstroke, in which she chopped more than a second off her seed time with a 57.14.

  The mixed 200 medley relay and the mixed freestyle relay in the 75+ age group were the only national record setters from Arizona in Irvine. The foursome of Craig Shaffer, Doug Springer, Mary Ann Case, and Lyn Moreno were part of both relays. Up first was the freestyle relay, where they combined for a 2:23.90. Two days later, they swam 2:43.23 in the medley relay.

  Below is a list of individual event winners from the 2023 spring nationals:

  • Melissa Belote Ripley
  • Mary Ann Case
  • Devon Colgan
  • Jill Fritz
  • Kelly Harrigan
  • Judith Laney
  • Joanne Menard
  • Patrick Brundage
  • Peter Churchill
  • Jeff Commings
  • Jack Fritz
  • Richard LeRoy
  • Mark Modjeska
  • Scott Shake
  • Doug Springer
  • Matt Ulrickson
  • Jeff Utsch
  • Judy Gillies

  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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