The 2017 CALM Spring Meet was held on Sunday, March 19. There were 357 advance registrations, plus deck entries, and, it is safe to say, all enjoyed a fine day of swimming competition: fair weather, fast pool, treats and t-shirts! Many CALMers volunteered to make the proceedings run smoothly, and an unprecedented number also competed in the event: 37 CALM swimmers amassed enough points to put our team in 3rd place overall for the meet, behind only MEMO and Walnut Creek Masters. Notably, 6 intrepid CALMers began their day with the 500free, and each of them finished in the top 3 of their respective age groups (K J Kroetch [2], Angela Andelson [3], Conny Bleul-Gohlke [2], Stephen Washburn [3], Bill Pease [3], and Linda Williams [1]). It appears CALM has awesome distance swimmers!
CALMers taking first place honors in their age groups in other individual events were Deb Kory (200IM), Charlie Wang and Seth Aldrich (in both 50fly and 50back), and Bruce Park (100fly). Many others acquitted themselves well, and a special “iron-persons” award should go to Kara Kohler, Joerg Bartz and Tim Sundrup, for swimming no fewer than 5 events each, not counting relays. Speaking of relays, CALM had multiple teams in each relay event and gained at least one first place finish (by age category)—and often more than one—in all but the women’s 200free. Great teamwork, all of you!
Of course, there were many other impressive swimmers and performances on the day, highlighted by seven top individual point earners each of whom took age-group firsts in all 5 events they swam: Colin Babcock (TOC, 18-24), Marie Ballenger (TOC, 30-34), Daniela Barnea (STAN, 70-74), Taite Darlington (TSUN, 60-64), James DeLacey (WCM, 70-74), Jill Hernandez (NSM, 55-59) and Ericka Richards (WCM, 35-39). In all there were 64 clubs represented at the meet including one from the District of Columbia.
Putting this all together and pulling off a meet that actually did run—to quote a source that need not be named—like a “finely tuned machine”, we all owe a big “thank you” to meet director Ben Swiggett and his trusty assistants, Jeremy Cohen and Pamela Waxman. Looking forward now to 2018!
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