Thanks to everyone involved in the Ft. Lauderdale Nationals. I had a great time and met some exceptional people. I especially want to thank Doug Malcolm for the competition in the adjacent lane. It looks like (from USMS data) you have not competed for quite a while and had a great meet! I had not competed for over 20 years when I entered the 2001 Nat's at Santa Clara and have done pretty well for the past few years. Doug exemplifies what our sport should be all about; a true competitor who brings out the best in someone like me who may not have accomplished the standards acheived in Ft. Lauderdale without someone like him next to me. I never got a chance to thank you so I am doing so now. Keep up the good work!
I would also like to congradulate John Blank for being the first male competitor over 45 to break one minute in the 100 yard breaststroke; a great accomplishment! I have never broken a minute in that event and am full of envy.
Lee Rider
level what playing field?
small teams in any sport at a national championship will always be at disadvantage and I believe understand this (I did before joing CMS, I went to a smaller Div I college, etc.) and wouldn't expect to challenge a larger team in overall points.
your system could ulitmately limit swimmers from larger teams from participating because at some point you have to have a "cap" to balance with th smaller clubs. If not, then your going to punish these programs by creating some "formula" to balance something out that should be left as "pure" (unless you want to start moving people from billings MT to larger cities so they have access to bigger clubs?).
As for "super teams", which Colorado would fall into....the argument against them or any team that bands together is that someday CA will do the same. If they want to do that and try and adminster it I say good luck and go for it.
level what playing field?
small teams in any sport at a national championship will always be at disadvantage and I believe understand this (I did before joing CMS, I went to a smaller Div I college, etc.) and wouldn't expect to challenge a larger team in overall points.
your system could ulitmately limit swimmers from larger teams from participating because at some point you have to have a "cap" to balance with th smaller clubs. If not, then your going to punish these programs by creating some "formula" to balance something out that should be left as "pure" (unless you want to start moving people from billings MT to larger cities so they have access to bigger clubs?).
As for "super teams", which Colorado would fall into....the argument against them or any team that bands together is that someday CA will do the same. If they want to do that and try and adminster it I say good luck and go for it.
