Old national caliber swimmers that never come back
Former Member
Interesting and unfortunate that the vast majority of ex swimmers that made finals at NCAAs or Nationals when they were younger (or even just cuts) do not now participate in Masters Swimming. Only a small handful of these people come to Masters Nationals each year within each age group.
What a good opportunity USMS presents to see old faces and have a good time. I think USMS would benefit tremendously from their knowledge of the sport.
John Smith
Parents
Former Member
Well, I certainly agree with the few swimmers you've mentioned that have attended Masters Nationals from time to time. I guess you look at the percentages over all and it's pretty dismal. You will typically only find 1 or 2 people of a formerly high caliber level in the final heats of each age group at Masters Nationals. Sometimes, many of the heats have absolutely no ex national caliber swimmers in them.
If you think about it...... these were the only people at nationals long ago. Swimming obviously burns people out mentally. A couple here and there like Rowdy, Mook, Brian Goodell etc... is great to see from time to time. But it's pretty small percentage wise if you think about it.
As for the Texas divers being foreign recruits. I swam when Matt Scoggins dove for Texas in the early to mid 80s. I don't remember any foreigners divers on the men's team at that time. There may have been a foreign diver on the women's team at a later date. Point being, Eddie doesn't shell out money to non citizens like other collegiate teams do. I wouldn't have named Texas in the context Cinc30 did.
As for Big 10 making an impact on NCAAs.... Well..... It's just not been that powerful a conference for swimming since Indiana's program died in the late '70s. Michigan is prety much the sole school. PAC 10 and SEC very much rule the swimming conferences these days in terms of number of programs and depth. Texas stands alone in a very pathetic swimming conference now. The sport is not growing in the US in general. If anything it's dying slowly.
John Smith
Well, I certainly agree with the few swimmers you've mentioned that have attended Masters Nationals from time to time. I guess you look at the percentages over all and it's pretty dismal. You will typically only find 1 or 2 people of a formerly high caliber level in the final heats of each age group at Masters Nationals. Sometimes, many of the heats have absolutely no ex national caliber swimmers in them.
If you think about it...... these were the only people at nationals long ago. Swimming obviously burns people out mentally. A couple here and there like Rowdy, Mook, Brian Goodell etc... is great to see from time to time. But it's pretty small percentage wise if you think about it.
As for the Texas divers being foreign recruits. I swam when Matt Scoggins dove for Texas in the early to mid 80s. I don't remember any foreigners divers on the men's team at that time. There may have been a foreign diver on the women's team at a later date. Point being, Eddie doesn't shell out money to non citizens like other collegiate teams do. I wouldn't have named Texas in the context Cinc30 did.
As for Big 10 making an impact on NCAAs.... Well..... It's just not been that powerful a conference for swimming since Indiana's program died in the late '70s. Michigan is prety much the sole school. PAC 10 and SEC very much rule the swimming conferences these days in terms of number of programs and depth. Texas stands alone in a very pathetic swimming conference now. The sport is not growing in the US in general. If anything it's dying slowly.
John Smith
