Why not create and organize some new teams by college names under separate USMS affiliations to help create additional interest in Masters Swimming an potentially recruite former swimming alumni for relays?
I know several 40+ Texas alumns that could crush old SMU (pigmy horses) in a 200 medley.
John Smith
Parents
Former Member
When I swam in college, we would occasionally participate in all-relay meets - no individual glory events. Four persons to a relay - distances from 100 (25 per swimmer) to the 4000 - in combinations of gender and stroke. They were a lot of fun and I agree with some of the other participants of this thread that reviving college "pride" through competition could encourage sideline swimmers to "jump in".
One potential extention of the college/club relays is to hold a postal championship - pick some races, swim them during a period and mail in your results. Why don't we sponsor a Relay Postal Event? Do I hear a second?
BTW, one of the really exciting parts of college swimming was the "team cheer" - I'm looking forward to the Austin Relays to hear which team has the cleverest (and loudest) cheer.
See you in the water!
Philipp
A few years back 4 of us did a 4X1 Hour medley relay. Swim your stroke for an hour for distance. (yes we had a guy swim an hour of butterfly!)
I swam bacstroke (held about 1:11 per 100 for the hour). I think I went somewhere around 4,900 yards.
Our flier did not stop or break stroke the whole time, went in the range of 4,300 yards.
It was fun to shoot for, I think Phil Whitten even put our picture in Swim Magazine when it was the USMS publication.
When I swam in college, we would occasionally participate in all-relay meets - no individual glory events. Four persons to a relay - distances from 100 (25 per swimmer) to the 4000 - in combinations of gender and stroke. They were a lot of fun and I agree with some of the other participants of this thread that reviving college "pride" through competition could encourage sideline swimmers to "jump in".
One potential extention of the college/club relays is to hold a postal championship - pick some races, swim them during a period and mail in your results. Why don't we sponsor a Relay Postal Event? Do I hear a second?
BTW, one of the really exciting parts of college swimming was the "team cheer" - I'm looking forward to the Austin Relays to hear which team has the cleverest (and loudest) cheer.
See you in the water!
Philipp
A few years back 4 of us did a 4X1 Hour medley relay. Swim your stroke for an hour for distance. (yes we had a guy swim an hour of butterfly!)
I swam bacstroke (held about 1:11 per 100 for the hour). I think I went somewhere around 4,900 yards.
Our flier did not stop or break stroke the whole time, went in the range of 4,300 yards.
It was fun to shoot for, I think Phil Whitten even put our picture in Swim Magazine when it was the USMS publication.
