Arizona Masters will rule the waves in Austin

John, Do you think you can stay with Arizona all the way until Nationals? You do have a tendency to switch teams fairly often. CO, Team TYR, CO, AZ, wasn't there a TX team at some point too? Having lived in AZ for a few years more than John has, the state has the ability to put together some pretty fast relays without the help of all the ringers. Besides, the last time Rowdy anchored a relay, a team for CO (ironically, where John actually lives) beat him. John, your best relay to date was the one you swam in Florida comprised of your 11 year old teammates. That was fun to watch and better captured the spirit of Masters than any of your superstar relays ever have in my opinion.

How is it that you know all these people? Do you work in the sports broadcasting industry or something like that? In my case it was a matter of getting my ass kicked by most of them in college (for JS it was swimming age group as well but he was usually the one kicking peoples butts) and in many cases partying with them after conference, NCAA's, Nationals, etc....and that is the basis for many to come back and train/compete again because we have some real dirt we could spread...anyone remember the Red Garter in Indy after trials in 84'....boy could I ever cause some grief...but I'll save that for the next time we need a breaststroker!!

John and Paul,although I have expressed my displeasure at recruited relays in the past I applaud your effort.Anything that gets more people swimming and competing is good.Reunion relays seem a great idea.My beef is relays that have no reason except to win:the"gee we have a good freestyler and flyer,I saw a good breaststroker at a meet last year and who was that backstroker,I've never met him but I'll give him a call"relays.

John and Paul,although I have expressed my displeasure at recruited relays in the past I applaud your effort.Anything that gets more people swimming and competing is good.Reunion relays seem a great idea.My beef is relays that have no reason except to win:the"gee we have a good freestyler and flyer,I saw a good breaststroker at a meet last year and who was that backstroker,I've never met him but I'll give him a call"relays. Allen, a few years back in Ft. Lauderdale John, myself and a dedicated group of swimmers in Colorado harassed every swimmer we knew in the state to come out of the woodworks and swim...and try and win...and we did and it was awesome. I would like to try and do the same here in AZ in the future but something else came up. This year in Austin the original plan was trying to get swimmers motivated by getting realigned with their college teams and compete....sadly that fell thru for the most part so JS came up with another plan to try and keep us from getting fat, bored and out of shape...hence the high school relay record (we did the same at Indy a few years back trying to get the 200 free record). It lured Glen & Rowdy to join in and I hope in future years we'll find more creative ways to get people back on board (sadly with Gaberino and Switzer it will only happen if the meet goes back to Hawaii).

How is it that you know all these people? Do you work in the sports broadcasting industry or something like that?

I think super relays are a great idea/ alternative for masters swimming. In college a coach can recruit really great swimmers and entice them to come swim for them and thus form great relays with these recruited, bribed swimmers. Masters' swimming has no recruiting power and your certainly not going to move across the country to go swim for a particular masters team when at this point in most of our lives we've got other priorities. So why not let people swim for teams that they can't actually practice with because of location issues, in order to form great relays and teams. And if in doing that you reunite old teammates and set new records and have fun, who cares?! Good Luck Arizona team!

This “Arizona Masters” relay sounds incredible...I was wondering, since you guys are pulling swimmers from all over the country & have such awesome swimmers (two Olympians, one of which is a triple gold medalist) and there is pretty much no chance in hell anyone in your age bracket will beat you, why not open your challenge to all age groups? You are in pretty much the most competitive age group right now and with the times posted, you guys should make this fun. He's right, John. You should take on any and all challengers. It's not like you're wagering a dinner at Eddie V's (not that you're going to lose anyway).

John, Do you think you can stay with Arizona all the way until Nationals? You do have a tendency to switch teams fairly often. CO, Team TYR, CO, AZ, wasn't there a TX team at some point too? Having lived in AZ for a few years more than John has, the state has the ability to put together some pretty fast relays without the help of all the ringers. Besides, the last time Rowdy anchored a relay, a team for CO (ironically, where John actually lives) beat him. John, your best relay to date was the one you swam in Florida comprised of your 11 year old teammates. That was fun to watch and better captured the spirit of Masters than any of your superstar relays ever have in my opinion. Mark, having chatted with you over the years about what our intentions and motivations are in masters swimming you probably know far better than most that the primary interest for guys like John and I are trying to pull "old" has beens back into the game. To date we've been pretty successful, Rowdy occasionally shows up....if we harass him enough...same with Saeger, etc. etc. We've had a far greater challenge getting Gabarino, Switzer, Leamy, etc.....but we haven't given up hope! Although we probably won't change the minds of many in the sport...the truth is this is not about "super teams"....but rather pulling old friends/teamates/competitors back on board usually with some stupid goal...this years being to try and challenge the national boys high school record in the 200 medley relay (which got Mills & Rowdy back on board). "Teammate" has a certain meaning to differant people....for some its those you train with day in day out, for others its the national team or Olympic team, for others its a reunion of swimmers you swam with or against 20-30 years ago. The beauty of masters for me is that there are no restrictions on what this definition is/should be....and getting old farts out of retirement for a meet/relay/get together along with being part of a team like un Devil, Brophy & AZ masters (all of which I am a part of) is what continues to drive my interest and involvment in USMS.

I think a reunion relay is a fun idea. I'm just envious that I won't be able to watch the race in person. I have been pestering the swimmers on my team to compete and I think a couple of them are taking me up next weekend. Anything to get people to meets is a good idea in my mind.

...usually with some stupid goal...this years being to try and challenge the national boys high school record in the 200 medley relay (which got Mills & Rowdy back on board). What is the national boys' high school record?