Poll on competitive history pre-Masters

Swam for Northeastern fall ´93 through mar ´96 then our school cancelled the mens team. We competed in NAC the first two seasons, then switched over to American East. I think the Ladies currently compete in CAA. Never qualified for Nats on any level. But was a AAA-AAAA swimmer since I was 9-10....stopped comparing when i was 17-18 and just accepted that I was a 1:02 100 yd breaststroker. 59,9 was not meant to be.

Earliest memories, 'swimming' in 1 ring blow up pool in front yard. Dad in AF so we moved around a lot, but always loved being in the water. At 12, moved to CA and neighborhood with summer league. Was hooked. Swam summer league and high school, league record in 100 *** at 16 (last summer league swim in CA). Then we moved to NM. Missed my junior year to swim - CA swims in spring, NM swims in fall, we moved in DEC (I am still angry at my parents and we moved in '78). Good thing was that I made state in NM - 100 *** - would not have made state in CA. Stopped swimming after high school. Started again 2 years ago when masters started nearby and I love it as much as ever!!!!! :fish2:

Maui Mike's post reminded me of an amusing wedding post in Illinois. The headline read simply Normal Girl to Wed Oblong Boy. I have never been to Oblong, Illinois myself, but it sounds like Mike at least met one resident of Normal.

I swam as an age grouper, then for HS and YMCA teams, and finally swam 2 years of Div. III at Trenton State College, after which I thought I had had enough swimming to last me a lifetime. I was wrong, apparently, though I did have a 14 year layoff (I came back to swimming last year). I never made NCAAs and in fact swam slower in college than I did in high school. I now swim as fast (in 100s) as I did in high school and faster than I did in college. 200s are a different story, but I'm close to as fast as I was in college while doing about 20-30% of the training I did in college. It can't all be the suits these days, can it?

Graduated from Town of Huntigton swimming lessons at the beach (one session at age 8). Voted all back yard in 12ft above ground whirlpool making, marco polo and cannon balls. Seriously, I started from absolute zero at age 40 and I am loving it. I finally don't embarass myself at meets and I'm determined to swim real good times before age 50.

None of the above. Learned to swim at age 38. First competition age 40.

Started swimming at age 5. Local program was not very strong, but went went to prep school for 1 year and really improved. In high school I was a 1 man team and went to PIAA states and placed 24 after being seeded last. Went to a division III college. Missed qualifing for Nationals by .01 seconds. Voted most improved and most valuable swimmer by team mates my senior year and was captain both Junior and Seniors years in college. Held college records for about 20 years in 100 and 200 breaststoke. Started coaching after college and then went into masters swimming. I am still an assistant coach for local high school and YMCA teams and swim masters in our local YMCA program. I am now 52, still swimming and enjoying the water. Jim you must not have been very tired after Sundays meet to go home and post this thread.

I swam at Southern Oregon State for Lee Howard in the 70's (NAIA). The mens and womens programs were dropped in the mid 90s. At the 2008 Mt. Hood, Oregon LCM Nats, about 20 people from our (dream) teams of yore had a reunion. Lee Howard came out of his nth retirement to coach us. We had a great time at the meet and made a lot of new memories as well as recalled some really fun times (in the sauna)! We swam relays, did our old college cheer, stayed in the same house (sleeping bags on floor) and had great parties. I can't remember swimming very well, but it was a priceless meet.

Swam Division I in college on scholarship and swam in Olympic Trials (88 and 92). Ditto but I'm older--qualified for '84 and '88 Trials. Only actually swam in '84. Was finished with college in '88 and burned out...

Ditto but I'm older--qualified for '84 and '88 Trials. Only actually swam in '84. Was finished with college in '88 and burned out... Yeah, 92 trials was in the spring (unlike 88). It was the last meet I swam. I was so burned out and so happy to be done. Our relay had made the consideration times for NCAAs and I was so happy when it didn't make it. I just wanted to be done. What did you swim at Trials? 100 fly here. :banana: