Over the last couple of weeks, three TWIMmers traveled far and wide across our great country to compete in everything from the Pan Am Championships in Florida to the deep blue Open Waters of Michigan and Washington.
Nine Puget Sound Masters swimmers competed in Long Course Meter action at this year’s Pan American Masters Swimming Championships in Orlando, Jul 28 – Aug 4, and our own Tom Fritschen was there!
Father Tom came away with a best time in the 50m free with a 32.27 and medaled in the Mens 200m free relay. Way to go, Tom! You put the “International” in Team Walker International Masters. And if it wasn’t for Rowdy Gaines showing up unexpectedly late in the competition you could have continued to fool those guys in the locker room that you were him!
On August 5th, Jason Koppelberger won his age group in grand fashion at the 3K Swim Defiance race from Vashon Island to Owen Beach in Tacoma. When asked how the swim went, he simply quipped “challenging”. Indeed it was, thanks to a 1.5 knot current recorded mid crossing that day! Superb job, Jason. You made it!
Meanwhile, that same day but 2000 miles away, Kathy Pelham was busy crushing the competition in a 2 mile race in Michigan known as the Harbor Springs Coastal Crawl. As you can see, it was golden!
Kathy wasn’t through, though. One week later, she upped her game and competed in the Swim for Grand Traverse Bay, another two mile affair in the Great Lakes. Check out her time. Way to let the hometown girl – half your age – win first female overall by 5 seconds, Kathy. Very charitable of you!
There you have it. Three States, Three TWIMmers. Nice going, you all!!!
Cheers!
– Carl
