by Dan Underbrink
Puget Sound area swimmers know better! “March Madness” is a great little swim meet, which was presented by Thunderbird Aquatics, in Anacortes on March 12, 2023. It was a Short Course Meters extravaganza in the venerable Fidalgo Pool. Kudos and many thanks to Meet Director, Jenny Claridge, and Meet Referee, Dick Chapman, for a very well-run event.
All three PSM Coaches for the upcoming USMS Spring Nationals were in attendance at “The Madness”: Pete Colella, Wade Praeger, and Diana Mokler. Also, both the current and the incoming PNA Presidents, Linda Chapman and Sally Dillon. It was a veritable “Who’s Who” of Pacific Northwest Aquatics.
TWIM was there too, of course! Two of us: Steve Fogg and Dan Underbrink. The TWIM swim-squad was smaller than TWIM-normal for an area meet, because Dave, Holly and Brent were down at the “Spring Ahead” Meet, in Oregon City, OR. Yes, it was our going-onto-Daylight Savings Time weekend, and you might think that times would be adversely affected by one hour less sleep, but that did not seem to be the case at either meet!
Fidalgo Pool
Steve Fogg was flawless in his three events, logging three first-place finishes! Steve swam the 50 Backstroke, the 200 Backstroke, and the 100 IM. Steve’s most impressive swim of the day was his 200 Backstroke, where he replaced the old 75-79 age-group record, with a time more than 19 seconds faster! This is a pretty regular thing for Steve, who set six records in six events over in Idaho, just a couple of weekends earlier. Way to go, Steve!
Steve in the 100-meter IM
Dan Underbrink logged five first-place finishes and one second-place finish in his six events. Dan swam 50, 100, and 200 Backstroke, and 100 and 200 Breaststroke, as well as the 400-meter Freestyle. Dan came in faster than seed time in four events. Dan had an especially good 200 Breaststroke, finishing in his fastest time since The Huntsman Games in 2021.
Dan in the 200-meter Breaststroke
The next event that all TWIM swimmers should be targeting is the two-day PNA Championship and Zone Meet, which will be held at the King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way, on April 15-16. We are hoping to see you there!
