For the second time in two years, the Race Club was represented at the Master’s National Championships. Last year, we were at the Spring Nationals in Indianapolis and this summer, at Mission Viejo, for the long course Championships. Of course, last year, with the Olympics, we had a group of the world’s fastest sprinters training with us and so the Race Club made a pretty big splash (they were still talking about it in Mission).This summer, Gary Jr and I represented the Race Club, and Gary did most of the splashing (with a world record in the 50 m fly). Like everyone else at the meet, we both had a blast!

First of all, kudos to Mark Moore, the coach of the Nadadores Master’s program and the meet organizer and host! It seemed the meet could not have been run any better. The meet volunteers to all the services provided and the great reception dinner were superb! Even Mark’s surfer-dude son and beautiful daughter devoted their entire weekend to helping their dad (good training, dad!). As expected, the southern California weather cooperated beautifully.

For me, this was the first meet since Cupertino in ’96 where a bunch of old IU guys swam one last time for Doc. What a memorable meet that one was when Doc slid into the pool from his wheelchair and raced one last time to a standing ovation! That was also Gary Jr’s first Master’s meet and where he realized that the Masters had it right: keep it light and fun! After that meet, he became a true fan of Master’s swimming.

For those non-Master swimmers out there who still smirk at the thought of older swimmers trying to swim fast, I dare any of you to try to match times when you reach their age with Richard Abrahams, Jim McConica, Dennis Baker or Karlyn Pipes-Nielsen. They, along with quite a few others, are elevating the Master’s game to a whole new level. They are helping to establish more credibility for Master’s swimming than ever before. And why shouldn’t Masters swimming get more respect? Look what the Senior Golf Tour has done for the PGA; it has turned golf into a life-long popular sport. When four swimmers over 90 years of age competed on a relay on the last day (one split 40 seconds) you can be absolutely sure that swimming is also a life-long sport.

I will even be so bold as to make a prediction. Someday, there will be so many more Master swimming members than USA swimming members, that the former will rule the swimming world. Isn’t AARP the largest organization in the world today? Please pay attention Chuck (Weilgus) and Dale (Neuberger).

Anyway, the meet was a joy for both Gary and me to participate in. I actually did a lot better than I thought, as my friend, Scott Lautman, who politely kicked my butt for the second time in 3 weeks, predicted I would after our meet at the World Master’s Games in Edmonton. Watch out, Scott! If I keep dropping 4 seconds each time in the 100 fly, I could be scary by Stanford next summer. Of course, I’m sure Rich Abrahams will still beat me. It’s like being an age grouper all over again. The only problem, the chronology goes in the same direction but the ability chooses not to. Oh well, who’s looking at the clock?

The best part for me was seeing so many people I hadn’t seen for years and to see everyone truly enjoying themselves. That pool brings back a lot of great memories, just like Ft. Lauderdale did in the Spring, especially since Orange County was my old stomping grounds. Congrats to the San Diego Masters and the Arizona Masters for taking the Team title, Men’s title and Women’s title and again to the crew from Mission Viejo for hosting a really super meet!