Illinois Weslyan

[craiglll@yahoo.com]

Great weekend swim meet! The pool at IWU is really a treat to swim in. Athough the weather was bad, by being in the other part of the state, I missed the storm we had here in Galesburg. We got almost 2 1/2 inches. Now all melting.

[stussy96]

I just wanted to say how much fun the IWU meet was. There were some great swims and even though I was the sole representation of my team, I still had fun. Way to go!

-Stacy

[craiglll@yahoo.com]

I wish that there were more down state meets. It is easier and cheaper for me to get to meets in Indiana than to get to those in Chicago. Are there any teams along I-80? It yes, how about gettin et going? I think Galesburg tried to have one a few years ago. Maybe more swimmers from Chicago would then venture out of the City.

[dorothyrde]

We would like to investigate running a meet at Urbana, but still have to figure out the best way to do it. The problem is Urbana charges 500.00 to rent the place and if we cannot come out ahead, we cannot do it. Urbana is a fast pool, and we could run meters so it could be attractive. I continue to push this angle, so who knows, maybe someday....

[craiglll@yahoo.com]

Dorothy,

I am friends with Janet Summers. We've know each other for 41 yrs. Her sister & I lived together in DC. They own Milo's at Linclon Square. Janet's husband is on the Urbana School Board. He swam there in high school & at ISU. Big problem is that he & I don't get along. I'm going to be in Urbana next week. I woudl be more than happy to get one started and do the grunt work.

I think the high school's pool would be great for a SCM meet after state. I've never seen it set up for a SCM meet. I don't know if the blocks can be rearranged. I am going to be helping Janet & her sister at the resturant (they re opening a coffee shop in the mall) while I'm there. If I can make myself talk to Steve, I'll ask about a meet. Maybe we could get Milo's to be a sponsor. Both Jane & Janet are very community minded. Would the Y team hve any interest in a meet at the high school?

I usually swim at the school but I used to swam at the Y until they wanted to charge me and with the masters team at IMPE. My doctor's son is now swimming with IMPE. I know Kim from Mohamet. I've talked to her several times about swimming. She always says no. I really think that there could be interest in the community.

[craiglll@yahoo.com]

Dorothy,

I just read about the SCAQ penthalon. Maybe that is the route to go. It would be great to do one meters. If you'd like to e-mail me, it's craiglll@yahoo.com (that's three of the letter "L").

Craig

[craiglll@yahoo.com]

Originally posted by craiglll@yahoo.com
penthalon.

Should be PENTATHLON. I'm sorry that I can neither type nor spell well.

[dorothyrde]

Craig, we would probably do the swim meet as a fundraiser for the Aquachiefs age group team, although the Masters at the Y is now under Aquachiefs umbrella. We have not even approached Urbana about a meet yet, so the issue is not negatism from Urbana, we have a good relationship with them. The issue is whether a Master's meet would bring in enough revenue to cover the cost of running the meet, considering the high cost of renting the facility. We are investigating running a Masters/age group meet there, but have some internal issues we need to get settled before we try that venture. Nadine will advise us on what we can and cannot do.

As far as running a meters meet, we run one in May, third week. The blocks are on the diving well end, and we had our tallest Senior(6-6) dive off the block by the slide and he did not hit it. Last year the meet set quite a few Illinois State age group records. It will be sanctioned as a USS meet, but anyone registered under USS is welcome to swim it as an open swimmer.
Our website will have the meet information on it, www.aquachiefs.org, so if any USS registered masters want to swim, just send their entry information to me, which is on the meet information. Nadine regularily swims our meets.

Kim likes to swim on her own at the Y, she and I often swim at the same time. She did at one time coach our little group at the Y

[stussy96]

I think a downstate meet would be great. I know the U of I has a decent master's team (I helped coach them a few summers ago) and I know Springfield has a team, too. I am orignally from central IL, so I would be all about travelling back home to swim. That's what I did for the IWU meet and it was fun to travel, I thought.

As far as pools go, is IMPE out of the question? I remember some high school teams having meets there early on Saturdays(?).

[dorothyrde]

IMPE is closed for renovations for 2 years.

[stussy96]

Originally posted by dorothyrde
IMPE is closed for renovations for 2 years.

Oops, I knew that. Duh.

[dorothyrde]

It is a real pool crunch now in C-U.

[craiglll@yahoo.com]

Dorothy,

I'm going to be in Urbana for the next two weeks starting on Sunday. Some of that time I'm going to be working. The rest, swimming at the High School and hanging out. I thought that maybe we could get businesses in the area to help pay the rental fees. I think that Jane & Janet would maybe if they got good advertisement. I do a lot of shopping at Body & Soul, plus they come into Milo's. Also I know htat Champaign Surplus has inthe past sponsored the little league and other sporting events. And I have a great inside to one ogf the private banks in Urbana.

Frequently, people will do something like this if it is for something like the Aquacheifs that they wouldn't normally do. I think that there is a growing interest in masters here downstate but no real attempt to organize. I realize that everyone thinks that masters teams have to be organized from the local up, but if no one knows that there is such a thing as masters swimming, the point is ridiculous. Anyway, Urbana/Champaign certainly has enough swimmers that a meet could be very profitable. Also, it is close enough to Chicago to maybe draw many down. We go to the city almost once a month from Urban. I can make it downtown in no time, to Wrigley fast & to the western suburbs real quickly. I've also gone to Indy and Bloomingotn, IN to swim. So has Nadine. I think with good promotion, it coudl be successful.

Doing an indoor meters during the late spring or early summer would be fun. Let me know what you think.

craig

[dorothyrde]

Craig, I emailed you. :)