A History of Oregon Masters Swimming: 1975
In 1975, we led off with a meet at Portland Community College on March 16th. Darlene Pohl (25) made her debut in the 1650 at 25:03.5. Ronda Gates (35) likewise did the 200 Free in 3:20.7. Elfie Stevenin (53) won 3 events. Jon Stout (28) 50/100 Back in 28.9/1:04.9. Doug Huestis (27) offspring of Gerald, former coach of the Olympic Club in San Francisco, teed off vs. Stoddart Smith (31) for the 200Fly (Huestis-2:24.3 Smith-2:22.5). Ron Nakata (35) vs. Mark Gates (35) 200 IM (Gates 2:35.6, Nakata 2:49.0). More recently, 57-year-old Nakata swam a 2:39.06 at Ashland. Emanuel Sang swam in his first Masters meet. Jed Cronin (26) negotiated the 100 Fly in 1:02.0. James Holland (51) swam the 100 Free in 1:04.7. George Bailey (62) squared off with Kelly Bagby (60) in the 100 Breast (Bailey 1:51.03-Bagby 2:11.2).
On April 6th, 1975, the first short course meters meet was held at the Olympic Athletic Club in Portland. Trond Williams (25) bested Von Tagen (31) in the 50 - 25.6 vs 26.2. Trond's time was the OMS SCM Record for 25-29. Phil Taylor in the 50/100/200Brst: 35.4, 1:20.5, 3:04.9. This meet is where Jed Cronin got the name "Ted" with a 50/100 Fly - 29.1/1:10.6. Fred Sprenger (44) 200/1500Free-2:242.6/23.13.7. Ron Nakata (35) posted a 1:09.0-100 Free. Sue Snyder (26) Alice Zabudsky (30) 100 IM; 1:24.7 vs. 1:31.3. Eileen Biglin (56) 50 Free -56.9, 50 Back-1:53.4.
May 2-4: Region XII SCY Champs in Issaquah.
Connie Wilson
picked up 3 Golds
and a Silver. Elfie Stevenin had 2 Golds and 3 Silvers. Fred Sprenger, a
Gold,
Earl Walter
4 Golds and George Bailey returned with 2 Golds and a
Silver. For the first time we had a 20-24 Age Group. PNA's Men 25+
Medley-1:50.2, Free-1:35.7. Membership was at 100 plus, but definitely not
all active.
Association SC Championships, Beaverton, June 1st: Judi Shaw (26) won the 50/100/200 Free: 31.0/1:11.3/2:43.1; Darlene Pohl (25) edged Susan Snyder (26) for the 100 IM 1:15.6 vs 1:15.7. Christine Weitzer (45) won 6 Golds. Karl Von Tagen (31) edged Trond Williams in the 50 Free 23.2 vs 23.5. Gary Leach (25) edged Bob Maestre in the 200 Free 2:04.9 vs 2:05.2. Stoddard Smith (31) Ernie Glass (25) Jon Stout (28) 50Fly - 26.9, 27.2, 27.7. Fred Eckhardt (49) went 50Fly in 40.2. Jim Snow (48) managed the 200 Free in 3:04.2, Maestre, Maher, Huestis, Gaughan handled the 200 Medley (25+) in 1:56.5.
1975 saw the birth of our first Newsletter, published by Connie Wilson. It reported on upcoming Region 12 LC Champs at Mountain Park. Also on the SC Nationals at Fort Lauderdale. 633 swimmers took part, Connie took 2 Golds and a 4th. She even predicted "cut off" times. Announced a Swim-a-Lap for The Handicapped. Newsletter also included an entry form for the Spokane LC Invitational plus the results of the Association Championships and Issaquah Regionals. As of July of 1975 we were still a one person organization.
We also saw the first listing of Region XII SC Top Ten (Announced by Harry Lewis of IEM). Darlene Pohl and Susan Snyder led the way in 2 events each for 25-29. Alice Zabudsky (30-34) was mentioned in 6 events with 4 2nd-places. Connie Wilson (35-39) picked off 2 # 1's. Trond Williams, Robert Maestre , Jon Stout, Ernie Glass, Jed Cronin, Gary Leach, and Doug Huestsis all managed spots in the 25-29. Karl Von Tagen and Stoddart Smith were high placers in the 30-34 bracket( Von Tagen picked off 1sts for the 100Fr and 100 IM. Gary Chase, Ron Nakata and Mark Gates garnered spots in the 35-39.
Ron Taylor
, Donlan Jones, Emmanuel Sang and Skip Roggenbihl were placed in
40-44. Connie Wilson picked off 2 1sts (40-44) while Christine Weitzer made 4
spots in 45-49. Elfie Stevenin - 5 places (50-54), Eileen Biglin-3 places
(55-59),
Hazel Bressie
, w/3 spots (65-69) Chuck Harris, Donlan Jones, Jim
Snow, George Burgess and Fred Eckhart were tabbed (45-49). Jim Holland and
Earl Walter(3-1sts) for the (50-54), George Bailey and Kelly Bagby made the
60-64 team.
Connie Wilson was Oregon's first USMS All-American in 1975, with 4 Firsts in National Championships meets. The newsletter for August gave kudos to Alice Zabudsky for her hours of selecting and typing Oregon Records and Top Tenners. Also a first ever listing of Oregon Short Course Yards Records: Don Schollander and Steve Johnson were tied at 1:57.4 (200 Free 25-29) Karl Von Tagen held 7 in the 30-34 group. 35-39: Jim Bigler 500 Free 7:20.3, Ron Nakata 100 Back 1:23.0. 40-44: Donlan Jones had all the back (33.0/1:16/3:15.3). Women 25-29: 1650-Darlene Pohl 22:49.9, 200 Back-Susan Snyder 2:45.6; Women-30-34: Alice Zabudsky 100Fr-1:12.3 and 50 Fly-33.9; Women-35-39: Viginia Arvidson 200Fr 2:44.1 and Judy DeRigo 100Fly 1:30.0 W-40-44: Connie Wilson 100-200 Back;1:19.9/2:56.5; M-45-49- Harrison,100 Fre 1:11.9; Donlan Jones, 50 Back 32.8; Rod Harmon, 100 IM 1:17.8, M-50-54 : 50 Free Holland 28.2, 200 Back-Walter 2:46.5, 100 IM-1.16.1! ; W-45-49 50 Free, Glenna MacKenzie 38.8, also 100 IM 1:25.8, W-55-59 Eileen Biglin 50/100Fr 47.6/1:49.6.
SCY USMS Top Ten: Men- Karl Von Tagen, Stoddart Smith, Donlan Jones, Earl Walter George Bailey, Kelly Bagby and Doug Huestis. Women: Darlene Pohl, Susan Snyder, Connie Wilson (Nat'l Champ 100/200 Back), Glenna McKensie, Mary Miller and Hazel Bressie.
Region XII LC Champs at Mountain Park (Aug 15-17) : Judy Shaw (25-29) 1:16.2 for 100 Free, Susan Snyder 1:27.8 for 100 Fly. W (30-34) Zabudsky 100 Fly 1:33.0, W (35-39) Carol Friedley only OMS Gold 50 Brst-50.0. No doubt some off this was attributable to the emergence of Juanita Correa (39). Juanita and her husband Dr. Correa, had moved to the Seattle area from Peru. She was one of several who have electrified Masters swimming worldwide. Juanita still holds records going back to '81 and '83, in this meet she swam the 50m Free and 100m Free in 32.0 and 1:12.3, the 200 & 400m Free in 2:46.2, and 5:53.0. She is not only a magnificent swimmer, but one of the world's beautiful people, as was her husband the Doctor. W 40-44 saw our Connie Wilson, the only Oregon swimmer to snag a Gold. Connie picked off 4, highlighted by 44.0/1:37.0/3:26.9 for the backstroke. Christine Weitzer swam for 4 Golds in the 45-49 group. W (50-54) Virg! inia Joslin and Elfie Stevenin, 2 and 5 Golds. W (55-59) Eileen Biglin swam for 2 Golds. W (65-69) Hazel Bressie gave us 3 Golds. Men 25-29 Trond Williams had a 26.4, Maestre a 26.9 for the 50 Free, Jon Stout recorded 50/100/200 Back in 32.9/1:13.6/2:46.6. Men 30-34: Karl Von Tagen gave us 50/100 Free in 26.5/59.8. Men 35-39 Mel McElroy (PNA) swallowed us alive with 5 Golds. Men 40-44 Fred Sprenger 400/1500Fr-5:56.4/23:50.4, George Burgess gave us 5 Golds; Breast was 42.5/1:37.1/3:55.0. Men 45-49 Chuck Harrison garnered 4 Golds; ie 1500Fr-29:27.9. Fred Eckhardt swam the 100Fly in 1:40.6, Donlan Jones gave us 4 Golds and a Silver w/ 37.4 for 50 Back and 40.4 for 50 Fly. Men 50-54 Walter 50/100/200 Bk-37.5/1:25.6/3:17.8; Men 60-64 George Bailey picked off 2 Golds and Silvers. Highlight of this meet was Steve Engel's NR in the 400 IM at 5:35.5.
NEWSLETTER Oct 1975, gives us the first big change in OMS. Connie was Chairman (she preferred that to Chairperson), Earl Walter became Vice Chair, Alice Zabudsky still handling records, and the addition of Committee Members; Trond Williams and Donlan Jones. It was decided (1) Stick to the schedule (2) Get more publicity (3) Run 1 or 2 of the meets with minimum awards, using the money saved to offset costs of newsletter, etc; (4) Stamps went to 13 cents, and printing costs were going up. 2 meets would be fundraisers, no awards-Jan, June & July will have high quality awards (5) We will try to work things so that the host club will receive part of the entry monies.(OB Note: Does any of this sound familiar?) Connie wrote about getting AA, through winning 4 National Golds, she almost lost the 4th one, when she was almost beaten by an unseeded swimmer. Special Note: Age Group 20-24 added at the local level, not yet approved by USMS. An appeal was made to keep your registration current, so as to support the program.Swim-Master, official USMS publication, was selling for $5.00 for 9 issues.
Karl Von Tagen hosted a SCY meet at PCC on Nov 9th. Clare Carey (63) made her debut (50 Free 46.3, 50 Back 54.4). Carol Fredely (36) swam the 50 Free in 34.5. Tom Anderson appeared with 50/100 Free in 25.0/54.8,1650- 20:34.8. Doug Crichton (28) negotiated the 1650 in 26:49.3. Jim Bigler (40) 50/100 Free, 28.9/1:13.2. Chuck Harrison (49) and Jim Snow (49) rasseled the 100Fr (1:17.3 vs 1:17.5). Earl Walter (54) swam the 1650 (27:41.7).
Dec '75- Newsletter: The PCC Meet had 40 swimmers. National Registration was $2.50, with $1.00 coming back to Oregon Masters. If you were registered, you received the newsletter at no cost. Complimentary copies went to Aquatic Directors and Coaches on request. National Top Ten for 1975 included: Karl Von Tagen, Susan Snyder, Hazel Bressie, Jon Stout, Earl Walter, Connie Wilson, Trond Williams, Carol Friedly, Elfie Stevenin and Donlan Jones. We had 1 AA and 10 Top Tenners. OMS in 1996 had 74 Top Tenners and 18 AA's. Olive Mucha was Aquatic Director at MAC, and hosting Masters Meets. You could swim 5 Individual Events plus 4 Relays, there was a 50 cent surcharge and $1.10 per individual event, plus a dollar per relay team member. The MAC Meet offered 3 Special Events : 25 Dogpaddle, 50 kickboard, and a 100 Potpourri Individual Medley (No explanation is available at this time).
