Across the Lanes
LMSC for North Carolina's Newsletter
In this March, 1997 Issue
NCMS 200m mixed Medley Relay Sets World record
Slogan Needed for New T-Shirt
Stroke Workout - by Cherie Benz
Note: Updated articles were inadvertently omitted from being published in April 1997 on the web site.
Thomas William Davis, who goes by Bill, learned to swim when he was about two years old. During his grade school years he took swimming lessons at the YMCA, but is wasn't until he was 13 that he began to swim competitively. At this time he also began to play waterpolo, a game he became interested in after watching it during the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Bill's father worked for Sears and as a result the family moved around a lot. Chicago, Denver, Dallas, Atlanta and Los Angeles were among the many places Davis lived while he was growing up. By the time he reached high school he found himself in the Los Angeles area where he attended Foothill High School in Santa Ana, CA. Under Coach Tom DeLong he played waterpolo and competed on a swim team that boasted three Olympians (Bruce Furniss, Rod Strachan and Steve Furniss). Bill made All-American in the 50 free, the 400 free relay and the 200 medley relay teams but he narrowly missed the '76 Olympic qualifying times in the 200m free. This highly competitive environment motivated Bill throughout his high school career, eliminating his early interest in other sports such as basketball. (It was the basketball team's loss when Bill shot up to 6'4" and 160 pounds by his junior year and he was the only one at the school who could dunk.)
Many schools with highly reputable swimming and waterpolo programs recruited him, but he preferred to concentrate on selecting a school to satisfy his academic needs while placing his athletic interests second. Davis settled on Occidental College, a small Division III school in Los Angeles, where he majored in English. The swim team was coached by Bob Hopper (developer of the Sea Breeze--a device now known as the power rack). Regardless of the change in priorities, his success in swimming and waterpolo was inevitable.
In high school Davis was often put into freestyle events where he was most needed. But the Occidental team really needed backstrokers and Bill was all too happy to oblige. Although he excelled in freestyle, backstroke was the stroke for which he had the "best feel" for the water. He qualified for the NCAA Division III championships in the 500 free, the 200 back, the 100 back, the 400 medley relay and the 800 free relay. The Occidental Waterpolo team also consistently won the Division III title each year Bill played. However, the need to excel and challenge himself was not limited to the pool. He went on to UC Berkley for a Masters in Journalism and later added a degree from the Kenan-Flagler Executive MBA program at UNC-Chapel Hill.
After college, Bill coached a masters team in Portland, Oregon from 1981-82. His 12 swimmers used two lanes at a run down YWCA pool for their workouts. It was here that one of his swimmers, an 82 year old woman, broke her age group record. This inspired him to start competing again in 1983, initially for Berkley Aquatic Masters. From 1985-88 he swam for Strawberry Canyon Aquatic Masters (also in Berkley) and then competed for Chapel Hill Masters from 1990-93. Four years ago Davis joined the newly formed North Carolina Aquatic Masters team at UNC's Koury Natatorium.
Davis rises at 5:15am every morning so he can fit in his workouts before he goes to work as the General Manager for WUNC (91.5 FM), the National Public Radio station for Central North Carolina. He's at work by 8:00 am and sometimes doesn't leave till 6:00 pm. He is so exhausted at the end of the day that trying to work out in the evening would be counter productive. Swimming is enjoyable but it can be monotonous, so his other workouts consist of running stadium steps, playing basketball, and lifting weights. Davis is also quite imaginative in using unconventional methods to vary his workouts and keep the intensity high. As an example, to avoid the tedium of long straight sets, Bill will convert them into what he calls "hypoxic breathing sets". This might include swimming every other length without breathing during a 300 yard swim.
The power rack has also proved to be an effective machine for Davis to increase stroke resistance. But the most fascinating technique he has developed, is swimming with a brick. As a college senior he hyperextended his elbow playing ultimate Frisbee during the off season between waterpolo and swimming. As a result, he was limited to kicking for about a month. One day as he was passing a construction site at the college, he grabbed a brick on the way to practice and started using that to kick with. He did his best to make his 100 back times with the brick in his hands. Since then he has added flippers to the equation and now uses a rubber brick that is normally used in Scuba and life guard training. He has adapted the brick technique for all his stroke kicking. With arms extended above his head, hands crossed as they clasp the brick, he swims the dolphin kick both on his back and stomach. He will typically kick an entire 25 yards on his back, under water.
Bill extols the benefits of brick training: "It does give my stomach a real good workout and when you are swimming the 200 backstroke, that's probably the most demanding race in terms of taxing your stomach muscles. You're also not breathing very much because you are undulating so much off the turns. Kicking with a brick is real good way to prepare yourself for the agony of a hard 200 back....I don't have great flexibility dorsally on my backstroke, I can't extend my hips down towards the bottom of the pool...in strengthening my stomach muscles I can at least generate some decent power even though I don't have the strength and flexibility in my hips that other good backstrokers do." Bill Davis's achievements prove that his use of these techniques is effective in both building strength and keeping his interest.
Davis's Top Ten Achievements
35-39 1993 50 scy free 0:26.65 10th
35-39 1993 100 scy back 0:55.75 4th
35-39 1993 200 scy back 2:01.18 4th
35-39 1995 100 scy back 0:56.45 9th
35-39 1995 200 scy back 2:00.64 5th
35-39 1996 100 scy back 0:56.45 9th
35-39 1996 200 scy back 2:01.78
6th
State Records held by Bill Davis
30-34 50 scy free 0:21.88 CHM
30-34
200 scy back 1:58.24 CHM
35-39 200 scy back 2:00.64 NCAM
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John Kortheuer placed 1st and set new national records in the following
three events: 50m breaststroke with a time of 38.21 , 100m breaststroke with a
time of 1:26.19 and 200m breaststroke with at time of 3:17.13. Richard Bober
placed 1st and set a new national record in the 50 back with a time of 30.30.
A number of North Carolina swimmers listed below deserve special recognition
for placing 1st in the nation in their events. Grant Johnston placed 1st in 50
m back and 100m fly and Richard Bober placed 1st in 100m back. The mixed 200
medley relay (Rolffs Pinkerton, Sally Newell, John Kortheuer, and Sandra Kremer)
placed 1st for the 240+ age group and the women's 400 medley relay (Sandra
Cathey, Sally Newell, Beverly Amick and Frances Shepard) placed 1st for the 160+
age group. Please note that an individual first place or a relay first place
gives a swimmer the rank of USMS All American. To return to Across The Lanes Table of Contents
5/1-4/97 YMCA Nationals,Indianapolis, IN 5/15-18/97 1997 USMS Nationals, Federal Way, WA
6/24-29/97 Pan Pacific Championships, Maui, Hawaii
7/25-27/97 Dixie Zone LC Championships, Baton Rouge, LA 7/14-18/97 USMS LC Championships, Orlando, Fl. 5/31/97 Wrightsville Beach Challenge, Wrightsville Beach, NC
6/7/97 Swim Around Key, Key West, FL
4/19-20/97 Total Immersion, Atlanta, GA
The race is being held on June 7, Saturday, at 8:00am. The pre-race Pasta
Dinner (5:30-7:00pm, Friday) is $14.00 and the Sunday Breakfast (8:00am) is
$7.00. Both are being held at the Holiday Inn Beachfront hotel. A mandatory
meeting discussing the rules and events will directly follow the Pasta dinner.
The kayaks are $50 for a single and $75 for a double. Add a $10 fee for
delivery to the beach and pick up after the race ends. Local guides are also
available for $100 (that amount has not yet been verified) to advise you on the
tides and other navigational obstacles. There is a $500 deposit on all the
boats (an imprint of your credit card and signature) that is refunded when you
return your boat. Competitors must stop by the Adventure Charters office on
Friday (preferably before 4:00pm) to fill out the paperwork. (For information
on escort boats call 305-296-0362.) For applications and information send a stamped self-addressed envelope to
JPC, P.O. box 8086, Coral Springs, FL 33065. For kayak and boat information
contact Tom or Elizabeth Blount at Adventure Charters and Tours 1-888-817-0841.
Teams interested in renting power boats should arm themselves with knowledge of
pontoons, Boston whalers and skiffs before calling US 1 Marine Inc. at
305-296-0075. web site: http://www.keywest-fl.com
E-Mail: Adventure@keywest-fl.com To return to Across The Lanes Table of Contents
The NCMS 200m mixed Medley Relay team of Jeannie Mitchell (49) - backstroke
38:04, Sally Newall (59) - breaststroke 43.66, John Kortheur (65) - butterfly
33:69, and Dick Webber (67) - free 30.71, set a new World SC Record with a time
of 2:26.10 at the Annual Electric City Masters Swim Meet in Anderson, SC held in
November.
To return to Across The Lanes Table of Contents
Do you have a catchy slogan for the new NCMS t-shirts? We need to add a
slogan to the back of our new NCMS t-shirts. Please send your favorite catch
phrase to: Ceil Blackwell, President, 4305 John Rencher Wynd, Raleigh, NC
27612. FAX: 919-781-3799 E-Mail: ceilB@aol.com
Circle 1 or 2 or make up your own slogan
2) gotta sleep The LMSC-NC committee voted to add an advertising section listing the
products and services of your fellow swimmers. By sponsoring a place in this
directory you will be helping to support the printing and mailing fees that are
incurred by publishing Across The Lanes. For a fee of $10.00 your
listing will appear for a full year starting with the Fall 1997 issue (year = 4
issues). If you would like to participate please fill out the form below and
send it to: Chuck Irwin, Treasurer, 994 Snow Hill Falls Circle, Franklin, NC
28734-9436. Please make checks payable to LMSC-NC. Name:
Please print your information below the example as you would like it to appear. title or type of buisness-------Name----------Company---------Phone
#----------City/Town
example: Accountant--John Doe--John Doe Inc.--123-456-7890--Raleigh
To return to Across The Lanes Table of Contents
USMS Short Course Nationals
If you are planning to go to the USMS Short Course Nationals in Federal Way,
Washington, May 15-18 and would like to participate in some relays, please
contact me. My address, and phone number are: Two Fund Raising Projects
Beginning February 1st, when a North Carolina swimmer signs up for the USMS
MasterCard our Local Masters Swimming Committee - North Carolina (LMSC-NC) and
the North Carolina Masters Swimming (NCMS) club will receive money. USMS
receives money each time a swimmer signs up for the card, even if the swimmer
does not use the card. USMS will then share the money with the local club.
When the swimmer signs up, the correct code (priority code FBGA) and the name of
the club must be given. Please check your registration card for your correct
club. For most NC swimmers, the club is NCMS. (Don't forget teams such as
RAM, DAMA, TMS, CHM, WYM etc... are chapters of NCMS.) Also, LMSC-NC and NCMS
will receive money when our swimmers sign up for the USMS PrePay Calling Card.
The LMSC-NC officers will determine ways to also share this money among the
chapters in our state. Please consider helping USMS and LMSC-NC by signing up
for the USMS MasterCard and/or the USMS Prepay Calling Card. Detailed
information about these projects may be found in the Jan/Feb '97 SWIM magazine.
To return to Across The Lanes Table of Contents
North Carolina Membership
I would like to thank all of you for registering. North Carolina's
membership is one month ahead of where it was last year, based on the
registrations I received by February 14th. Last year NC's membership did not
grow. Fortunately, the national organization grew to 32,000. Please encourage
others to join USMS.
National Officials Committee
This year's registration form asked if would you be interested in becoming a
certified official and 5% (23) answered positively. The National Officials
committee wants to start a program, and this survey will help in determining if
it would be feasible. Of those responding, 30% (126) have e-Mail addresses. This fact will be
used for statistical information and to contact you regarding your registration.
Please be assured that it will not be given out to anyone else, nor will any
USMS or LMSC notices be sent to those e-mail addresses.
US Post Office Regulations
Many of you may have noticed that your mailing address was modified from the
one you sent with your application. Addresses such as 100-B Swimfast Avenue
were changed to 100 Swimfast Ave. Apt B, and the zip+4 zip code was used. In
order to use the bulk mail rate, addresses must be compatible with the US Post
Office regulations and include the zip+4 on each mailing label. Change of Address
Of Address Please keep me notified of any change in your address. The USPS
will not forward bulk mail, nor will they inform us of address changes. You will
lose your SWIM Magazine subscription and the Across the Lanes newsletter if you
neglect to make me aware of your new address. (I notify the National Registrars
of your new address, thereby continuing your SWIM subscription.) You can send
address changes to: New Masters Teams
Phoenix Masters Swimming is a new Greensboro team that just formed. Two
others, one at the Greensboro Community YMCA and the other in Southern Pines,
are also trying to organize teams.
To return to Across The Lanes Table of Contents
Short Course Yards
Cherie is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she was a four
year scholarship swimmer. She specialized in backstroke and sprint freestyle,
holding the school record in the 100 and 200 backstroke, 400 medley relay, the
200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay. She also competed at the 1991
NCAA Division I Championships in the 100 backstroke. When she finished her
career in 1992, she earned the Mid-American Conference Champion title in the 100
backstroke. Before moving to North Carolina, Cherie ran several national and
international swimming competitions including Master's Nationals, US Open, and
the National Junior Olympics in her hometown, Buffalo, New York. In addition to
coaching NCAM, she teaches with the North Carolina Aquatic Club's swim school.
Stay focused no matter how tired you are.
Long and loose. Get the heart pumping.
This set is designed for a medium pace to get the muscles warm and the heart
rate up. Tips: On the pulls, focus on long and loose freestyle. Think distance per
stroke throughout the set. A bilateral breathing pattern is important to the
shoulder roll because you force your shoulders to evenly roll side to side
(stroke balance). This prevents you from having a "one-sided"
freestyle. Use the stroke drills to focus on special techniques. (ie:
overexaggerated shoulder roll on backstroke) Drills are great for helping
you concentrate on one part of the stroke at a time. Tips: The emphasis of this set is lactic acid tolerance in the legs. You
want to feel a "burn" in your thighs. The "real"
tolerance comes on the all out swims. This is a "POWER" set designed
for sprinting in all strokes. Stay focused on technique.
Tips: Holding your strokes together is the main focus of this set. You want
to control your speed by descending your times (not your efforts!). This is
important in training for longer IMs (ie: 200, 400).
Reduce heart rate and swim out the lactic acid. Approximately 200-400 yrds.
For those who are interested, please send in your favorite workout with
drill tips to Mary Craddock Hoffman, Editor, Across The Lanes, 12 Dorset Place,
Durham, NC 27713. E-Mail: mcradhoff@aol.com.
Don't forget to include a short biography. To return to Across The Lanes Table of Contents USMS 1996 National Long Course Meters Top Ten
by Ceil Blackwell
Women
25-29 Patricia Hogan 9th-1500 free
Melinda Yelton 5th-1500 free, 7th-800 free
45-49 Sandra Cathey 9th-200 back, 10th-400 IM
Jeannie Mitchell 2nd-100 back, 2nd-200 back, 4th-50 back
Frances Shepherd 8th-200 fly
55-59 Ceil Blackwell 3rd-200 back, 4th-50 back, 6th-50 free, 6th-100 back,
6th-200 IM, 7th-50 fly, 10th-50 breast
Sally Newell 2nd-50 free, 2nd-50 breast, 2nd-100 breast, 3rd-200
breast,5th-100 free
60-64 Sandra Kremer 8th-100 breast, 9th-400 free, 9th-200 breast, 10th-50
breast
70-74 Judy Kelly 9th-200 breast
80-84 Buz Catlin 5th-200 IM, 5th-50 breast, 6th-50 free, 6th-50 back,
7th-50 fly, 8th-100 free, 8th-100 back, 8th-200 back
Men
19-24 Grant Johnston 1st-50 back (30.27),1st-100 fly (102.40), 2nd-100 back,
3rd-1500 free, 6th-50 fly, 7th-50 free, 9th-50 breast
Dan Read 9th-50 breast
35-39 Rich DeSelm 7th-1500 free
Joe Rhyne 3rd-200 back, 5th-200 fly, 6th-800 free
45-49 Richard Bober 1st-50 back (30.30*), 1st-100 back (1:07.16), 3rd-50
free, 9th-200 back
55-59 Jerry Clark 2nd-50 free, 2nd-100 free, 5th-400free, 6th-200 free,
6th-800 free
Milton Gee 8th-100 breast, 10th-50 breast, 10th-200 breast
Rolffs Pinkerton 8th-50 back, 10th-100 back
65-69 John Kortheuer 1st-50 breast (38.21*), 1st-100 breast (1:26.19*),
1st-200 breast (3:17.13*), 2nd-50 fly, 10th-50 free
Dick Webber 6th-50 free, 8th-50 fly, 10th-100 free
70-74 John Murphy 4th-50 back, 5th-100 back, 5th-200 back
75-70 Joseph Brignolo 8th-50 back
85-89 Boyd Campbell 6th-200 free, 6th-100 back, 9th-50 back, 10th-100 free
North Carolina Masters Relays
200+ Women's 200m Medley 4th (Sandra Cathey, Sally Newell, Beverly Amick,
Sandra Kremer)
240+ Women's 200m Medley 9th (Sandra Kremer, Gerry Speaker, Judy Kelly, Buz
Catlin)
160+ Women's 400m Medley 1st (Sandra Cathey, Sally Newell, Beverly Amick,
Frances Shepard)
160+ Men's 200m Free 5th (Jerry Clark, Joseph Rhyne, Grant Johnston,
Richard Bober)
240+ Men's 200m Free 2nd (Rolffs Pinkerton, John Kortheuer, Dick Webber,
Jerry Clark)
160+ Men's 200m Medley 3rd (Richard Bober, Grant Johnston, Hill Carrow,
Jerry Clark)
240+ Men's 200m Medley 2nd (Rolffs Pinkerton, John Kortheuer, Dick
Webber, Jerry Clark)
160+ Men's 400m Free 10th (Chris Mullen Ernic Glass, Rick Rensink,
Bernie White)
240+ Men's 400m Free 5th (John Kortheuer, Jerry Clark, Milton Gee,
Bill Applebaum)
100+ Men's 400m Medley 3rd (Mark Canterbury, Rick Fenton, Gary
Myerscough, Andrew Farrell)
240+ Mixed 200m Free 3rd (Sandra Kremer, Sally Newell, Dick Webber,
Jerry Clark)
320+ Mixed 200m Free 5th (Harold Hoffman, Buz Catlin, Bette Hoffman,
Boyd Campbell)
200+ Mixed 200m Medley 4th (Richard Bober, Sally Newell, Beverly
Amick, Jerry Clark)
240+ Mixed 200m Medley 1st (Rolffs Pinkerton, Sally Newell, John
Kortheuer, Sandra Kremer)
320+ Mixed 200m Medley 3rd (Boyd Campbell, Judy Kelly, Buz
Catlin, Harold Hoffman)
*USMS National Record
National Records
by Ceil Blackwell
First in the Nation
by Ceil Blackwell
1997 Meet Schedule
1997 Short Course
Contact: Your local
YMCA Aquatic Director
Contact: Hugh
Moore 206-925-856219971997 Long Course
Contact: Hawaii
Sports, Inc. 1-800-690-8055 phone/FAX home page:
http://www.lava.net/hawaiisports
Contact:
Scott Rabalais 504-766-5937
Contact: Larry
Peck, *PO Box 2051, Winter Park, Fl 327901997 Open Water
Contact:
Dan Forrester 910 xxx xxxx or click (no longer on web site)
for entry.
Contact: West Tom & Elizabeth
Blount 1-888-817-0841 Adventure@keywest-fl.com
Swim Clinics
info & reservations
1-800-609-swim http://totalimmersion.pair.comSwim Around Key West '97
Relay Team Sets World Record
Slogan Needed for New T-Shirt
Example: Masters Swimming - Punishment for life (this one was used many
years ago)
1) No Comparison
Notable
Champions
Notorius Conquerors
gotta eat
gotta breathe
gotta SWIM
Directory Of Products and Services
Address:
Phone:
e-mail:Across The Lanes Directory
From The Desk of The President
by Ceil Blackwell
Ceil Blackwell
4305 John
Rencher Way
Raleigh, NC 27612
919 787-8324
If you need to FAX me,
the number is 919-781-3799.
From The Desk of The Registrar
by George Simon
George S. Simon
Registrar, LMSC-NC
10229
Boxelder Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27613-6139
919-846-2423
NCregistrar@usms.org
Stroke Workout
by Coach Cherie Benz - NCAM
SET DESCRIPTION A B C
Warm-up: 500S(every 3rd 25 ST) 500 500 500
200IM D/K by 25 200 200 200
Set 1: A B C
300 300 200 Pbp 3/5 on 4:30..4:45..5:00..5:15..15ri 300 300 200
3x 3x 2x 100 BK D/S on 1:45..2:00..2:15..2:30..15ri 300 300 200
300 200 200 Pbp 5 on 4:20..4:30..4:45..5:00..15ri 300 200 200
3x 2x 2x 100 BR D/S on 2:00..2:15..2:30..2:45..15ri 300 200 200
300 200 100 Pbp 5/7 on 4:10..4:20..4:30..4:40..15ri 300 200 100
3x 2x 1x 100 FL D/S on 2:00..2:15..2:30..2:45..15ri 300 200 100
Set 2: A B C
4x 3x 2x
75 K! no board on 1:30..1:45..2:00..2:15..15ri
50 S!! on 1:10..1:20..1:30..1:40..20ri
rest 30 secs beteween each set 2000 1500 1000
(set 1=FR, set 2=BK, set 3=BR, set 4=FL)
B & C stop here
A
Set 3: 6x 100 IM on 1:45..2:00..2:15..2:30..15ri 600
(decend 1-3, 4-6)
Warm-down: choice A B C
5100 3600 2700
LEGEND
PBp = breathing pattern for pulling
! = fast (100% effort)
S = Swim (free)
K = Kick
D = Drill
BK = back
BR = breast
FL = butterfly
FR = free
ST = stroke (no free)
ri = rest interval
x = times
Warm-Up
Set 1 Aerobic Set/Pre-stroke set warm-up
Set 2 Anaerobic/Lactic Acid Tolerance
Set 3 IM Controlled Speed Set
Warm-down
Attention Coaches
Return to Masters Swimming in North Carolina home page.
Updated: January 24, 1999
http://www.NCmasters.org/atlmar97.html