News:

Michigan Masters Success in San Antonio!

32 Michigan Masters swimmers headed all the way to San Antonio and came home with a 4th place finish in the regional division combined, 4th place Men’s team and 5th place Women’s.

Weather was very helpful the first 3 days with clouds and mild temperatures. Sunday got a little hard on all of us with blowing flags, missed walls and tired swims. The best was our new swag and the huge cheering section for all of our team. We were noticed! Big thank you to Kevin Doak who did interviews, pictures and daily updates so all our fans at home felt like they had front row seats. So proud to be the captain of our team. We are fun and fierce!

Top scorer for women Corrin Buck with 60 points and men Jens Kristensen with 54 points.

National Record:

• Corrin Buck re-broke the 100 breast National record.

National Champions:

• Corrin Buck 50, 100, 200 breast,100 and 200 IM
• Peter Gustafson 100, 200 breast
• Jens Kristensen 100 back and 200 IM
• Chuck Olson 200 free

Also getting the big medals Gaard Arneson 2nd 200 back, Ali Blondell 2nd 100 fly, 200 IM, Kevin Doak 2nd 100 fly ,100 back, 50 back and 3rd 50 fly 100 free, Aaron Helander 3rd 1650, 400 IM, 200 IM, 200 fly, Jens Kristensen 2nd 200 free, 3rd 100 free, 100 IM, Ayinde Mitchell 2nd 100 fly, 3rd 50 fly Chuck Olson 2nd 50 free, 3rd 1000, 500 free and 50 back, David Kraff 2nd 200 free, Charlie Roddis 2nd 100 back (Jens and Charlie went 1-2!) and 50 back and 3rd 200 back, Hannah Schroeder-Larkins 3rd 50, 100 breast, and Tamara Steil 3rd 400 IM.

State Records:

• Chuck Olson 1000 free, 200 free, 50 free, and 50 back.
• Kevin Doak 100 fly tied the record and 100 free.
• Peter Gustafson 100 breast
• Aaron Helander 400 IM
• Jens Kristensen 100 Back
• Corrin Buck 50 breast, 100 breast, 200 breast, 100 IM, 200 IM, and 50 fly.
• 400 Mix Free Relay Ali Blondell, Hannah Schroeder-Larkins, Justin Larkins, Aaron Helander
• 200 Mix Free Relay Daniel Miller, Ali Blondell, Hannah Schroeder-Larkins, Kevin Doak

EVENT RESULTS

Aaron Helander, Adam Pittel, Kevin Doak, Justin Larkins, Corrin Buck, Taylor Oberson, Jens Kristensen, Ali Blondell, Hannah Schroeder-Larkins

2025 State Meet Annual Award Winners

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Jennifer Parks
• Lawrence Award: Alicia “Ali” Blondell
• Chetrick Award: Ken Mammo
• Lynne Awards: Sarah Lindley, Lou Ann Dixon, Hong Weng, Ron Dubois, Kristi Tullis

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual who demonstrates outstanding voluntary contributions, continuous swimming accomplishments, and a lifetime dedication and devotion to the objectives of masters swimming in Michigan. The recipient must have represented MI-LMSC in competition and service for at least 10 years. Current members of the Board of Directors are eligible to receive this award.

 We are pleased to award the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award to Jennifer Parks. 

• Jennifer Parks has an impressive resume as a swimmer, coach and leader with US Masters Swimming

• Jennifer has a LONG history of swimming for masters starting in 1973. She has several lifetime ranking in USMS, in the 30-34 age group she set national records in 3 events, she has 17 All-American listings ranging from 30 year age group to the 65 plus age group! At the state meet level, JP has been a state champion over 200 times since 2011

• Jennifer is a veteran coach with a long resume of coaching. She was the head women’s swimming and diving coach at Michigan State University, coached High School and club swimming, and USMS coaching.

• Jennifer has experience in many leadership roles dating from 1989 to 2011. She was the Michigan Masters Chair 2001-2003, USMS member of the coaches committee, USMS Legislation committee, Sports medicine and science committee, and fitness education committee to name a few. She is a published author with 3 articles USMS publications and others

• In 2013 she received a very prestigious award from USMS called the Dorothy Donnelly Service Award.

• What an amazing career in swimming and we are proud to call her our own! Congratulations Jennifer “JP” Parks

Lawrence Award:

The Lawrence Award, named after Bob Lawrence, was established in 1978. The award is presented annually to a swimmer who has achieved outstanding performances during the previous year and/or over a long career while representing MI-LMSC. Examples of performance criteria include USMS All-American selections, USMS or FINA Masters Swimming records, USMS or FINA Masters Swimming top-ten rankings, and USMS or FINA Masters Swimming championship meet titles. Other considerations include MI-LMSC records and championship meet titles.

We are pleased to award the 2024 Lawrence Award to Ali Blondell!

• Ali Joined Masters Swimming in 2018. She is an incredible athlete who is very dedicated and hardworking and consistently puts in incredible swimming efforts and performances. She is a team leader both in and out of the pool for Michigan Masters and the Stray Cats.

• She has represented Stray Cats/Michigan Masters across two age groups (30-34 and 35-39) at MI-LMSC meets and USMS national meets.

• She holds 14 state records, has 38 Individual and 18 Relay “Top 10 Times”, 2024 State Champ and High Point WInner, achieved 2 Relay All-American Titles, attended 4 National Meets representing Michigan Masters and was the National Champion in the 100 Fly in Indy and 2nd place in the 200 Fly.

• She loves to Race! Congratulations Ali Blondell

Chetrick Award

The Chetrick Award was established in 1977 and is named in honor of Dr. Myron Chetrick. The award is presented annually to an individual who has provided outstanding service and exemplifies a commitment to MI-LMSC. Criteria include outstanding contributions to both MI-LMSC and USMS. All members and volunteers, including officers, are eligible for this award.

 We are pleased to award the 2024 Chetrick Award to Ken Mammo.

• Ken first joined USMS in 2004 and has participated in local, state, IGLA, and national swim meets representing Michigan Masters.

• Over the years, Ken has been an athlete, level 3 Master’s Coach. coached a masters team, volunteered at meets, is a certified official for USMS and is currently serving as the MI-LMSC Officials Coordinator / Safety Director.

• Ken is a certified official holding certifications as a Meet Referee, Stroke and Turn, and Starter. He has aspirations to be an official in theS. Masters Nationals

• He is passionate about helping the MI-LMSC improve its standards to better align with the new USMS rules which changed in January 2025. He has plans and goals to organize and secure more officials and referees in the state’s east and west regions to further improve the MI-LMSC. Ken was our Meet Referee at Zeeland, Mason, Brighton, Grand Haven and this weekend’s State Meet.

• He is the definition of a Do’er! Congratulations Ken Mammo

Lynne Awards:

Pictured (left to right): Sarah Lindley, Lou Ann Dixon, Hong Weng, Ron Dubois. Not Pictured Kristi Tullis

The Lynne award award was initiated in 1999 and is named after former Michigan Masters President Lynne Weir, for “courage and tenacity”, continuing to swim after a major illness or injury. In this award, all who have been nominated will be recognized.

• Sarah Lindley – Her Challenge: Breast Cancer Update: Diagnosed in 2023 and had surgery in January 2024. She began swimming with a limited amount due to many complications from treatment. She is giving back to the Zoom Masters Team and embracing being a cancer survivor.
• Lou Ann Dixon – Her Challenge: recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer Update: Currently in treatment and has been swimming through treatment the last few months. She even raced in several meets and is here swimming many events including the 500 free!
• Hong Weng – Her Challenge: Cycling accident with a deer that caused traumatic brain injury while training for Hawaii Ironman Update: After being in Coma for several days and in the hospital for 2 weeks, she then was admitted to a rehabilitation clinic followed by 4 months of PT. She returned to swimming just 4 months after the accident.
• Ron Dubois His – Challenge: Heart surgery and Pacemaker Update: After surgery, was allowed no swimming for several month, he then was allowed only limited amounts of exercise and this season returned to competing in meets and training as best as the heart will allow
• Kristi Tullis Her – Challenge: Equestrian Injury resulting in many fractures and internal injuries spending 5 days ICU. Update: After the accident, she started with walking a “lap” around her kitchen, to water walking, to eventually swimming laps in the pool and riding horses again.

USMS Registration is Open

Are You a Member of USMS? Do You Need to Renew Your USMS Membership? Please visit the USMS website  to register or renew.  For detailed information, please visit the MI Masters Registation page.