PHOTO: Pictured: (1st row) – Ali Blondell, Taylor Oberson, Clare Hine (2nd row) – Tamara Steil, Jordan Craig, Andrew McFee, Mary Chris Kay, Gaard Arneson, Sue Weir (3rd row) – Dan Miller, Skip Thompson (as an Official) Chuck Olson, Tom Melgar, Corrin Buck, Fares Ksebati. Not Pictured: Christian Vanderkaay, Glad Bryce and Unattached Andy Fillmore
The 2023 spring nationals took place in Irvine California April 27-May 1. 16 Michigan Masters traveled to California for a record breaking 2483 swimmers which broke the attendance record of 2378 swimmers that swam in Indianapolis in 2018.
In the Regional Team division the women placed 8th with 9 women and men placed 9th with 7 men and combined Michigan Masters placed 8th.
Along with great numbers, came great swims with ___ national Records going down. And much excitement centered around some Olympians who swam – Markus Rogan, Anthony Ervin, Kurt Grote, Nathan Adrian and Jenny Thompson (who set a new USMS National Record in the 100 free).
Representing Michigan our spring 2023 National Champions were- Ali Blondell in the 50 and 100 fly, Corrin Buck in the 200 breast, 100 and 200 IM, Jordan Craig in the 200 free, 50 breast and 1000 free, and Glad Bryce in the 100 IM and 100 back.
2nd places finishes came from Gaard Arneson in the 1650, Ali Blondell in the 200 and 100 IM, Corrin Buck in the 50 and 100 breast, Glad Bryce 100 free and 50 back, Clare Hine 200 breast, Chuck Olson 100 and 200 free, Christian Vanderkaay 200 breast and 400 IM.
3rd place finishes came from Gaard Arneson 200 back and 1000 free, Glad Bryce 50 free, Jordan Craig 500 free, Clare Hine 50 and 100 breast, Chuck Olson 50 free and 1000 free. In addition, placing top 10 individually were Gaard Arneson, Clare Hine, Mary-Chris Kay, Fares Ksebati, Andrew McFee, Daniel Miller and Tamara Steil. Also swimming from our LMSC was Andy Fillmore swimming unattached. Andy finished 3rd in the 400 IM and top 10 in the 200 Breast and 50 breast.
13 individual LMSC State Records and 1 relay LMSC State Records were broken by Michigan Masters swimmers in the meet. Ali Blondell broke 4 records alone, Gaard Arneson broke 3 alone and the 400 Mixed Free Relay of Fares Ksebati, Andrew McFee, Alicia Blondell and Jordan Craig broke the state record by 16 seconds.
Chuck Olson was the Michigan Masters Men’s High Point winner with 41 points followed by Gaard Arneson 37 points. Corrin Buck was the Michigan Masters Women’s High Point winner with 51 Points followed by Ali Blondell with 49. 15 swimmers out of 16 swimmers earned a medal in an individual event or a relay making this a total team effort and 14 out of 16 swimmers participated in our 8 relays.
Overall Results – 2023 Spring Nationals – CLICK HERE
Congratulations to all 17 swimmers that swam in the meet.
The 48th Annual Michigan Masters State Championships took place at the Holland Aquatic Center. 257 swimmers from 26 teams contested the championship from Friday, April 14th until the meet’s conclusion on Sunday, April 16th, 2023. This was the 5th State Championship meet held at Holland Aquatic Center – in the 46 year history of the annual Championship meet.
Michigan Lakeshore Aquatic Masters (MLAM) won the Large Team Combined championship. MLAM won both the Large Team Women’s Championship as well as Large Team Men’ Championship. BKTS won the Small Team Combined Championship as well as Small Team Men’s and Small Team Women’s Championships went to FAST Swim and Triathlon Club.
• Overall Meet Results: 2023 State Championship Meet at the Holland Aquatic Center (4/14-16, 2023) – SCY
Results with Splits as Cumulative – CLICK HERE
• Individual Point Totals
• Team Scores
• Record Breakers
• Meet Team Summary
• Team Summary – Detailed Journal
• Team Summary – Summary Totals
• Championship Records
• State Records
The 2023 annual Michigan LMSC state awards were awarded at the Michigan Championship State Meet at the Holland Aquatic Center, April 14-16, 2023.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Denise Brown
Chetrick Award: Corrin Buck
Lawrence Award: Joel Lockwood
For the past 18 years, one Michigan Masters swimmer has excelled both as a volunteer and in competitions at the local, national and international level.
As a volunteer, she has over a decade of service in a number of volunteer positions on the Michigan LMSC Board. These volunteer positions has helped on both the local level and with national USMS committees.
The many positions she has held over the years has earned her numerous State and National service awards.
As a competitor and participant at local meets, a US Masters Swimming National Championships, FINA World’s or any other competition around the globe, she has out-shined most other swimmers in her age group.
In the pool alone, she has over 200 USMS Top 10 times and has over completed over 400 races. She also has 23 All-American listings to her credit.
She has travelled the globe as a member of Michgan Masters Swimming excelling in competitions of all types.
In the past few years, she managed to make it to the 18TH FINA WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS in GWANGJU, South Korea, where she placed third in her age group for the 10K open water event.
Her open water winning streak is unmatched in our LMSC. In the past 18 years, she has won over 40 open water national championships.
One of her most recent accomplishment was in Lake George, New York, where she placed first in her age group to become the 2022 USMS Open Water 10k Champion.
So, for all her success in competition and her work for the Michigan LMSC over the years, we would like to award the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award to Denise Brown.
This award was initiated in 2001.The recipient of this award is an individual who has demonstrated continuous swimming accomplishments along with outstanding voluntary contributions and a lifetime of dedication and devotion to the objectives of Masters Swimming in Michigan. To be eligible for this award, and individual must swim for Michigan Masters for at least 10 years. Current officers of the Michigan LMSC are eligible for this award while in office.
This year’s winner began swimming competitively with US Masters in 1988. During that time she was the Assistant Coach for the Michigan State University Women’s swim team. She eventually stepped in to the Head Coaching position for the Women’s swim team at MSU and held that position for 2 years.
In 1990 State Meet she was the Co-Director of the Michigan Masters State Championship meet held at Michigan State University.
She started the first masters meet in the Battle Creek area at Harper Creek High School on February 6, 2005. Since then, she has been Meet Director for 16 straight years at the Harper Creek meet. She was elected to the Michigan LMSC BOD in 2007 as Secretary and held that position until 2010.
She was then elected to the position of LMSC Sanctions Chair in 2022 and is currently serving a 2 year term.
In 2021, she was appointed National Coach for the Michigan LMSC for National Meets.
Additionally, she has been Swimmer of the Year and is one of 9 swimmers that contributed to all 5 National & International Championships that Michigan Masters has been won since 2009.
For all these accomplishments, and many more, the 2023 Chetrick Award goes to Corrin Buck.
This annual award was initiated in 1977 and is named after Dr. Myron Chetrick. The recipient of this award is an individual who has exhibited outstanding service and commitment to the spirit of Michigan Masters Swimming on either the State or National level. All Michigan Masters swimmers and volunteers, including current Officers of the Michigan LMSC, will be eligible for this award.
This year’s winner joined USMS in 2012 at the age of 78. Since joining, he has swam for 4 different teams/workout groups FAST, STRAY CATS, MAC, and North Coast Masters out of Traverse City.
Over the year’s he has had numerous USMS Top Ten times in all three courses (SCY, SCM, LCM).
He has held the top spot in the 200 Breaststroke 85-89 age-group FINA Masters Swimming World Rankings.
In 2020, by attending just two meets, he was able to achieve 11 USMS Top Tens times.
In 2021, he had 8 swims in the USMS Top 10.
Then in 2022, he swam in two Michigan meets and achieved 7 swims in the USMS Top Ten and had two #1 swims in 500 Free and 50 Breast.
He now has a total of 108 USMS Top Ten swims in the 11 years he has been swimming since 2012.
For all of these past achievements and to future endevours, the 2023 Lawrence Award goes to Joel Lockwood.
This award was initiated in 1978 and is named after Bob Lawrence. The recipient of this award is a Michigan Masters Swimmer who has achieved outstanding performances in National competition over the last year as well as over their long-term swimming career. Examples of National competition include the following: USMS All-American selections, National and World Number One Swims in yearly Top-Ten rankings, USMS National and FINA World Records, USMS National Championship Meet and FINA World Championship Meet Titles, FINA World and USMS National Top-Ten Rankings. Additional examples for consideration include: YMCA National Records or YMCA Championship Meet Titles and Michigan Masters State Records or State Championship Meet Titles.
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.
For information about the Michigan Masters Scholarship – Click Here.
