Swimming & Diving

Oct. 11, 2012

When I started coaching at MSU in September of 1997, I learned quickly to enjoy homecoming week. Though as an assistant, the Alumni Meet was a lot of work for me, meeting Spartan swimming and diving alumni was always a thrill. 15 years later, this is now my favorite week of the year and it culminates on Saturday with our 57th consecutive Alumni Meet. I look forward to seeing all the "kids" I have coached at MSU and re-connecting with people who swam here in the 1940's-2012. The Alumni Meet is the definition of this program and I look forward to it every year.

A couple of things to know about the meet:

• You cannot enter the IM West building through the front doors. The building is closed on football Saturdays and the only way you'll be able to enter is through the back gate of the outdoor pool deck. We will have signs posted in the front for everyone to see, but please make plans to enter through the outdoor pool deck.

• We will be recognizing five outstanding people who through their service to our program are receiving the Bill Heusner Service Award this year-Dave Berger, Karen Langeland, Jane Meyers, Bob Rex and John St John. I have included the full list of Heusner winners from the past 10 years at the bottom of this post.

• Remember that the swim meet wraps up with the Tosh Imai plunge. We have yet to award the special prize that comes with making the entire length. Susan Eareckson plans to be there again this year.

Our team as well as my family and I will be in the homecoming parade on Friday night. If you plan to be there, look for us. The Grand Marshal of the parade is Mark Hollis and it is a well deserved honor.

I want to congratulate Katie Sophia Jeffrey on the birth of her son Quinn this past week. We are all very happy for you and the family.

We have a new official twitter handle for our program @MSUswimdive and that will be the place to go for all the official news on our program. We also hope to use it during meets to provide real time updates.

Next Friday, Oct. 19 we get back to action against Iowa on at 4 p.m. at the IM West pool.

Finally, 10 years ago, we awarded the first Bill Heusner Service Award posthumously after Dr. Heusner passed away in the summer of 2002. Since Homecoming 2002, Mrs. Ellie Heusner has come every year and passed recognition onto 36 people (with 5 more getting recognition this Saturday). Below is a list of the entire past award winners:

2002:
Presented to Bill Heusner (posthumously)

2003:
Dick & Jane Farnsworth
Dr. Gary Dilley

2004:
Geraldine James
C. James Clemens
Dr. Larry Sierra

2005:
Jane Hoag DeMarchi
Anne MacCaskill
Jack Seibold

2006:
Jack Beattie
Tosh Imai
Marc Stiner

2007:
Dan Batchelor
Kent Johnson
The Munley Family

2008:
Don Patterson
Bob Jones
George Kruggel
Coach Jennifer Parks
Rick Edwards

2009:
Shawn Elkins
Samuel Kasley III and Lori-Stark Kasley
The Mull Family
Coach John Narcy
Margaret Smith

2010:
Wally Dobler
Mark Holdridge
Dr. David and Beth McCaffree
Pat and Mary Tyrrell
George and Peggy Wedgworth
James and Mary Yeomans

2011:
Coach Fetters and family
Michael and Lisa Habel
Don and Roberta Morey
Mr. and Mrs. David Polk
Mr. Jim Thurston

I hope to see all of you this Saturday. I know that it is impossible with how schedules and travel can be, but please if you can't make it, feel free to send along a message. We will have videos posted on the YouTube channel and we'll also have as many pictures as we can. Go Green!

Until next week,
Matt G

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