Merchant Marine Coach Sets Example for his Charges

KINGS POINT, NY, September 27. AMERICANS are happy that they appreciate toughness at the various American military academies from West Point, to Annapolis, to Air Force, to Coast Guard and at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point.

The Merchant Marine are proud of a recent demonstration of the toughness arising from their campus and shared it with SwimInfo to have it passed to our readers. It is about one of their coaches. Not one of their athletes, mind you, one of their coaches.

On Sunday, September 12, Sean Tedesco, the head swimming coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, competed and finished the Wisconsin Ironman Triathlon. The 2.4-mile swimming course took place in Lake Monona, the 112-mile bike course covered the beautiful rolling hills of the Madison countryside, and the 26.2-mile run was centered throughout the city of Madison. Part of the run takes you right through the campus of the University of Wisconsin. It was a tough day because temperatures reached the mid 80’s.

Tedesco finished in 11:32:15. He placed 283 out of 2,188 competitors. Most notable was his swimming time. He finished in 51:52, placing 18th overall. Among those ahead of him were five professionals. There were 215 athletes who did not complete the entire race. Also, a four minute dismounting discrepancy is under review.

The Connecticut graduate has been at the helm of the USMMA swimming program since 2001. At the NCAA Division III Championships, his men’s team has placed in the top-30 for the last-three seasons, including a 19th-place showing in 2004 at the St. Peters RecPlex.

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Guess what image will flash through the minds of any of Tedesco’s swimmers the first time they consider complaining about workout being “too tough?”

Way to go, coach!

—–Original Message—–
From: Emberley, Tom [mailto:emberleyt@USMMA.EDU]
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 6:38 AM
To: philw@swiminfo.com; newsmaster@swiminfo.com
Subject: A swimming coach's triathlon story
To Whom It May Concern,

It is to my understanding that SwimInfo.com publishes some "feel good" stories, so to speak, regarding those in the swimming community. Attached, you'll find three brief paragraphs on USMMA head swimming coach Sean Tedesco, who competed in a triathlon a couple of weeks ago. If you have any further questions about this, please don't hesitate to contact me at any time.

Thanks again!

– Tom

Tom Emberley, Director of Athletic Communications
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
300 Steamboat Road – O'Hara Hall
Kings Point, NY 11024

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