Reunion and Banquet to Highlight Wichita Swim Club “50 Years of Excellence” Celebration

By M. Duncan Scott

WICHITA, KS, September 3. WICHITA Swim Club (WSC) has announced it is celebrating 50 Years of Excellence this Labor Day Weekend with three days of reunion activities and a Golden Anniversary Banquet, per information provided to SwimInfo by Doug Stucky.

This club from the heartland has a storied and important history in American swimming. It ranges from one of the most inspiring US Olympians ever – Jeff Farrell (“Six Days to Swim”) who made the US team while bandaged up from an appendectomy just six days earlier and went on to win relay gold in Rome – to taking the lead for USA Swimming clubs in the development of learn to swim programs which have become so important for safety, good will and club financial stability to teams all across the country.

Over 400 past swimmers and family members are expected to attend the three day celebration with a 50th Anniversary Banquet to be held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Wichita September 5, 2004. It begins with a reception at 5 pm, and dinner at 6 pm. A program will follow at 6:45 that will feature past and present coaches and athletes.

Those expected to attend the banquet include former Olympians Farrell, 1960, Ron Neugent, 1980, and 2004 Olympian Caroline Bruce and 2000 & 2004 Para-Olympian Jarrett Perry. Additionally, Bob Timmons, the first coach of WSC (and later track coach at the University of Kansas with stars such as Jim Ryun), along with past coaches and swimmers representing all five decades will be present.

“This is a very special time in our club’s history, with Caroline in the Olympics this year and celebrating the 50th Anniversary, it has been very exciting. Additionally, WSC hosted one of only 12 U.S. Sectional Swim Meets this summer featuring the Midwest’s top swimmers. We are a club with great tradition and great family supporters. Each swim meet we host requires over 100 volunteers and we typically host seven or eight meets annually. Our coaching and teaching staff, along with our incredible members, makes Wichita Swim Club an outstanding organization,” notes club President Anne Allen.

Wichita Swim Club began in 1954 with a handful of parents and swimmers looking to develop a year around swimming program. WSC has grown to a nationally recognized competitive swimming program over 270 members strong. Wichita Swim Club continues to teach, develop and train swimmers of all levels. In the past five decades Wichita Swim Club has instructed over 15,000 kids in swimming lessons, and has trained over 10,000 swimmers in competitive swimming. Furthermore, Wichita Swim Club continues to promote swimming as a healthy lifestyle for all ages through masters swimming and water aerobics programs.

Wichita Swim Club is located at 8323 E. Douglas on the Independent School campus. Wichita Swim Club is a non-profit organization and Equal Opportunity Employer.

For further information contact Eric Nelson: 316-683-1491

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