Kenyon Swimming: It’s the Shutt

Photo Courtesy: Kenyon College

By Sarah Lloyd, Swimming World College Intern

The pool deck of Denison University’s Trumbull Aquatic Center is buzzing on the first evening of the 2016 NCAC Swimming and Diving Championships–swimmers are in and out of the pool for warm up, some coaches are milling about behind the lanes, taking splits and tempos, while others are standing on the side of the pool chatting with nervous-looking athletes. There are timers and officials haphazardly meeting in an awkward corner of the deck to go over last minute details and there are parents dropping some much needed food or towels from the stands to their children below.

The noise that the activity creates is unique, but the voice that comes over the loud speaker is even more so: “Please, ladies and gentlemen, let me remind you to refrain from all flash photography during the entire meet. It has come to my attention that some of you have been partaking in such activities and I MUST ask that you cease,” says the low, droning voice of Timothy Shutt. The words are dragged out so the announcement probably takes twice as long as it should, but the message gets across just as it always does. And the Kenyon Lords and Ladies exchange knowing, appreciative looks. Shutt, after all, is Kenyon’s gem.

Shutt and Kenyon College

Easily recognizable on Kenyon’s campus because of his trademark suspenders, flannel shirts, and Indiana Jones-esque hat, Timothy Shutt has been at Kenyon since 1986 teaching in the Integrated Program in Humane Studies (IPHS) and has been involved with Kenyon Swimming for just as long. A 1972 graduate from Yale University where he swam for a year and then moved into more of a managerial position, he went on to the University of Virginia where he received his Masters in 1978 and a Doctorate of Philosophy in 1984. The son of a 1923 Kenyon graduate, Shutt felt that the school was where he most wanted to teach. “When a job opened up there and I was fortunate enough to get it, I was delighted,” explains Shutt.

Photo Courtesy: Kenyon College

Shutt’s background in swimming also played a part in choosing Kenyon. “I had proudly followed Kenyon Swimming for years already,” he comments. “The tradition was a real plus for me.” Even before being hired by the school, Shutt took great care to express his interests to and get to know the legendary Kenyon coach Jim Steen, who welcomed Shutt to the program as an announcer the same year he began teaching.

Since 1986, every one of Kenyon’s home swim meets has been announced by Shutt. He has also had the privilege of announcing the DIII National meet from 1987 to 2009 and once again in 2014. The NCAC conference championship meet has been treated to his colorful manner every year since 1991, as have several DI conference championships, including the WAC, MAC, and Big East. The meets that he enjoys the most, though, are meets where the swimmers he knows swim fast.

He Has an Announcement to Make

Shutt goes above and beyond when he announces swim meets. He not only announces the typical heat, lane, and swimmer script, but he also acts as a commentator during races. He keeps tabs on splits and is amazingly accurate when it comes to predicting final times, a skill he credits to his years at Yale when he took splits by hand. After being involved with the sport in some manner or another for over 57 years “one gets good at these types of things,” he muses.

But even more important, he takes the time to get to know the Kenyon swimmers. He is a regular at the freshman orientation meeting hosted for new swimmers, frequents the pool deck during meet warmups, and is always in Peirce Hall during lunch to comment on the “tables of greatness” as he strolls through. “Shutt brings a nice, positive atmosphere to Kenyon Swimming,” says senior Christian Josephson. “I really like that he always comes on deck in between sessions to congratulate us,” adds fellow senior Hannah Lobb. He loves the swimmers and the swimmers love him.

Fernando Rodriguez, assistant coach at Kenyon and a 2004 graduate, reflects on the service that Shutt has done for Kenyon Swimming. “Shutt has been the voice of Kenyon Swimming for over two decades and was well established as a staple of our program when I arrived in August of 2000. He is a wonderful man with a wealth of knowledge of our sport and experience in the swimming community that, combined with his unique voice, makes him the most exciting and interesting championship announcer I have ever heard. We are lucky to have him as a colleague at Kenyon, and surely swimmers of past, present, and future are all honored to have their names announced through the loudspeakers by this fascinating man.”

Photo Courtesy: Brian Kirkvold

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Jennifer Lane

8 years ago

I love Shutt! He is a thoroughly entertaining (and brilliant) lecturer, and a great friend to Kenyon swimmers.

Meg Carey

8 years ago

All Hail, Timothy Shutt! I was a sophomore the first year he was on campus, and remember his kind enthusiasm fondly. He is one of the many people who embodies the tremendous life experience that is Kenyon Swimming: Firmly rooted in tradition, yet always innovating and reinventing with playful language, wit and grace.