The Morning Swim Show, April 2, 2012: Andy Johns Unveils Singing Talent, Recaps Northern Arizona’s Season

PHOENIX, Arizona, April 2. NORTHERN Arizona University swimming head coach Andy Johns joins today's edition of The Morning Swim Show to talk about his women's team's season and his recent trip to New York City to perform at Carnegie Hall.

Johns relives the experience of singing in front of a packed audience at Carnegie Hall as part of the Master Chorale of Flagstaff. He also details the successful season for the swim team, which included a second-place team finish at the Western Athletic Conference meet. Be sure to visit SwimmingWorld.TV for more video interviews.

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Morning Swim Show Transcripts
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(Note: This is an automated service where some typos and grammatical errors may occur.)

Peter Busch: Welcome to the Morning Swim Show for Monday, April 2nd, 2012. I'm your host, Peter Busch. In the FINIS Monitor today, we'll talk to Andy Johns. He is the head swim coach at Northern Arizona University, and he has a hidden talent that we all just found out about. Coach Johns is here right now in the FINIS Monitor from Flagstaff to talk about it. Coach, welcome to the Morning Swim Show. How are you?

Andy Johns: I'm doing well. Thanks for having me on the show.

Peter Busch: So you just performed at Carnegie Hall as part of the Master Chorale of Flagstaff?

Andy Johns: That is true.

Peter Busch: So you're a great singer?

Andy Johns: Well, there are probably some better singers in the group, but it is a talent and it's a lot of fun for me to be a part of that group, yes.

Peter Busch: We'll have you sing the NAU fight song here in a few minutes, but first, tell us about the thrill of performing at Carnegie Hall.

Andy Johns: Well, it's one of those storied places. It's up there with the Madison Square Gardens and just the special places in this world. For singing or a musical performance, it's probably top of the list. So to have a chance to be out and go out there and perform was really special, and I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to go with this group from Flagstaff and be a part of it.

Peter Busch: All right. So tell us what is your, I don't even know, what is your octave?

Andy Johns: I sing first tenor, which is the highest of the male voice parts.

Peter Busch: First tenor. So are you like Pavarotti?

Andy Johns: I think Pavarotti, I know he was a tenor. I don't know if he was a first tenor or a second tenor, but I wouldn't say it's like I'm like Pavarotti at all, but —

Peter Busch: You are a thinner Pavarotti.

Andy Johns: At the moment, yes.

Peter Busch: What else did you get to do in New York City?

Andy Johns: Well, I got to go see a Broadway show, went and saw Mary Poppins. My daughter came out and that was a lot of fun. Obviously saw Times Square and Central Park and then we went down to the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero and that was really special as well. And just got to see a lot of New York City. We were in a great location and really quite different than Flagstaff, for sure, and tremendous experience.

Peter Busch: Yes, a lot more mountains in New York City and a lot more natural beauty, right?

Andy Johns: Well, it's a different type of beauty, that's for sure.

Peter Busch: Was this a one-time thing when you guys went there, a special occasion?

Andy Johns: It was a special occasion for the Master Chorale of Flagstaff. They set up some tours every two or three years. They've been to Australia and New Zealand before and to South Africa and they went to Europe about 10 years ago. So this was the trip for this season. And the chorale director here at Northern Arizona University is the director and she is well known and very good at what she does, and her university choir was there as well as she was helping to conduct some all-star choruses from high schools around the country, so it's kind of an all-in-one shot to go to New York and perform at Carnegie.

Peter Busch: Very cool. Well, you had a nice swim year, too.

Andy Johns: We did.

Peter Busch: Second at the WAC Championships, set a lot of school records and made some NCAA B cuts. Congrats.

Andy Johns: Thank you. I'm glad you asked about that. We do compete in the Western Athletic Conference as an affiliate member, and the girls just had a great meet. And as you mentioned, finishing second was a good team result for us, eight school records, and 11 NCAA B cuts, probably for me, that might mean more than setting school records and finishing second. Two of our girls were about a second away from making the show, and we're hoping to get there next year.

Peter Busch: What is the realistic goal for your program?

Andy Johns: We want to win a Western Athletic Conference Championship, and I think that's within reach. And we want to send individuals to NCAA, and I think that's also within our reach.

Peter Busch: Do you find on the recruiting trail that you have an advantage because kids can train at altitude?

Andy Johns: For some people, yes. The altitude definitely works. I mean when you look at all the people from all over the world that are coming here to get ready for London, it works. But Flagstaff and Northern Arizona University and all of the things that go into the package of recruiting a young lady to a university, it's not just about altitude, although that's a big part of what we're trying to talk to them about and trying to show them that yes, you can improve. But it's just one part of the whole package.

Peter Busch: It really is a beautiful area, if anyone has never been to Flagstaff. Growing up in Arizona, I can tell you, it's stunning the natural beauty there.

Andy Johns: Well, we certainly enjoy it and you're welcome to come up anytime to get out of the heat.

Peter Busch: I want to come up for some altitude training. Who is the next big group coming in internationally?

Andy Johns: Well, the next big group will be Norway's national team, including Alex Dale Oen, a world champion in 100 breast stroke. And then after that, we have a bunch of smaller groups. Some Germans are scheduled to come back. Denmark will be here and they have two world champions on their squad and Jeanette Ottesen and Lotte Friis. And it's interesting for me to see you got 100 meter world champion, you got 800 meter world champion, and so that's nice. And then of course, the Japanese are going to be back. We just have a large contingency of Japanese swimmers getting ready for their trials, but they'll be back after they've selected their team prior to going to London.

Peter Busch: That must be pretty cool for your girls on the team when you've got these international superstars in town, just even though it's motivation for a week, just to see how they do it.

Andy Johns: It is a unique situation. We're leaving the pool as they are getting into the pool in the mornings most of the time, and then our girls are in classes and then we have a practice, and then there is a little bit of lag time. But they definitely get to see what it's like for these international swimmers and the preparation that they are going through. They spend a lot of time at the pool just in preparation, and so it is really good for them to see this and it's great for me to be able to see it and learn and establish these relationships with these great coaches.

Peter Busch: All right, Coach. Before we go, I'll give you the chance to pass, if you want, but NAU fight song in first tenor. This could be a Morning Swim Show historic moment.

Andy Johns: All right, here we go. [Sings]Cheer, Cheer, Cheer for NAU
Take the ball and follow through
Lead the Blue and Gold to fame
As we win another game.
Fight, Fight, Fight for NAU
We want a victory
So fight, fight, fight
With all your might,
'Coz we want a victory tonight.

Peter Busch: [Applauds] Bravo. Bravo. The Morning Swim Show studios are standing up.

Andy Johns: You might have to edit that one out.

Peter Busch: Coach, thanks a lot for joining us. That was fun.

Andy Johns: Thanks, Peter.

Peter Busch: That's Andy Johns joining us from Northern Arizona University, singing the old alma mater fight song. Well, I'm Peter Busch, as always, reminding you to keep your head down at the finish.

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