The Inaugural Wild Bill Swim & Paddle Challenge was a success in every aspect.<\/p>\n
More than 75 participants, from as far as Canada and San Francisco, 5 other states, and as close as across the lake, gathered for the swim and paddle events, surpassing planners\u2019 ambitious goal of 50 swimmers.<\/p>\n
The Wild Bill Swim & Paddle Challenge had dual roles of honoring the late Olympic Gold Medal Butterfly Swimmer William \u201cWild Bill\u201d Yorzyk<\/strong>, and raising money to help efforts to protect the water quality in Quaboag and Quacumquasit lakes that Bill swam and loved.<\/p>\n \u201cWe really just wanted to plan something for \u2018fun, fitness and philanthropy,\u2019\u201d said Jenn Yorzyk Triger<\/strong>, Yorzyk\u2019s daughter and event organizer. \u201cBut this is so beyond what we could have ever hoped for \u2014 just the fun alone would have been enough!\u201d<\/p>\n Yorzyk, who lived on Quacumquasit Lake, passed away two years ago at 87. He broke World Records, including when he won the Gold Medal in the 1956 Olympics butterfly event, just seven years after he started swimming.<\/p>\n The majority of the Swim & Paddle Challenge swimmers were one-mile swimmers, about a third took on the three-mile swim, and a handful chose the 400-yard \u201cnovelty swim.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the beach offered its share of fun. Spectators and volunteers cheered swimmers on throughout the one-mile loop course that started and ended at the beach between Quaboag (North Pond) and Quacumquasit (South Pond), where there was face painting, glitter tattoos, a jazz ensemble of young lake residents, a raffle with big prizes, and treats provided by Epic Pastries.<\/p>\n The day\u2019s finale was the \u201cVintage Bathing Beauty & Blokes Pageant\u201d on the beach, which saw seven men and women participants and even attracted two walk-up competitors.<\/p>\n The first- and second-place victories in the three-mile race had special meaning: First Place was Dan Moran<\/strong>, who was a butterflyer at Springfield College, where Yorzyk attended and mentored, and where Yorzyk\u2019s Gold Medal is displayed. Moran watched many videos of Yorzyk as part of his training.<\/p>\n