PAWW
Last year PAWW finished the Lincolnland Conference Meet in last place. This year the team has done a "flip-flop" and wants to do the same with its placing at this meet. PAWW considers this a most important meet. This year the team wants to challenge the past champions and definitely improve their last place ranking.
In the fall, a new head coach arrived in town. With a new staff, the team swelled with excitement and 200 swimmers in two weeks! Since then the numbers have become more manageable and now only the dedicated and serious remain. The year was spent coaching the basics of the sport and fitness. The team has groups: I, II, III, IV, and a Novice program.
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The team and staff have set its sights on the top of the swimming mountain. It's a long trek to the top, especially from the September starting point. But PAWW has traveled through the foothills and can now see that mountain top ahead. In fact, some of our teammates are climbing up the steep slopes already.
The team has united the Peoria Area and serves people who attend various schools (at least 12 high schools). Swimmers without high school sponsored swim teams train with PAWW, and they attend district and state meets representing their high school.
PAWW's hardest job centers around our high schoolers since they have not had the benefits of a fruitful age group experience. Mark needs to push the group I age group team into an aspiring Senior team that competes in meets and practices like seniors should. When this is accomplished, a national team will be the next major goal.
Lincolnland is the most important meet of this team's history. We are striving for a spirited meet which will assure an excellent first time experience for many of our swimmers. PAWW will have a tem of twenty at J.0.'s. Eight qualified for Senior Championships! Sheila Dempsey was fourth at State in 100 yard Fly and Peter Hastings made consolations in three events in one day.
Mark said, "Keeping track of the PAWW feats in its future seasons should be a pleasurable experience for the Peoria area swimming families who don't mind the pains of commitment. just might be on our way to forming a national team!!!!
"Oh, don't get too far ahead of yourself, Mark," said a skeptic.
The coach replied, "Don't worry I'm patient."
PAWW coaching staff
PAWW Coaches
HEAD COACH, MARK RAUTERKUS; At the beginning of the season Mark had many impressive, idealist dreams for this team and through hard work, in a short period of time, has had flourishing re- turns of those endeavors. Mark has patience and a positive attitude and he knows that the coaching staff cannot build an all-encompassing, quality program without time and the assistance of parents. A brief synopsis of Mark's coaching and educational background are as follows. He has assisted on both the age group and college swim team levels; and most recently completed his Masters in Recreation at Baylor University, Waco, Texas. Presently, Mark's main concern is the team and it's swimmers. He was hired by the Peoria Park District as a full-time coach and because of his hard work and devotion he has turned PAWW's swim program around and made them one of the finest in the state.
TOM BUREK: Tom's main job is with the 8 and under swimmers, and what a job that is. He works five nights a week with over 40 swimmers, all of which are 8 years or younger, but because of Tom's calm, cool and patient personality he has done a super job with our young minnows. Tom is a graduate of Richwoods High School were he was a member of the swim team for three years; and received his B.A. at Illinois State. Tom has five years experience as head coach of the Willow Knolls Country Club swim team-- which has over 120 swimmers of all age groups and abilities.
DUWEE ENGSTROM: DuWee does a little bit of everything. He helps Mark out with the work-outs and whatever else he has for him to do. He also works with Tom and the 8 and unders twice a week. DuWee just finished a 4-year degree in Speech Communications from the University of Illinois. He swam for the U of I for three years until developing tendonitis in his shoulders. Before attend- ing the U of I, Duwee graduated from Limestone High School where he was a state IHSA Qualifier in the 50 yard freestyle. DuWee has worked as an instructor and pool manager at Lake Camelot for several summers; and three years ago started the Lake Camelot swim team-- which has developed into a fine area summer program.
SCOTT HERREL; Scott works very closely with Mark and the senior swimmers. Scott has acquired a lot of knowledge in swimming, through past experience, which he is able to share with the senior swimmers. Scott is currently a 5 th year senior student at Bradley University, During the past four years, Scott was a member of the BU swim team where he currently holds the 200 I.M. school record. Scott was captain of Bradley's swim last year and an Inter-Collegiate Champ- ion in the 200 fly. Before coming to Peoria, Scott swam for the Parkway swim club in St. Louis; and qualified for five National Junior Olympic Championships.
PAWW coaching staff
MIKE HERRIN: Mike is a great split man he helps out a lot with everything, especially the book work. Mike is currently teaching Physical Education for grades k-5 in Tremont. This is his 13th year of teaching at Tremont. Previous coaching experience has been mostly at the high school level (cross country, basketball, track and field). He has also coached in youth leagues with 6-10 year olds.
Mike is, personally, very much involved in the field of physical fitness, including swimming, bicycling, and running. He has coached the Tremont Swim Club the past three summers-- approximately 70 boys and girls of all age groups participating each summer.
PATTI CURRAN: Patti probably has one of the hardest jobs, and that is teaching the beginner swimmers how to do all four strokes -CORRECTLY-, then she passes them on to the rest of the coaches where they pick up the endurance and finer points of swimming. Patti attended Richwoods High School where she was a 4-year letterman on the girls swim team. A recent graduate from Stevens College in Missouri, Patti also participated on the swim team there for 4 years. She has worked many summer life-guarding and teaching swim lessons.
Patti is also a Certified Scuba Diver.
PAWW SWIMMERS' PROFILES
Bryan Kramer, Captain
Bryan is a sprinter-freestyler who has made some respectable times this winter. He is approaching the 50 second barrier in the 100 and has yet to go 22 in the 50. He could be looking at college scholarships if he spends a lot of time looking at the bottom of a pool the next year. Success breeds more success and Bryan is ready to work and grab some more Hi-point awards (Rockford A-B).
Tim Pilcher, Team Captain
Tim started the season at 2:04 for the 200 Free. At high school District he sped to third place and a 1:54 time. He also swam a 1:00 100 yard fly.
Tim is one of our many who needs more intensity, distance and weight. All will be available this summer. Tim is a happy person who gets along with everyone. The coaches are dreaming of many great things from Tim in and around the pool.
Jenny Pottgen, 10, Captain
Jenny is our best 10-U girl in a very fast Lincoln- land Age Group. She is a captain and has wonderful swimming smarts at such a young age. She is a thinker with great perceptions and terrific self-drive. Jenny has made great strides for a smoother stroke. She is on the verge of a few more J.0. cuts. Jenny's little sister, Heather, (8-U) is equally intense and promising with potential.
Brad Roberts, Captain
Brad is going to be dropping his times and is predicted to have one of the best tapers on the team. The main reason for the drops is a recent devotion to swimming fast and three weeks of A.M. practices. Brad was voted by his teammates as a captain for this meet. Brad started the season as a fast follower now he is a leader - headed to J.0.'s in a handful of events.
Brad's Dad is a PAWW Board Member in charge of Dual Meets.
Brad was one of the top 5 in the state as an 8- Under. Brad is a twin of Chad Roberts. Chad has a different physical and personal character. Chad has made great improvements this season, and he is not finished improving. Someday he will be quick too.
Durbins
The Durbins are quite an arsonal. In fact, there is a whole fleet of them. The Durbin girls give depth to the team in four age-groups. They are like a mini-Navy.
The youngest is J.J. cut in the Navy her initials would be P.T. She is the smallest,
She is the smallest, crafty and daring. Her times are dropping because her workouts are swum in a most aggressive manner. However, on the deck or in the port, she is still reserved.
Kate is the next in line. She is our sleek battleship. She is a fighter and especially quick in sprint free, fly and relays.
Lisa is the 13-14 year old with the fire-power of a destroyer. When strength, training, technique combine with her talent, she will be an asset to the senior program.
Stephanie is a high school sophomore. She is valuable like an aircraft carrier and can let loose an array of attacks in all sorts of directions at the same time. She is the air-force and navigator of communications.
The mother, Mrs. Durbin, is the Parent's Club Treasurer and is the Navy's Admiral. Meanwhile Mr. Durbin is more the silent type who works behind the scenes as all master-builders do.
All the girls are on PAWW's A-Relay teams.
Mark has high expectations of the girls and in the next few years promises excellent performances on state and regional levels. By the way, we are glad the Durbins dock their real boats on the Illinois River at the Ivy Club and not at Central Park Pool. But more importantly, we are glad the Durbins dock their swimmers in the pool with PAWW.
PAWW Parents Organization wishes all the PAWW'S good luck best times!
Swim hard, Kevin and all PAWW Swimmers! Bonnie Meek
Go PAWW Swimmers! Dean and Barb Grethey
Swim Fast and Hard--Stephanie, Lisa, Katy, J.J. Steve and Marilynn Durbin
and all PAWW Swimmers
Go Andrea--Erica and all PAWW Swimmers!
Go for you "A" time, Nicole! Mom and Dad
"Fly Katharine, Ely!" The Lambs
Terry and Ilene Wisniewski
Go Greg Pip and the PAWW Team! Tom and Cathie Pipkins
Go for it!--Bill and Amy! From Bill and Sally Compton
Good Luck, PAWW! Rog and Betsy Mitchell
Lower times, Barry & Sheila, and all PAWW Swimmers! Bernie & Pat Dempsey
Go Molly & PAWW! Lark and Pat Sullivan
Go For It, Duke! Jim and Linda Froeschle
"Go For It, Bryan!" Love Mom and Dad
Go Matt Kohr--Get More J000 Cuts!
Good Luck PAWW Swimmers!
Chuck and Pam Kohr
Good Luck Backstrokers!! Jack, Judy, John & Mark Stromberger
Best Times!--All PAWW Swimmers! Ray and Flora Knutson
Swim Tough Marcus & Robin! from Lyndsay Whitfield
Steamatic says go Chad, Brad and PAWW
"You Gotta Wanna. . . Tim!" Kirsten Vruwink
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