Saturday, March 30, 1985
Junior Nationals, four PAWW swimmers compete in relay
SWIMMING
By DAVE REYNOLDS of the Journal Star
Even if the Peoria Area Water Wizards (PAWW) girls 400-meter freestyle relay team finishes last at the National Junior Olympics next month in Syracuse, N.Y., it might set a record anyway.
The four girls - Kate Durbin. 13. of Peoria Heights: Erica Wisniewski. 12, of Morton; Jenny Bauernfeind, 15,of Pekin and Beth Veerman, 13, of Pekin – may be the youngest group to compete in the meet, which has no age group classification. Swimmers 18 and under are eligible to qualify for the meet, which will be held April 9-13.
The PAWW foursome qualified by swimming a 3:40.34 at the Illinois Senior Championships in Rockford earlier this month, finishing second to the Deerfeld High School state championship team. To put the PAWW girls accomplishment in perspective, their time would have placed them eighth in this year's state high school meet, a remarkable achievement considering all but Bauernfeind, a freshman, are in grade school.
"All season I've talked about Junior Nationals as a point of reference to give the kids something to shoot for in the next year or two," said PAWW coach Mark Rauterkus. "I try to set standards high, but getting there wasn't really a goal, it was more like a dream."
But at least one of the girls thought it was a possible dream.
"I was adding up our best splits before the race," said Bauernfeind, "and I knew we had a chance at getting the qualifying) time."
But it took best efforts by all four to do it. Bauernfeind had the biggest drop, from:56.3 to :53.5. Veerman went from :54.9 to :54.7, Durbin from :56.5 to 55.8 and Wisniewski from :58.5 to :57.0.
Because of their age difference, it was the first time the four had swum together. "We should do better at nationals because we've been practicing our starts and working together," said Veerman.
But first the three youngest girls are competing in the Illinois Junior Olympics this weekend at Evanston along with 28 other PAWW teammates aged 14 and under.
"That is still our biggest meet of the year," said Rauterkus. "Nationals is just one race. We finished 10th in the state last year and our goal this year is to finish in the top five."
The PAWW team would go on to finish in 2nd place in the Illinois JOs and eventually get 2nd place as a team at the Illinois State Senior Championships too.
The following season, the girls had both the medley relay and free relays in the meet. A year after that, with Coach Mike Smithers at the coach, PAWW had both A and B girl relays at the National Junior Olympic Meet.
Wednesday, January 02, 1985
Sunday, August 05, 1984
Wednesday, February 01, 1984
Spring, professional football -- Pittsburgh Maulers
The Pittsburgh Maulers were a one hit wonder in the USFL only playing for the inaugural '84 season. The team had a number of well known players including first pick and Heisman running back Mike Rozier. Their home opener saw a sold-out crowd at Three Rivers Stadium, and although the team was competitive in on-field play, they only managed to win 3 games throughout the season. The following year when the league decided to switch to a fall schedule, league management knew that they would not be able to compete for fans with the Steelers and did not return for the '85 season.
Sunday, January 01, 1984
Thursday, September 22, 1983
Team jumped to capacity with word of mouth buzz, by September 22 -- upon arrival at the end of August
The prior year, the PAWW team had less than 30 swimmers. In summers, none swam with PAWW. We had a fun "Meet the Coach Night" and things zoomed forward.
Joining the Peoria Area Water Wizards was the talk of the town. Coaches were hired. Expansion was through the roof. We had to pump the brakes.
Friday, July 22, 1983
Monday, July 04, 1983
Friday, July 01, 1983
Thursday, June 30, 1983
Florida State Swimming - Coach Bill Shults
I didn't know Coach Shults, but FSU was a powerhouse back in the day. And, I hear he was a top coach.
Tuesday, June 28, 1983
Friday, June 17, 1983
Pat Hogan, Dynamo Swim Club
https://www.espn.com/olympics/swimming/news/story?id=5319202
Hogan’s resignation letter, like Woessner’s, is published — see https://cdn.swimswam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/dadacfa4-5f68-4bd1-bd0d-2a45b904144f-resignation-statement.pdf. But unlike Woessner, Hogan offers few words and not even a parsed explanation.
There are figures in swimming who are accused of abuse and there are those who are accused of cover-up of same. Pat Hogan was a dual threat.
Tuesday, June 07, 1983
Peoria Park District rejection -- first time
This is an interesting letter from June 7, 1983 from PPD. They advertised in Swimming World magazine and I applied. They hired a guy from Indiana. But, he didn't even show up for the job. Then some weeks later they went back to the applications and did an additional round of interviews. That second wave is when I was hired.
Here is the rejection letter.
Saturday, June 04, 1983
Creative Conditioning - offered in Waco, Texas
Saturdays for 2-hours for 10-weeks. Program I launched in Waco, Texas.
Waco Parks and Recreation at Lions Pool
8 to 10:00 am on Saturdays
Creative Conditioning
Aqua Athletes
*An Ultra-Strenuous, 2 hour workout for athletes of high-school age and older meeting each Saturday morning for 10 weeks this summer!
A perfect summer conditioner for any athlete stressing cardiovascular system, muscle endurance, flexibility, power, speed & agility.
FITNESS PARTICIPATION WITH AN EDUCATION INCLUDES:
physiological testing guest speakers informative notebook relaxation/mental imagery cooperation and competition new games video taped performance nutrition, drug and aging insights stroke techniques variety professional staff
COST:
$20 for 10 Saturdays starting June 4 ending August 6
REQUIREMENTS:
physician's permission, liability waver, and enough water courage to dunk yourself. *Manditory physical exam and blood testing if over age 35. Otherwise, both are strongly encouraged.
REGISTRATION:
at Lions Pool on Saturday morning June 4 or later Saturdays or at morning swimming lessons
For questions and more information call for Mark Rauterkus at Department of Parks and Recreation, 753-0223, or home phone, 757-1576.
Creative Conditioning
Deb Johnson, testing coordinator, has furnished this initial list of some possible physiological tests which we might be interested in doing. The details will be forthcoming.
Cardio Vascular Fitness
Physical Work Capacity 170, fitness level
Astrand-Ryhming Bicycle Test, fitness level.
Harvard Step Test, recovery rate
Field test, 12 min. run or 1.5 mile run
Muscle Strength and Endurance
Isometric strength
Isotonic Strength
Margaria Muscle Power Test
Agility tests
Coordination Tests
many other basic strength and Endurance tests
Flexibility Tests
Sit and Reach
Back and Stomach
Shoulder rotation
Mark's Flex Test with tape measure
Mark's Flex Test with a partner and body parts
Body Composition
Skinfold Determination
Anthropometric Measurements
Posture Evaluation
Back weakness tests
Grid Evaluation
Others
Blood Testing
Height, weight
ECG (modified)
Blood lactate
Blood sugar level
Creative conditioning in vogue
By DAVID PINTO
Tribune-Herà ld Sports Writer
Aerobic dancing and Jazzerise have made quite a hit with fitness buffs recently. The idea is to keep physically fit and enjoy it with a musical beat.
However, for those less musically inclined (or perhaps more athletic in nature), Mark Rauterkus has developed a way to make fitness fun and games.
Rauterkus, a Baylor graduate student with an assistantship in physical education, is director of a local "creative conditioning" program. The program is for anyone of high school age and over.
"We're striving to make this program attractive to adults of any age,” says Rauterkus. “While it is open to high school students, it is also geared for the adult who wants to improve himself physically."
Rauterkus, 24, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., graduated from Ohio University in 1982. lle has a strong background in swimming instruction and has taught a variety of aquatic sports, diving, softball and weight training.
"We have an excellent facility at the Lions Pool." Rauterkus says. “We've found that using the water in summer has some natural advantages. You can exercise easily in a cool environment. The buoyancy of the water supports the body, and you can exercise a particular part of the body, strengthening it significantly, without undue stress or injury. This type training has been used extensively on the West Coast, and they've done some pretty interesting things in aquatic training."
The program, now entering its third week, has weekly meetings each Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m.
Counting this Saturday, there are eight meetings remaining in the original 10-week schedule.
“We try for a variety of things,” says Rauterkus. "We strive for a new theme each week." Because of that, Rauterkus has lined up several specialists in their fields as weekly instructors.
"David Scott, who works with Baylor's intramural program, finished third in the Big 10 in wrestling,” Rauterkus points out. "We will have him for one session. And Dr. Norman Gilchrest of Baylor's Department of Physical Education is a scuba diver and mountain climber. He's climbed something like the 50 tallest mountains in North America and plans to climb Mount Everest later this summer.
Other projected guest instructors include:
- Patrick Yates, who was named the outstanding water polo prospect at last year's Sports Festival;
- Dr. M. Mahan, Dallas chiropractor and consultant to Olympic teams;
- Bob Fix, Baylor's strength coach;
- Larry Newell, Baylor physical education professor whose specialty is golf; and
- Shirley Early, yoga instructor.
“But we can't schedule any of these outstanding people,” Rauterkus says frankly, "until we build up our classes to ensure a proper forum."
For Rauterkus, sessions with the experts are vitally important to creative conditioning, which he terms "fitness participation with some understanding of why you're doing it" or "working out for a reason.
People don't like to work out with pain for no gain," he says simply. “This gives us a chance to be educated as we are doing the exercises."
The weekly two-hour sessions consist of a one-hour group workout, a half-hour of optional activity (tennis, golf, weights, swimming), and a half-hour group discussion or instruction by a specialist in a particular field.
“At Lions Park," Rauterkus says, "we have the use of the swimming pool and tennis courts adjacent to it. There is ample area for jogging on the Heart O’ Texas Coliseum grounds or at Paul Tyson Field or we can go in convoy to the Baylor track.
“But we're not limited to just those activities. For example, if someone can improve a part of his fitness by taking up golf, we can arrange for that. We may turn someone onto golf that never played golf before.
“Essentially, this is a cross-training program, one that stresses variety," Rauterkus says. "We urge our clientele to adapt a game to suit a conditioning need. If that happens to be swimming, we can have more swimming at Lions Pool. It's up to the clientele, as well as the individual."
Originally, the 10-week program was projected to cost $20 for each participant. But that price will be adjusted for those taking part just the last eight weeks only.
"That (the price of the sessions) is not that important,” says Rauterkus, “we can adjust it with the individual. The main thing is to let him know he can improve himself physically and enjoy it and learn something about what he's doing at the same time."
Friday, June 03, 1983
UCLA Bruins - Ron Ballatore
I loved what Coach Ballatore was delivering. I wish I had known him better.
Thursday, June 02, 1983
Friday, May 27, 1983
Tuesday, May 24, 1983
Friday, May 20, 1983
Cover letter for job search
This letter to American wasn't sent, as I still had it in my files. But, others like it went out to dozens of possible employers.
Cover letter to Apply to Don Gambril, Alabama,
I never worked nor even visited Alabama, but I would one day, about 6 years later, publish Don's book, Tide Teamwork.
Years later, Alabama was good to admit our younger son into the honors program due to test score and grades -- with a fine tuition scholarship. He too would not visit. But, the sense of being accepted at some university, was a joy and big sense of relief for him.
Monday, May 16, 1983
Monday, April 25, 1983
Friday, April 22, 1983
Thursday, April 14, 1983
Waco Tribune-Herald
Once upon a time, as I was ending my graduate program at Baylor in Physical Education, I went for an interview at a newspaper for a plain old reporters job. I had a journalism degree.
Tuesday, April 05, 1983
Baylor's requirements to get a Education Certificate were steep
So, asked about what it would take to get an Education Certificate to teach in Texas -- given I was in a Masters Program in the School of Education for HPERD.
It wasn't good news.
The To Be Done column was more than was willing to tackle.
Teaching in the schools wasn't my plan. This cemented the deal.
Friday, April 01, 1983
PE Proud, softball squad news
P .E . Proud Punishes Opponents
P .E . Proud's 9-2 pummeling of the Pie Pledges perpetuated Proud's perfect pennant
performance by providing a playoff position in the second week of Division 17 A softball.
Last week the team managed to mathematically double the sum of their season-long-win streak , two.
But print or prose could not properly describe the psychology or perceptiveness of this presumptuous family of fly-ball wizards. Perhaps, game MVP, Mary Beth Welsh, best personified the peppered play by her 11 put-outs at first base.
P . E , Proud's next game will be at 4:30 on Tuesday, April 5.
P . R. Director , Mark Rauterkus , announced Team Picture Day to precede this upcoming game.
"We thought it would be a good treat for our faithful fans , and we had to take some measures to protect our pitching staff from the gobs of autograph seekers," he said.
Wednesday, March 16, 1983
Tuesday, March 01, 1983
CLEVER COACH searching for a pround organization needing a teacher, manager, friend and full-time leader.
Swimming World magazine would post classified ads for both those needing to hire as well as others searching for positions.
Thursday, August 05, 1982
Friday, July 23, 1982
Wednesday, July 21, 1982
Thursday, June 10, 1982
Tuesday, June 01, 1982
Sunday, May 16, 1982
Saturday, April 24, 1982
Tuesday, March 30, 1982
Thursday, March 25, 1982
Thursday, March 18, 1982
Monday, March 15, 1982
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