Schedule at OU

Report Card

Report Card

Mark Rauterkus began a Fan Appreciation Day at Ohio U Swimming with a meet vs. Kentucky

Article appeared on Friday, Feb 13, 1981, in the Ohio University Post.

Ohio University vs. Kentucky in Athens, Ohio.

All those who attended the meet could go to a local drinking establishment after the meet to meet and mingle with the swimmers, and have free beer. 

Letter to the editor at the OU Post

Around January 30, 1981. I lived in The College Inn in my junior year as I went back to Athens, Ohio after working in the spring and summer of 1980 in Boston while working at Harvard and the BGSC. 

OU Schedule

Resume at age 22

Report Card at OU

Took yoga and fencing!

Report Card

Took classical guitar course. 

Address in the College Inn, 631 South Congress.

Mom's letter, photocopied to us all

ML to Mark, letter

Fletcher Gilders and I drove my van to New Orleans and had a wonderful time

Ohio U financial aid going to my junior year

College costs in the day were not like modern times. The work study was to be an assistant swim coach for the college men's team. 

Rolling in the cash

I would have been living in Boston and coaching at BGSC in the summer of 1980. I left Ohio and my money there to collect interest. Inheritance.

Bank One closed and merged with JP Morgan. Defunct July 1, 2004. If anyone can find this bank account, we might be rich! 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_One_Corporation

Withdrawal from Ohio U to move to Boston to coach with BGSC at Harvard

Official paperwork on withdrawal from Ohio U.

Resume as a 21 year old swim coach. Meet Mark Rauterkus

This resume would have been used to land the job with Bernal's Gator Swim Club in April 1980. 

Ohio University Men's Swimming - Times Summary from 1979-80

* = New MAC Record

** = New OU Varsity Record

Penn Aqua Club needed a swim coach but didn't have a lifeguard job -- so NOT for me.

I went to Boston and Harvard and BGSC for the summer of 1980 instead. 

Jeff Tarr, OU Swimmer does the 1650

Sports News

TIM HILL

Ohio University

Sports Information 103 Convocation Center, Athens, Ohio 45701 Phone, Office: 614/594-5031 

March 4, 1980

ATHENS, Ohio...... 

Imagine 1650 yards of freestyle swimming.

That's more than 16 minutes of agony in the water. Consider the physical strain, the mental drain, and the fact that you'll probably gulp more water than air.

So goes the swimming life of Ohio University’s Jeff Tarr, as he prepares for the Mid-American Conference Swimming Championships, March 6-8, 1980, at Bowling Green. 

During his first two swimming campaigns at Ohio, Tarr swam in the shorter freestyle races and an occasional long-distance race with standout Daniel Wolokita.

But when Wolokita did not return this season, Tarr was given the chore of both the 1,000 and 500-yard freestyle competition in preparation for the Mid-American Conference marathon, the 1,650-yard freestyle.

Tarr has covered the 1000-yard race in 10:13, his best-ever in a dual-meet competition. He also has covered the 500-yard freestyle in 4:57 this season.

Bobcat Swimming Coach Fletch Gilders appreciates Tarr's tireless efforts: "Jeff has proved all season that he can endure the long race. During his first two years here, he was an excellent sprinter. Out of necessity he has become our long- distance swimmer."

Tarr noted:

Has the changeover been difficult? "Practice always is kind of depressing, knowing the long distance that I have to cover, but I realize that my physical and mental preparation have to be constant, especially if I'm going to go it or not during my races.

In the competition, time sheets of the opponents' efforts are available, and "this helps me prepare for my race," the Lima Shawnee graduate pointed out, "but I can't worry about their times, because I'm swimming my own race as well as pacing the good distance men in the league.

Mentally and physically, you have to pace yourself in these long races, the business administration student stressed, "making sure you don't start out too fast or too slow.

"I've got to keep a tab on myself as well as the opposition," he said, adding, 

"I'm swimming against not only my opponents but also against myself. If you don't, that's when they blow by you.

Tarr counts on the "lap counters" during his races so he knows the distance left and how much effort to put forth down the stretch.

"It's easy to lose track, and you rely on their info so you can give it what is needed," he said.

Tarr swam a 17:13 in the MAC 1,650-yard race last year, a race that he will compete in only once this season. The marathon is only completed at the MAC Championships.

Although Gilders is somewhat skeptical, Tarr feels he can produce a 16:30 time in the event, 43 seconds faster than last season.

So goes the swimming life of Jeff Tarr: a 1650-yard race in the water, a 66-lap race at a 15-second pace. Gulp!

 

OU Report Card

150 Zoology was no joke. That was the course that was often taken 2 or 3 times. It was the one that split the pre-med majors too.