This year our annual meet, the Caltech Pentathlon (more general info below), was a rousing success with over 100 entries. The results are posted on the web. We have some Team pictures as well as a few action shots are also available from last years pentathon. I will update these picutres once new ones from this years meet become available.
Caltech Masters is a group of about 30 active members, although the club roster officially numbers over 100. We have members from both within and outside the Caltech community. Anyone who can swim a few laps can join the club; we have members of all fitness and ability levels from those who swim just for fun to people who swim to stay in shape to people who compete in ocean swims, ultra runs, or Masters swim meets. The regulars and long-time veterans of the team have developed into a fairly close-knit bunch but we have lost several people to new jobs, graduation, moving, etc., in the past year and could really use some fresh faces.
The swim club is associated with United States Masters Swimming (USMS). This means you must join Masters annually ($30/year) to swim with the club. In return, you are covered by the group insurance policy. The insurance includes accident and liability coverage during all sanctioned events and organized workouts that are supervised by a USMS member or coach. You will also receive SWIM magazine bimonthly, which contains articles on nutrition, stroke tips, competetions, and other Masters swimmers. You are welcome to try a few workouts before making the commitment to join; however, the club must pay for coaches and pool rent, so all club members must pay monthly dues. Dues are $20/month for Caltech students and $30/month for everyone else. Caltech students willing to make a long-term commitment are rewarded with a lower rate of $45/quarter.
During the academic year, workouts are held Mon.-Thurs. from 6 PM to 7:30 PM at the Caltech pool. Saturday workouts are held 7 AM to 8:30 AM, and typically some members go out to breakfast after workout. Workouts usually mainly consist of a warm-up set, followed by a main set, a kick set, a pull set, and ending with a cool-down set. Kickboards are provided but pull buoys and hand paddles are not. Typically the slower swimmers swim in the lanes at the east end of the pool and faster swimmers take the far west lanes; workout sets are modified by lane for swimmer ability.
Every Masters coach I have ever met has been friendly, encouraging, and all around a terrific coach; the Caltech coaches are no exception. Kenny coaches the Monday and Wednesday evening workouts and all morning workouts. Typically his sets consist of shorter distances (50's, 100's, and 200's) but all the coaches sometimes deviate from their usual styles. Moe, a triathlete himself according to the rumor mill, coaches Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Usually the club puts on two major get-togethers a year--one at the end of the summer and one at Christmas. These events are usually potluck affairs and are a great way to socialize with people who usually swim at the other end of the pool. In addition, we hold one annual Masters-sponsored meet at Caltech called the Pentathlon, which draws Masters swimmers from around southern California and is a major source of revenue for the club. The meet consists of 5 events: 50 yds butterfly, 50 back, 50 breast, 50 free, and the 100 individual medley. This event is usually held the second Sunday in March. All Caltech swimmers are invited to compete, but swimmers who do not compete and family members are asked to volunteer as timers or other helpers. The Pentathlon is always a fun event with a good turnout.
In memoriam: The team has had a rough year with the loss of two amazing swimmers. Dave Ford lost his battle with cancer in December 1996. Although not the fastest swimmer on the team, Dave was one of our long-time veterans and always had a kind word for everybody. He is truly missed by all. Jordan Kaplan was killed in a tragic plane crash in March 1997 at the age of 32. Jordan led an amazingly full life; he was not only a great swimmer and a first-rate pilot but also an accomplished violinist in the Santa Monica Symphony and a talented scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. There is currently a memorial web page being maintained at JPL with more information on Jordan.
For additonal information contact Theron
Stanford at swimclub@cco.caltech.edu or show up at one
of the workouts and talk to the coach. Here are some interesting links
if you are interested in swimming in the LA area.
updated March 23, 1998