Kim dangles from the ceiling in the name of... science.

Sophomore Kim Guinn hangs from a pulley system (she volunteered for this) during a physics lecture on mechanical advantage. Hopefully the lesson on force and friction was worth the immeasurable stress placed on her swimming coach upon hearing about this.

ALASKA ! !

Fall break trip to Alaska for two meets with NCAA Div. II University of Alaska Fairbanks. Part of our women's team flew to Alaska last Thrusday night and, after few travel hiccups and a serious airport delay, we touched down in Fairbanks and stepped out into the cold. This term is relative, but to us it was cold. I can't say enough good things about how we raced and the fun we had as a team. This was a first trip to the 49th state for almost all of our women and we took in some sights between trips to the pool.

Pios take to the air... and the snow.

North Pole, Alaska (turn right on Santa Claus Lane, then right again on St. Nicholas Drive... for real).

Glow Putt Alaska!

Homecoming! Alumni! Racing! Giant dogs!

Last weekend at L&C, Homecoming activities swarmed campus. Friday night at the Hall of Fame Banquet we inducted the 1982 Women's Swim Team, along with several other Pioneer athletic greats in other sports.

Saturday was the first annual Alumni Swim Meet. Over twenty Pio swimmers of the past joined us at the pool for a dual meet. Five of last year's graduating seniors made the trip home to see us, one coming all the way from Singapore. Seeing these men and women reconnect with their teammates was a blast. Grads stretching back more than 25 years joined in on relays and individual races. The whole morning kicked off with a greeting line and team cheers for this varsity vs. alumni extravaganza.

By the time I left for the Alumni tent preceding the football game, I was riding the high from a successful first go at this event and I know we'll have even greater turnout next year.

Our new mascot is Pio, a Newfoundland dog, played last weekend by "Buddy." If you've boned up on your famous explorer history, you're sure to know Meriwether Lewis and William Clark had a dog and that dog made the entire journey with them. That same spirit now leads our athletes onto the fields of play. Incidentally, Newfoundlands are excellent swimmers. More on that later....