Wednesday, July 29, 2009

World Champs have nothing on Portland... We're breaking records, too!

The swimming might be hot in Rome right now, but everywhere in Portland, Oregon is hot. We’re approaching new record highs this week. Stores are sold out of fans, the 7-Eleven Slurpee machine is working overtime, and my cat does not like being soaked in the shower to cool off.

Get to the pool!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Remembrances of Winter Training '09

Got an email from super-recent ’09 grad Sam Palmer today with this photo. I'll trust Sammy won't mind me quoting his email. He thought this photo showed, "how happy the men's team looks during January!! Can you believe the looks on the faces and it's the hardest part of the season?"

Thanks Sam. Your work ethic and attitude (and some serious sunshine) helped make this year's Winter Training one of the most productive and successful ever.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

A great week in sports

The Tour de France for breakfast is a great way to start a summer day. Maybe you’ve caught the cycling excitement for the first time or maybe you've rooted for years. Are you a Team Astana fan? Can Lance come back? Can he make it on the podium? Most of us should have learned not to count him out too early. Maybe you’re a fan of the green jersey race for the sprinters… These last few mountain stages have been ugly, with the little green jersey decal on the TV screen shown as “dropped” off the back of the peloton as the best climbers tear the field apart.

As if premiere cycle racing were not enough, I just got back from the Sectional Championship across town out at Mt. Hood. It’s a hot week here and today is a beautiful day for fast swimming! We’re lucky to see such big meets coming to Portland throughout the year since kids from much of the western US make the trip each season. Good luck to competitors at this and other Section meets this week!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

A Pio Alumni Wedding

Swimmer Lindsay Nixon '09 married Scott Moyer '07, in Riverside, California on Sunday. The Mission Inn is a spectacular site and my wife and I had a great time.

While I’m sometimes tempted to measure a wedding by the food (delicious), my real measure of a wedding is how happy the newlywed couple looks. What a great day and I saw so much of Lindsay’s vibrant personality, which had been absent from campus since graduation in May.


Four great swimmers, one big hug.

Friday, July 3, 2009