Happy Holidays from Pioneer Swimming !

Swimming doesn’t pause for Pioneers abroad

Rachel is just wrapping up her studies abroad in Chile before returning home for the holidays and rejoining us for Winter Training. In November she participated in III Copa San Alfonso del Mar in Algarrobo, Chile. The swim was contested in one of the largest pools in the world. Here is her story.............

The pool is over a kilometer long and is literally a few hundred feet from the ocean. Although the water is ocean water, it is crystal clear and maintained at about 28 degrees Celsius all year - that's cold for a pool, warm for the ocean, and perfect for an open water swim. I entered with a friend in the 3000 meters and we raced against over 150 other competitors from all over the world and all age groups. I finished in about the middle of the pack.



My friend won his division (he's the guy standing next to me with the medal after our swim). We all received participation medals, but the real prize was spending a perfect sunny day in San Alfonso, swimming in that incredible pool, and watching the sun set over the last group of swimmers racing the 5000 meters.



Swimming is a natural high, and the adrenaline and endorphins after that race were the best I've ever felt. At the end of the day, I was tired and happy and it was truly an unforgettable experience.

Men Smash 20 Year-Old Relay Record!

Few words necessary. Steven, Shu, Chris and Noah fulfilled a many-year quest by recent generations of Pio men as they blew away the 200 Medley Relay record swimming in tonight’s finals.

Congratulations on a whole team effort!

--photo by Lee Taylor

Day II Prelims

Excellent morning for us! Strong swims in prelims with six individuals and two relays qualifying for tonight’s finals. Rachael continues her roll by lowering her own 100 backstroke record from last year’s championship.

A few spectacular pics from the first day of racing by senior swimmer Lee Taylor!

Husky Invite Day I

Day one is through. Day two draws near and with it more races, more cheering, more team meals and precious moments to nap or throw an impromptu van dance party.

Caz kicked our day into high gear in prelims with an inspiring School Record swim in her 50 freestyle. Congratulations! She would go on to lower this time another tenth in finals.



Freshmen Alli, Taylor, and Kayla all moved into the top-10 all-time for Pioneer swimmers. Alli and Taylor got into the record books in the 200 IM and Kayla in the 50. Sky is the limit!

During some down time, our team shows how they put the STUDENT in student-athlete.

Or working their magic on teammates' hair...

Husky Invite begins Friday!

Pio swimmers are all comfortably tucked into their hotel rooms as we await great swims tomorrow morning in prelims. Let the racing begin!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Portland is in the middle of a real cold snap by Northwest standards. A beautiful, crisp morning for a stroll around campus. Some glimpses into the surrounds. I know many are thankful we spend our days here.

On Tuesday, November 9th, the Pios participated in the Ted Mullin “Leave it in the Pool Hour of Power Relay.” We raced a continuous relay for one hour at the same time as over 6,000 swimmers on more than 130 college and club teams around the country. The relay is in honor of a Carlton swimmer who passed away from sarcoma.


The “Leave it in the Pool Relay” joins together swimmers in solidarity as they race together, rather than against. Not only did our athletes race continuous relay 50s for an hour, but they also worked together to keep all five relay teams on the same leg of the relay by switching strokes to maintain an all-out effort and still stay with their teammates. Pretty awesome!



I’ve not seem a team more connected, fired-up, and passionate than ours was throughout this spectacular hour. Check out footage of the last lap of this year’s relay!

Pioneer Swimming sprints to victories in first intercollegiate competition of the season.

A great night of racing and an even better night of cheering and team bonding.

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The many expressions of Pioneer swimmers...

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Fashion-forward Taylor sets the tone for warm-up in a stunning floral motif.

Yes, this is where we get to hang out.

Looking left and right out the side pool door after morning workout.

Breakfast Creations

A stellar morning workout and a burst of creativity spurred freshman swimmer Chris Moon to concoct this breakfast delicacy: Strawberry yogurt corn flake French toast.

That is one great dog!

What creature beneath yonder sheet resides?

The Unveil........

The artist, Georgia Gerber with AD Clark Yeager.

Student-Athlete Brandis Piper gave an awesome speech about the connection he’s felt between athletics and the whole L&C campus community. The feel-good talk of the day!

Buddy and his more eternal, less fluffy counterpart Pio.

Nothing says CELEBRATION quite like dog bone-shaped cookies frosted in school colors. And I mean nothing.

5 Reasons for Excitement in October:

1. Alumni Swim Meet and the first intercollegiate competition bookend the month of October
2. Leaves are changing colors all over Portland
3. President-Elect Barry Glassner arrives full-time this month
4. Soccer, Football, Volleyball and Cross Country competitions to root on fellow Pioneers
5. Great workouts with teammates you can count on!

Team artist follows his passion home to Santa Fe

Men’s Swimming senior Lee Taylor stayed in Portland this summer to soak up the rays watching over our outdoor estate pool. When he wasn’t guarding, he took time to float local rivers with his friends and pursue his love of photography.

But, for a week in August, Lee returned to his hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico. He shares this sample of the photos he took on his visit.

Women’s Team Dinner Party

Claire had the women’s team over for dinner and socializing last Friday. Team bonding time as the swim season approaches!

Free Watermelon!

Athletics put on a watermelon feed outside Zehntbauer Swimming Pavilion today. It’s 80 degrees, it’s Friday and it’s free watermelon.

“My name is Phil. May I offer you a slice of delicious watermelon?”