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The turnout for the joint 2011 swim and track team reunion was tremendous.
Approximately 30 ex-swimmers and ex-trackmen and their families attended the the joint track and swim team reunion.
Below is a rogue's gallery of ex-swimmers who attended.
Click here to enlarge the photographBack Row: Tom Grula, Peter Friesen, Dave Biddick, Lennie Norris, Jaques Cunningham, Bill Allen, Glenn Pappas, Diane (Morrow) Kondos, Robert Casselman, Sue (Sachau) Kruse, Rick Sievert, Craig Shelton
Front Row: John Meyer, Ron Woodburn, Bob Ferris, Jerry Wilham, Tom Allen
Below is a group picture of the swimmers and the track team attendees. All of the track members in the photo are from the 1960s era.
Click here to enlarge the photographFriday's Activities:
Meet and Greet at the Hideaway: 3pm - 5pm
Again, we had our own private area where we could eat pizza and drink beer.
We had a great mix of trackmen and swimmers all exchanging old war stories. There was a great deal of hugging and shaking hands as old friends arrived.
The place was packed and the beer flowed. It was hard to imagine that between 30 to 40 years had passed since we last met the track guys. All the old stories came out and the phrase "do you remember" could be heard all round the room.
It was so good to see old friends again and the 2 hours passed all too quickly.
Then it was off for the group picture. John Meyer (AKA The Pig) as usual had drunk too much beer and we had to carry him over to Old Central for the group photograph.
Group Photo in front of Old Central: 5:30pm - 6:30pm
All those who turned up to the Hideaway then walked over to Old Central and a professional photographer took group photographs (see pictures at top of the page) of the "usual suspects" - phrase from the film Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart.
As you can see, time hasn't changed us or the trackmen. We are all in peak physical condition and ready for 2 workouts a day. Well, maybe one workout a year!!
Hot Links Rehearsal: 8pm - 12 midnight
The rehearsal gig was held at the old Harley Roadhouse repair shop at 3512 S Boomer Road.
The band comprised of Dave Biddick - lead guitar, Ron "Woody" Woodburn AKA "The Nub" on drums, Tom Allen on Rhythm guitar, Bill Allen lead singer, flute player, Sax player, announcer et al and some blonde madman name Tom Grula on base.
Swimmers and their families and the trackmen and their families all turned up and the place was packed.
There was beer and food (supplied by Sean McCabe - assistant Track coach -- thanks goes to Sean) aplenty and the place rocked. We didn't hear a bum note all night.
The band played all types of music and people were dancing and singing along with them. The night was a great success. Well done to the Hot Links.
Simon Cowell sent an apology note saying he couldn't attend this year, he said he ears were still recovering from the last time he listen to the Hot Links. In the apology letter he had a special request for the band - he asked if they could play "further away".
The band has agreed amongst themselves that they will have a get together in the spring of 2012 to make sure that they are ready for next year's gig. Maybe they can learn some new tunes!
Saturday's Activities:
Cowboy Jamboree: 9am - 12am
In the morning OSU hosted a cross country event called the Cowboy Jamboree. It was a crisp clear morning, just right for cross country running and OSU won the competition
Meal with the trackmen in the Boone Pickens statium: 12:30pm - 1:30pm
The food was excellent and we got to see the inside of the statium. Again thanks goes to Sean McCabe for hosting the meal.
Swimming Relays: 2pm - 4pm
After the meal we all made our way to the swimming pool for the relay competition.
We had 4 teams of 4 swimmers - 16 swimmers in all. And I use the word "swimmers" loosely.
In total we had 4 relay teams. In all, we held 6 races each one a different format - one was freestyle, another a mixture of stokes, and another everybody swam backwards (for some backwards was the same as forwards).
Unfortunately there are always some who cheat. A couple of the relay teams were disqualified for jumping the gun, one person lost their swimming suit (after we took it off of him) and another threw their lunch up on the pool side.
Woody kept getting out of the pool to go use the restroom. He said his incontinence was bothering him. Obviously Woody didn't know why they put Chlorine in the pool; if he did he would have realised he didn't have to get out of the pool. The rest of us knew.
After the relay races we asked the life guard (one supplied by the college just in case one of us drowned whilst swimming the relays. I have to say she came close to earning her money) if there was a waterpolo ball we could use.
Back in the 70s after workout we would play with the polo ball on the springboards. The idea was to throw the ball to people as they jumped off the 3 mtr springboard, that person would try to catch it and throw it to another person jumping off of the other 3 mtr springboard who would try to catch it and throw it to another person jumping off of the 1 mtr springboard and so on.
The record back in those days was 8 catches before the ball was dropped.
We managed 2 catches. However, the second catch was debateable.
After the relays and fun on the springboards, we all posed for an "in the pool" group photo.
As you can see Woody was still having problems with his incontinence and it looks like Tommy Allen is blowing bubbles in the water.
Hot Link live gig at Mexico Joe's: 8pm - 12midnight
The Hot Links played a live gig at Mexico Joe's. The place was full and the boys were rocking.
It was a georgeous summer's night and the band set-up outside on the restaurant's patio area. We downed Margaritas and Majitos and along with the band sang our hearts out.
Those of us that turned up stayed until the end and had a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Sunday's Activities:
Breakfast: 11am
On Sunday there was no final gathering. Some of us met for breakfast and talked about the weekend as we downed our eggs and bacon. All agreed we had a great time.
After breakfast each of us went our seperate ways. We had laughed together and had become reacquainted - the years had been pushed back. We left somewhat sad, but happy that we had attended.
AOB
2012 Reunion Details.
The previous day at the pool we discussed whether or not to hold another reunion in 2012. Some felt that the attendance numbers were dwindling because the reunions were too frequent.
After a long debate we decided we would have an informal get together during 2012. There would be no formal activities, no accommodation arrangements and attendance would be optional.
The Hot Links said they would probably do another gig and others wanted to play in the pool again. So these two activities would probably be arranged.
Once a weekend date has been landed the date will be announced on the website.
The weekend may or may not coincide with a home football game.