GRIN State Championship

Join us for the 2015 GRIN State Championships, being held on April 11-12 at North Central HS in Indianapolis. Entries are now being accepted either online or mail-in. Remember – this meet is FREE to all GRIN members!

Register online (preferred) or download the entry form.

GRIN seeks new board members

As 2015 is an election year for the USMS LMSC GRIN Officers, GRIN is currently seeking people to express their interest in being on the GRIN board.  Board members serve a 2-year term. Members must be available to attend Board meetings held locally in Indianapolis 3 – 4 times a year and attend the USMS National Convention held each September.  Positions up for election are the Chair, Co-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.  If you are interested, please contact Jim Barber, current GRIN Chair,  at jdbarber221@yahoo.com or call Jim at 317-753-9455. Elections will be held at the upcoming State Meet in April. FINAL DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS IS FEBRUARY 28, 2015.

The four positions are heavily involved with scheduling and running the annual GRIN state meet as well as other events and swim clinics hosted by GRIN throughout the year. In addition, the secretary position handles meeting minutes, GRIN communications and newsletters to the membership. The treasurer tracks GRIN finances.

Munster to host 100 x 100 challenge

2015 MUNSTER MASTERS CHALLENGE
Do you have what it takes? Think you are a good swimmer? Prove it!
When: Sunday February 8th, 2015 8is-12 noon (warm-ups will be held 15 minutes prior to the start of the event)
Where: Munster High School Aquatic Center: 8808 Columbia Ave, Munster, IN 46321
What is it?
100x100s SCY on 1:40 / 1:45 / 1:50 / 2:00 send offs (10,000 yards or 5.682 miles!)
100x75s SCY on 1:20 / 1:30 / 1:40 send offs (7,500 yards or 4.261 miles!)
100x50s SCY on 1:00 / 1:10 / 1:20 send offs (5,000 yards or 2.84 miles!) (great for beginners)
Will be performed using all 16 lanes.
Ultimate challenge:
Complete all 100x100s legal IM and receive your entry fee returned
All participants will receive a “2015 Munster 100 Challenge” tee shirt and the satisfaction of knowing you completed the challenge!
All swimmers welcome! Especially those getting ready for long distance swims!
We will have tables reserved at a local restaurant/bar/grill after the event for all swimmers to allow for bragging to their families!
Cost:
Non-MMA swimmers: $30.00
MMA club swimmers: $15.00
Deck entries allowed: $35.00
Checks made payable to Munster Swim Club OR CASH
Send to:
Matt Lee
242 Briar Ln
Munster, IN 46321
Optional: get supporters to sponsor your swim and make money for your club/GRIN/or National Masters!
Explain to them 100 yards is the length of a football field and you will be swimming that 100 times!!

Long Distance All Americans

The following swimmers were recognized as All Americans for their Open Water swims in 2013:

Susie Shuck (45-49)	INDY	>3<6 mile OW	1:12.54
Victoria Rian (45-49)	NAST	6000 yd. Postal	1:13:12.00
	NAST	5K Postal	1:09:37.72
	NAST	10K Postal	2:21:34.72

Congratulations, Susie and Victoria – we’re all proud of your accomplishments!

Ball State meet set for Jan. 18

The 11th annual Ball State University Masters New Year’s Resolution Swim Meet has been scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 18 at Lewellen Aquatic Center in Muncie, Ind.

The short-course yards meet is a great start to the indoor winter season.

In advance, the meet costs $15 for Ball State students, $20 for the host Ball State Masters members and $25 for masters swimmers. Early registration closes Friday, Jan. 16.

Deck entries are $35.

Warm ups begin at 10 a.m. and the meet begins at 11 a.m.

Register Here

Here is the event lineup

200 Medley Relay
400 Individual Medley
50 Freestyle
200 Backstroke
50 Butterfly
200 Breaststroke
100 Freestyle
200 Individual Medley
100 Backstroke
200 Freestyle Relay
100 Butterfly
100 Breaststroke
50 Backstroke
200 Freestyle
100 Individual Medley
50 Breaststroke
200 Butterfly
500 Freestyle

GRIN Board seeks officer nominating committee

The GRIN Board is seeking at least three people from local clubs to be a part of a nominating committee to select GRIN officers.

The GRIN chair, co-chair, secretary and treasurer positions are open for 2015-16.

If interested in being a part of the nominating committee, please send an email to Jim Barber at jdbarber221@yahoo.com. The nominating committee will include no more than one member per club. Outgoing officers also will be on the committee.

The nominating committee will present a slate of candidates at the state meet. Elections will be held at the state meet.

Time required for the nominating committee will be minimal and meetings will be held via a conference call.

Jim Barber and Victoria Ryan swim Molokai Channel

 Article courtesy of Karen Gernert

Update 10/06/2014 – Jim Barber and his training partner, Victoria Rian,successfully swam the Molokai Channel in under 14 hours and 42 minutes. Beginning at just after 3:00a (EST), these two amazing marathon swimmers completed this 26-mile challenge with the support of their crew (pictured right). “Thank you so much Goro Sulijoadikusumo, Roz, Dean Hawks, Roberta Norwood, Captain Ivan, Jarod,” said Victoria. “Jim Barber and I couldn’t have done Molokai without you all.” Congratulations on yet another amazing accomplishment!

When I think of Hawaii, I think of sun, sand, warm breezes, and palm trees. In my mind, Hawaii is peaceful place. Not so for IAM member Jim Barber.  When Jim heads to Hawaii the beginning of October, he will be focused on completinghis fourth swim of the Ocean’s Seven – the Molokai Channel between Oahu and Molokai Islands.

The Ocean’s Seven, which is marathon swimming’s equivalent to Seven Summits mountaineering challenge, is made up of seven long-distance open-water swims. These swims include the Irish Channel (between Ireland and Scotland), the Cook Strait (between the North and South Islands of New Zealand), the Molokai Channel (between Oahu and Molokai Island in Hawaii), the English Channel (between England and France), the Catalina Channel (near Los Angeles, California), the Tsugaru Channel (between Honshu and Hokkaido in Japan), and the Strait of Gibraltar (between Europe and Africa).  Jim has already completed the English Channel, Straits of Gibraltar, and Catalina swims. After completing the Moloka’i Channel, Jim plans to complete the swims in New Zealand, Japan, and Ireland.

Completing the Ocean’s Seven requires swimmers to swim in both very cold and very warm seas. It also demands physical and mental preparation, so the swimmers are prepared to overcome every condition known to defeat open water swimmers – from strong currents to stiff winds to marine wildlife. To date, no one has yet to complete the Ocean’s Seven challenge. For more information on the Ocean’s Seven, see the Open Water Source website.

The Molokai Channel swim is listed as a 26-mile swim between the western coast of Molokai Island and the eastern coast of Oahu in Hawaii. The main challenges presented in this stage of the Ocean’s Seven are extraordinarily strong currents, tropical heat, very warm salty water, large swells, and stiff winds. Don’t forget, of course, the aggressive marine life that may be encountered. While the swim is listed at 26 miles, that distance is point-to-point. Due to currents at the time of the swim, swimmers typically swim more than the stated distance to complete the crossing. The Molokai Channel swim was first completed by Keo Nakama in 1961 in 15 hours and 30 minutes. Since then, only 32 people have made successful crossings.

On October 5, Jim Barber will attempt the Molokai Channel in a tandem solo swim with fellow marathon swimmer, Victoria Rian.  Swim attempts of this magnitude don’t happen without a great deal of support. Jim and Victoria will be accompanied by both Roberta Norwood, the Crew Leader, and Dean Hawks, providing kayak support. Be sure to track Jim’s progress during his crossing via the GPS device he will be wearing.

Swimming the Molokai Channel in honor of Chris Clarke, donations in support of Jim’s quest and to honor Chris’ memory can be made to the Verbal Behavior Center for Autism, which Chris founded in 2003.

By Karen Gernert
Program Administrator
Indy Aquatic Masters