Five Stingray Swim Club members just can’t get enough of summer senior outdoor pool competitions. On August 21, the Sun City swimmers and their meet coach, Len Lencioni, were off to Lion’s Club Pool, Homewood-Flossmoor area, where for a second time in less than a month, they emerged victorious with a total of 18 medals: 16 gold and two silver.
“This was a fitting end to the Stingrays’ outdoor season of competition,” Lencioni said. “Everyone worked extremely hard pointing to this final meet. As successful as we were at the Six County Games, all were able to swim their fastest times in the Southern Games.”
Stingray members alight with smiles after their successful swim meet. (Photo provided)
The Senior Day meet began with the home team coach, Eric, greeting our team in the pool’s parking lot. It ended with a phenomenally close race between two of the four all-women relay teams. Even a young park lifeguard was asked to swim when the local relay team fell short of participants. Nevertheless, our fearless foursome composed of Caryl Fabian, Joan Souchek, Joanie Koplos, and anchored superbly by Ann Broderick brought home the win! Joe Loughlin, our only male participant, played the role of cheerleader for the Stings.
“In addition to individual glory, the Stings’ women’s 200 free relay provided the highlight of the day by overcoming a 45 second (3/4 length) deficit and touching out the opposing team by one second,” Lencioni said.
A local Lion’s Club Pool swimmer, Mary Deegan, who has become a friend of many of the Stingrays through the two summer meets held yearly, helped to arrange the meet for the Sun City swimmers.
“My favorite part of the ‘No Dive Meet’ is visiting with my wonderful friends from Huntley,” she said. “Also, I thoroughly enjoyed being challenged by your excellent swimmers, whose skills are developed so well by Coach Len, even though our relay lost to them.”
“I enjoyed the camaraderie within our own group, as well as the others from the Chicago area,” Joan Souchek said. “We had a great day, the weather cooperated, and we won lots of medals.” Joe Loughlin summarizes the swim meet with “great outdoor fun with friendly, competitive swimmers.”
Coach Eric stepping into the “shoes” of head grill master fed the hungry swimmers participating, as well as their guests. The award ceremony, which concluded the day’s festivities, revealed the following results in men’s/women’s age groups:
Caryl Fabian (age 85-89): 4 total medals: 4 gold medals: 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 50 backstroke, and 50 breaststroke
Joan Souchek (age 80-84): 2 total medals: 2 gold medals: 50 Freestyle, 50 backstroke
Joe Loughlin (age 80-84): 3 total medals: 3 gold medals: 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 50 breaststroke
Ann Broderick (age 70-74): 4 total medals: 3 gold medals: 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 50 backstroke; 1 silver: 50 breaststroke
Joanie Koplos (age 65-69): 5 total medals: 4 gold medals: 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, and 50 backstroke; 1 silver: 50 breaststroke
(Measurements are given in yards.)
