Looking Back: 2008

Briefly looking back at 2008 I realize its going to be a hard year to top. So many changes for the good: changes for the team, my family, and myself. How about a Top Five?


5. Adding to the Family. Many of the swimmers have had a chance to meet Izzy the newest member of our family. She's a Pug/Shar-Pei mix who is quite energetic.

4. 2008 Olympic Trials in Omaha, NE. I got the chance to fly to Omaha, NE for the 2008 Olympic Trials. It was great to watch the greatest swimmers in this country go at it for a shot at the ultimate swimming dream. But the highlight for me was to be there to see four former GCIT/GPAC team members swim in the meet: Bill Cregar, Mike Joyce, Jamie Marks, and Christian Sprang. You can look back on the Trials and Olympic Games through my blog posts from the summer.

3. World Champions! I have friends who think October 29th will be the most memorable October Day in my life...more important than October 4th. I've been waiting my entire life to be able to witness a World Championship in Philadelphia and hoping the entire time it would be brought here by the Phillies. To see the players on that team come together through injuries and other problems to hoist the championship trophy in October was amazing. I also took note of the way the manager, Charlie Manuel, conducted himself and drove the vehicle that brought the team to the World Series Title.

2. GCIT Swimming becomes Greater Philadelphia Aquatic Club. By the beginning of July I was certain my time with GCIT was coming to a close. I was getting inquiries from other teams (club and college) and I knew that working under the umbrella of GCIT was no longer in my best interest. Then on July 8th the newly appointed Superintendent at GCIT informed me the school wished to cease opearation of the Club Team and have a new private company take its place and pay the school pool rent. This became an opportunity to put together a program with the fixed goal of becoming one of the best club teams in the country. GCIT would still get the money they were making off of the team over the last few years while the new company would be able to provide for the swimmers on the team in a more direct and focused manner without the overhead of a public school system. GPAC allowed Tjitske and I to stay in the Philadelphia area (our first choice all along) and gave the coaching staff more tools to help the swimmers become the best they can be.1. The Wedding. Yes, October 4th will be the most memorable October date in my life. I have been blessed to have met someone as wonderful and supportive as Tjitske. Most importantly, supportive of the path I have chosen with this program. We had a beautiful day for a wedding and a great time in Aruba on the honeymoon.