US News Ranking
The newest US News & World Report rankings have been released and Carthage has achieved its best ranking among Midwestern colleges - #11 !Granted, rankings are somewhat subjective, but its nice that outsiders can see what I've witnessed over nine years here: a college that is building for the future, continuing to invest in its students, and attracting increasingly strong students (a record 7,500 applicants for this year's freshman class).
What's even better is that Carthage ranked ahead of my alma mater Buena Vista. BVC meant a lot to me because of the connections I made there and the impact it had on my life, but when they cut the swimming team five years ago, my allegiance was permanently switched to Carthage.
Schranck Lowers 100 Fly Record
Doug Schranck lowers his team LCM record in the 100 fly this weekend becoming the first Red Men to go under 58.0 seconds. He also went a solid 2:13 in the 200 fly but Bryan Pelka lives to hold onto the record for another summer.
| 50 Free | 24.73 | Davis, Bryce | 8/4/2007 | Steve Keller |
| 24.99 | Ripley, Nathan | 7/11/2009 | Shane Ryan | |
| 25.43 | Schranck, Doug | 7/24/2009 | Dave Stephens | |
| 100 Free | 54.31 | Ripley, Nathan | 7/13/2009 | Shane Ryan |
| 54.65 | Somers, Henry | 7/24/2003 | Bill Schalz | |
| 54.70 | Davis, Bryce | 8/4/2007 | Steve Keller | |
| 200 Free | 2:02.24 | Schranck, Stephen | 7/19/2006 | Dave Stephens |
| 2:02.66 | Somers, Henry | 7/24/2003 | Bill Schalz | |
| 2:03.83 | Ripley, Nathan | 7/11/2009 | Shane Ryan | |
| 400 Free | 4:18.08 | Ross, Eric | 7/22/2009 | TJ Day |
| 4:19.18 | Pelka, Bryan | 7/20/2006 | Greg Lake | |
| 4:19.55 | Chapman, Nathaniel | 7/23/2004 | Jim Sheridan | |
| 800 Free | 8:53.06 | Pelka, Bryan | 7/20/2006 | Greg Lake |
| 9:06.21 | Ross, Eric | 7/23/2009 | TJ Day | |
| 9:06.50 | Glover, Adam | 7/23/2009 | Mary Liston | |
| 1500 Free | 16:58.65 | Pelka, Bryan | 7/20/2006 | Greg Lake |
| 17:11.12 | Ross, Eric | 7/20/2009 | TJ Day | |
| 18:14.47 | Glover, Adam | 6/25/2009 | Mary Liston | |
| 100 Back | 1:02.79 | Drake, Kyle | 7/17/2008 | Bill Schalz |
| 1:02.90 | Chapman, Nathaniel | 7/24/2003 | Jim Sheridan | |
| 1:04.15 | Pellican, Bob | 6/11/2008 | Mary Ruffin | |
| 200 Back | 2:11.06 | Drake, Kyle | 7/17/2009 | Bill Schalz |
| 2:15.23 | Chapman, Nathaniel | 7/24/2003 | Jim Sheridan | |
| 2:17.82 | Pellican, Bob | 7/11/2008 | Mary Ruffin | |
| 100 Breast | 1:07.15 | Schranck, Stephen | 7/19/2006 | Dave Stephens |
| 1:08.71 | Somers, Henry | 7/24/2003 | Bill Schalz | |
| 1:10.51 | Moravek, Mike | 7/22/2009 | Andy Rose | |
| 200 Breast | 2:26.29 | Schranck, Stephen | 7/19/2006 | Dave Stephens |
| 2:32.26 | Moravek, Mike | 7/22/2009 | Andy Rose | |
| 2:41.85 | Somers, Henry | 7/10/2003 | Bill Schalz | |
| 100 Fly | 57.93 | Schranck, Doug | 7/21/2010 | |
| 59.16 | Davis, Bryce | 8/6/2006 | Steve Keller | |
| 1:00.57 | Somers, Henry | 7/24/2003 | Bill Schalz | |
| 200 Fly | 2:12.01 | Pelka, Bryan | 7/20/2006 | Greg Lake |
| 2:13.04 | Schranck, Doug | 7/22/2010 | ||
| 2:16.96 | Chapman, Nathaniel | 7/24/2003 | Jim Sheridan | |
| 200 IM | 2:16.58 | Schranck, Stephen | 7/19/2006 | Dave Stephens |
| 2:18.70 | Chapman, Nathaniel | 7/23/2004 | Jim Sheridan | |
| 2:20.12 | Drake, Kyle | 5/22/2009 | ||
| 400 IM | 4:53.88 | Schranck, Stephen | 7/19/2006 | Dave Stephens |
| 4:54.97 | Pelka, Bryan | 7/20/2006 | Greg lake | |
| 4:57.07 | Drake, Kyle | 7/17/2009 | Bill Schalz |
Team Conference Call - Wednesday @9:00 pm
Current members of the Carthage men's swim team should have received an e-mail and letter with instructions on accessing an conference call scheduled for tomorrow night at 9:00 pm CDT. If you have not, contact Greg to get the number and access code.
It's A Marathon, Not A Sprint
"You've got to realize, it's a marathon, not a sprint."
That's what President Campbell told me a couple of weeks ago. It was sage advice from someone who knows my drive, knows my passion, knows that patience isn't my strongest trait, and probably why he and the college offered something entirely unexpected and generous, something the current team should check their e-mails for.
Of course he had no idea how prophetic his words were considering that last Saturday I ran a marathon. Ok, I didn't exactly run the whole thing and yes it was 23% longer than your typical marathon but I finished it. Here's the rundown:
That's what President Campbell told me a couple of weeks ago. It was sage advice from someone who knows my drive, knows my passion, knows that patience isn't my strongest trait, and probably why he and the college offered something entirely unexpected and generous, something the current team should check their e-mails for.
Of course he had no idea how prophetic his words were considering that last Saturday I ran a marathon. Ok, I didn't exactly run the whole thing and yes it was 23% longer than your typical marathon but I finished it. Here's the rundown:
- First 4 miles were straight uphill so I forced myself to walk/jog knowing that if I didn't my competitiveness would come back to kill me at the end. It wasn't tough to do when you suddenly squeeze 200 runners onto a singletrack trail. Once the trail widened I opened up the throttle a little. Just over 4.5 miles in the first hour and five in the second hour.
- Then came the climbs. Devil's Lake is surrounded by big limestone cliffs - imagine 8-16" steps in place by an intoxicated bricklayer and you get the idea. I made it up then hauled *ss down the fire road.
- Apparently running downhill is a skill I never knew I had, but I passed a ton of people. A guy said I had great downhill technique and asked if I had run at Carthage (I was wearing a Carthage track shirt). Run at Carthage? Dude, I wasn't even running eight months ago. It turns out he was a former diver at Wheaton and his buddy was on something like his fourth ultra-marathon this year in a quest to hit all 50 states. Almost 4.5 miles in hour three.
- Got to the midpoint. Changed socks, replaced waterbottles, ate 1/2 banana and a handful of turkey. The next segment was described as "somewhat poorly marked trail." It was well marked, but no trail -
just a bunch of ribbons hanging from branches in this forest of big a$$, moss-covered rocks and logs. You had to use the the tree branches just to make it though. - Then it was out to the edge of the lake on this little 12-18" strip of asphalt set amid limestone boulders. It was the hottest and hardest part but figured if I could get back into the shade and to the next aid station I could refuel make it through the second set of cliffs then fly downhill the last 4-5 miles.
- Everything went as planned - another big ascent up some more big *$$ rocks to the edge of the cliff (seriously if the people at the next aid station took four steps back they have their own very effective downhill technique and be splattered on rocks 300' below) before cruising into the final aid station at 20.5 miles.
- Five hours down, 5.7 miles to go and I was feeling great. Grabbed my last two water bottles, switched to the "kick it in gear" playlist and tore off down the trail ready to put some distance between me, the Wheaton guy, his ultra buddy and anyone else wasting time at the aid station.
- Yeah, I tore off down the trail - the WRONG trail - the one designated for people doing the 50 mile race. I was flying, feeling good until it struck me that I might not be going the right way. I stopped a woman and asked how far back the "decision point" (between the 50 miler and marathon) was. "Oh God..." was all she said.
- Despair hit - I looked at the GPS and it told me I had 7.4 miles back to the start. Screw it, I said, I'd run to the 26.2 mile mark, get a ride to the start, turn in my chip. It won't be official, but I'll know that I'd done a marathoner. Then I found another guy who'd made the same mistake and together we found our way back to the aid station.
- I was still demoralized, but now there was just 5.7 miles to go and more importantly we knew where we were going and knowing that made it easier because I knew if we just kept moving we'd be getting closer to the goal. 5.7 miles turned into four which turned into three. The two leaders of the 50 mile race went by us and as they did I turned to my running partner and said I was going to push the pace to the finish.
- And I did finish - 32.2 miles total. As I approached the finish, one of the 50 milers was staggering to the finish. I didn't want to be one of those guys who sprints by in the final steps, but like Steve Mathe in the final 50 of a 1650, I had gas in the tank.
2010-11 Schedule
The schedule is almost set for the 2010-11 Carthage Swimming Campaign. Roster and schedules have been mailed out, but here's a peek so you can start working on your calendar.
September 11 Captain’s Biathlon............................................... 8:00 am
October 8 Alumni Meet/Intrasquad.................................... 11:00 am
October 30 Hope ................................................................. 1:00 pm
November 5 Lake Forest........................................................ 6:00 pm
November 13 @Illinois Wesleyan............................................... 1:00 pm
November 19-20 TBD
December 3-4 TYR/College Swimming Classic............... Prelims: 9:00 am
Finals: 5:00 pm
December 26-Jan 3 Training Trip............................................................ All Day
January 15 @Lewis, with Northwestern.................................. 1:00 pm
January 22 @Wheaton........................................................... 1:00 pm
January 29 Wisconsin Private College Meet........................... 12:00 pm
February 17-19 @CCIW Championships*....................... Prelims: 10:30 am
Finals: 6:00 pm
March 23-26 @NCAA Championships**.................... Prelims: 11:00 am
Finals: 6:00 pm
April 9 Team Banquet..................................................... 11:00 am
Reeder + Dalilah Tie the Knot
Another marriage between a former Red Men and Lady Red. Yesterday it was Justin Reeder and Dalila Center tying the knot in a ceremony overseen by yet another Lady Red - Jean Woods. I think it was the first such union since Andy & Kelli Kleprod and last until Casey Griffiths and Betzy Drzal next month.A good turnout of alums made the drip including the aforementioned Andy, Kelli and Jean. Also saw Henry Somers, Nathaniel Chapman, James Beaman (and their wives) along with Ivan Manolov, Nathan Fisher, Tim Dodson, Geno Halpin, Chris Illing, and Charlie Lorenz - a living who's-who of my first four years at Carthage. Also saw Tricia Beidron, Kirby Oren, Karen Beaman (sorry, I've already your maiden name) and probably a couple others I can't remember.
All-in-all a great day, the only downside was that I found myself wearing shoes and long pants (two things I abhor) amid everyone else wearing shorts and sandals at the informal affair.
Introducing Ben Biefnes The "New Guy"
We're excited to introduce the newest member of the Carthage Men's Swimming Team - Ben Biefnes has accepted the position of Graduate Assistant for the next two years. A Colorado native, Ben capped a successful four-year career at Texas Christian University by being named TCU's Student-Athlete of the year.A breaststroker/IM'er, Ben was the strongest of a very strong pool of candidates we had to select from and he's someone who will be adding a great deal to both the men's and women's program.
More Moves
Just about to introduce our new GA when we hear more on the job
front. Andy Bax interviews for a special education teacher. Forty-
five minutes later he's hired!
front. Andy Bax interviews for a special education teacher. Forty-
five minutes later he's hired!
The night before our own Heather Croix becomes the lead cantidate for
a leading swimwear manufacturer!
Look for news on the "New Guy" in a couple of days.
GE
