Spartans Host 58th Annual Alumni Swim & Dive Meet
10/9/2013 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
Oct. 9, 2013
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State swimming and diving program will host the 58th annual Alumni Meet on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 9:30 a.m. The second-longest consecutive event on homecoming outside of the football game will be celebrated by eight decades worth of Spartan alumni in attendance. The meet will be held at McCaffree pool in IM West and fans will need to enter through the back gate near Spartan Stadium.
"It's a cool event and connects the program really well," said head coach Matt Gianiodis. "It's my favorite weekend of the year. I've been here long enough now that I've coached quite a few people who will be back. I basically know everyone there, so that's really exciting."
The meet is a tradition that began under former head coach Charles McCaffree and the Seibold family in 1955, and has continued on every homecoming weekend. Events at the meet include 100-yard backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and medley relays and a `straight-up' 50 freestyle where former swimmers will try to beat current Spartans. The meet will also feature the Tosh Imai Memorial Plunge and a series of alumni diving.
This marks the 12th year the Bill Heusner Service Award will be presented. A meet referee for 40 years for Michigan State and the Big Ten Conference, Heusner never took a salary. In recognition of his service, the MSU swimming and diving program presents an award to those who provide outstanding service to the team.
The 2013 recipients will be Lance Thompson, Gail Dummer, Dave and Elaine Yocum as well as Dale and Jill Becker. In total, 46 awards have been presented over the past 12 years.
Below is a list of past award winners:
2002:
Presented to Bill Heusner (posthumously)
2003:
Dick & Jane Farnsworth
Dr. Gary Dilley
2004:
Geraldine James
C. James Clemens
Dr. Larry Sierra
2005:
Jane Hoag DeMarchi
Anne MacCaskill
Jack Seibold
2006:
Jack Beattie
Tosh Imai
Marc Stiner
2007:
Dan Batchelor
Kent Johnson
The Munley Family
2008:
Don Patterson
Bob Jones
George Kruggel
Coach Jennifer Parks
Rick Edwards
2009:
Shawn Elkins
Samuel Kasley III and Lori-Stark Kasley
The Mull Family
Coach John Narcy
Margaret Smith
2010:
Wally Dobler
Mark Holdridge
Dr. David and Beth McCaffree
Pat and Mary Tyrrell
George and Peggy Wedgworth
James and Mary Yeomans
2011:
Coach Fetters and family
Michael and Lisa Habel
Don and Roberta Morey
Mr. and Mrs. David Polk
Mr. Jim Thurston
2012:
Dave Berger
Karen Langeland
Jane Meyers
Bob Rex
John St. John
The Spartans will officially begin competition as they travel to Iowa for a co-ed dual while the women will also take on Northern Iowa on Oct. 18 at 5 p.m.