Last weekend Colby celebrated reunions with the classes of 2003, 1998, 1993, 1988, etc. and just like for graduation it was a beautiful weekend - great weather and great people. I had the opportunity to have dinner with the Class of 93, but unfortunately no members of the swimming and diving team made the trek back to campus from this class. I was able to catch up with several of our alums in the 2003 and 1998 classes. All were very happy to be back on campus and really enjoyed seeing the upgrades we have made to the pool over the past couple of years.
Jonathan Eck '03 and his wife Sarah '03 are really enjoying their time in Vermont. Jonathan is working in a small law firm in southern VT while Sarah completes her PhD program in Biology at Dartmouth. Lots of driving for right now, but both are looking forward to settling down in a house closer to Jonathan's firm next spring when Sarah completes her doctorate. I learned from Jonathan, that his sister, Kristi Eck '05, has recently taken a new position at Cortland State University, and that Laura Miller '05 is busily preparing for her new teaching position in Boca Raton, Florida.
Mindy Williams '03 has recently stepped down as the Head Women's and Men's Swimming Coach at Regis College to take the Head Women's Swimming Coach position for Simmons College. Mindy is extremely excited about the move and is looking forward to the new challenges she will face with her new team. Mindy was able to spend some time in France this spring with her parents and is looking forward to becoming an aunt over the summer! At the '03 dinner I was also able to catch up with Maria Fenwick '03, who is still teaching in elementary school in Boston, Lauren Tharaud '03, who is working for a computer-web firm in the Boston area and who is occasionally swimming with Mindy at a local masters team, and Lauren Tiberio '03 is also in the Boston area working on her masters degree at Brandeis University. Erin Hanrahan '03 (swimmer and woodsmen team member) and our old lifeguard Nate Fletcher '03 were also in attendance. Unfortunately, Clay Smith '03 was unable to return as he is deep into his preparations for the bar exam in Georgia.
Alice Wong '98 also made the trek to Colby from California! While here she took the time to train in our pool as she prepares for the open water race around Manhattan Island which she will return to the east coast for in early July. A breastroker at Colby, Alice has transformed herself into a strong open water swimmer. Alice and I had a great time catching up. She enjoyed looking over our current training plans and I was fascinated by her participation in her friends attempt to cross the English Channel. Alice provided an update on Morgan Filler '97 who finished 20th at the world championships in her attempt to make the open water event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Unfortunately, in the open water event each country does not get to send a participant; instead, the top 13 internationally ranked swimmers will be invited. Still a pretty darn impressive accomplishment for Morgan who works as a PT Therapist in California.
The only other update to provide is that Chris DeSantis '06 will be in attendance at the Olympic Trials on a press pass. Chris, who will return as an assistant coach for Penn next fall, will be writing about the trials for Floswim.com where he currently writes a monthly article. When the Trials start I will try to get some links from this blog to Chris's work.
Finally - as I informed all the alums above we will be having an alumni meet this fall on Saturday, November 15th. So please save the date and make plans to return! Details will be in the mail shortly.
