Spring Newsletter 2021
Dear WETS,
Here we go Longhorns!!! We’ve been waiting to get the news out, but it keeps changing (of course)! It’s Big XII week and the meet will be in Austin. After a crazy week of snow and ice, power outages and no water (hard on swimmers for sure) in Austin, The Jamail Swim Center will again be home to the meet and unfortunately no fans in the stands. Because of the strange week we just had, the diving portion will be moved to next week. Here is the schedule and some Links:
Big XII Swimming: Feb. 24-27
Big XII Diving: March 1-3
Although the site has yet to reflect the change…. We can watch the action HERE on Big XII ESPN +
Zone Diving Meet: March 11-13
NCAAs
Women’s March 17-20 Greensboro, NC
Men’s March 24-27 Greensboro, NC
Power Rankings as of Mid-February:
2020-2021 NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Power Ranks: February Edition (swimswam.com)
2020-2021 NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Power Ranks: February Edition (swimswam.com)
Both the Men’s and Women’s teams have been outstanding this season. Only two dual meets, but both teams were a perfect 2-0!! Check out the great performances stories on the official Longhorn website: www.texassports.com
Longhorn Swimming and Diving is something we are proud to be a part of. WETS appreciates your donations to keep us afloat and promote Longhorn Swimming and Diving past, present and future. Check out the WETS website to see if you are listed as a Dews payer for 2021 … and if not… Please DEW!
A wonderful way to honor great Longhorns and other aquatic legends is through The Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame. When allowed, I hope you will come by the swim center to enjoy some new displays and a super cool interactive Kiosk that is now up and running in the museum on the mezzanine level (that’s a big word for the 2nd floor). The Kiosk honors more than 75 great Texas aquatic legends and teams via stories and photos of each of them. Several short biographical videos have already been created to honor legends such as Jane Kneip Patterson and Cynthia Potter, and a fundraising effort is being established to produce more as donations come in. If you are interested in donating to this project or to help the TSDHOF in 2021, visit Support Us! — Texas Swimming & Diving Hall of Fame (tsdhof.org)
The TSDHOF hopes to honor our 2020 class in the fall. The event will honor Cammile Adams, Ryan Berube, George Block, Scott Donie, Tom & Carolyn Boak & the Wally Pryor distinguished team: San Antonio AAAA.
Frank Erwin Awards and WETS reunion
Jill is putting together the schedule for the weekend and will let us know soon when we should save the date! In the meantime, please help Frank Erwin Awards committee chair, Debbie Risen Hurwitz by nominating worthy candidates you feel have contributed significantly to Longhorn Swimming and Diving. More information about the award, past recipients and a nomination form can be found Here!
WET SPOTS:
If you ever wondered who writes TV shows like America’s Most Wanted, look no further than former Longhorn swimmer Spindrift Beck (2008-2011). She must write as fast as she swims. Really good stuff: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8072612/#writer ……. Former University of Texas women’s diving standout Alison Gibson has been named one of the 2021 NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award winners. She was honored as part of the NCAA Convention during a virtual honors celebration awards show in January: Read the full story
… Long-time WETS and Longhorn swimming supporter, Andy Hansen enjoyed the last article about Longhorn Legend Donn Thomas. He worked for Tom Morgan while earning his PhD from UT. Morgan was a long-time chairman of the UT Athletic Counsel and father to Longhorn swimmer Robert Morgan.
“What people don’t know was Tom was a Masters student in Chemistry at UT along with Donnall Thomas in the early ’40s. They were students together and friends. After graduating Tom went to Berkley, worked on the Manhattan Project where his work contributed to his advisor, Glenn Seaborg winning the Nobel Prize. Donnall went to Harvard med school, eventually winning the Nobel Prize for developing bone marrow transplants for leukemia. All organ transplants are based on his work. Huge legacy!”
We hope to get you some information on a fall reunion date for a return to our annual Frank Erwin Awards as soon as we gather intel from UT. We sure are looking forward to seeing everyone and maybe even a dip in the new outdoor pool!
Finally…. Who could forget 40 years ago…. 1981 when both the Men and Women earned the first of many National Championships!!
Swimcerely,
Bill Robertson, WETS Newswetter Witer