All-City Swim Going Strong On Final Day Of Event
Warm Weather, Clear Skies On Event's Last Day
Posted: 4:04 pm CDT August 2, 2008
By Aaron Swanum
Staff WriterMADISON, Wis. -- On a day that featured clear blue skies and above 80-degree weather, fans and competitors alike flocked out in large numbers for the final day of the All-City Swim Meet at West Side Swim Club.More than 1,500 competitors, both newcomers and pool veterans, have been taking part in the three-day event that wraps up Saturday evening.For 7-year-old Laura Semmann and her family, it was their first All-City Swim Meet."She's having a blast and has been doing great," said 38-year-old Mike Semmann, Laura's father. "The meet is well organized and things are on time and the children are having fun."The Semmann family have been members of the West Side Swim Club for close to eight year's now, but Mike said this had been a brand new experience for the family. "It's been a very positive experience and Laura has made a lot of friends by being involved in the swim club."Semmann also believes this event is much different from other sporting events. "It's really relaxed and you don't see the negative things you hear about in other sports."The swim meet is not only fun for the competitors and fans. Many of the coaches for the different swim clubs set a theme for their team and dressed in costumes. At Saturday's meet, one coach dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, two other's dressed as competitors from American Gladiators and even a group of astronauts could be observed poolside.Kristine Lindell's two sons, 9-year-old Logan and 6-year-old Keegan were busy getting photos taken with friends with event ribbons in hand. Her sons are members of the Hawks Landing Swim Club."The meet is going smooth and the children are having fun," said Lindell. "We're all out just enjoying it."This year's event marked the first time that 8-year-old Nicole Gessler of Parkcrest Swim Club took part in the meet. She competed in two relay events and two individual events. "It's really fun," said Nicole."She's really liking it and we're just letting her do what she wants to do and have fun with the All-City meet," said 42-year-old Jill Gessler, Nicole's mother. "Its perfect weather for this meet and the event is exciting. It makes them feel involved, special, and the coaches have been great."One boy's grandmother could hardly control her excitement as she talked about her grandson's performance in one of the relays."He swam like a mad man and did very well," said Anne Nahn, 74, about 8-year-old Caden Seymour-Nahn's showing in the Boys 8 & Under 100 Meter Freestyle Relay. His Parkcrest "B" team finished fourth overall in the 12 team "A" and "B" event. His relay team was the first place "B" team.A tired but smiling Caden said, "It was pretty good and fun. It felt pretty good to win and I didn't know we did until I got out of the pool.""These guys swam their hearts out and they have a lot of passion for it," said Caden's mother, 42-year-old Dineen Seymour-Nahn.
Staff WriterMADISON, Wis. -- On a day that featured clear blue skies and above 80-degree weather, fans and competitors alike flocked out in large numbers for the final day of the All-City Swim Meet at West Side Swim Club.More than 1,500 competitors, both newcomers and pool veterans, have been taking part in the three-day event that wraps up Saturday evening.For 7-year-old Laura Semmann and her family, it was their first All-City Swim Meet."She's having a blast and has been doing great," said 38-year-old Mike Semmann, Laura's father. "The meet is well organized and things are on time and the children are having fun."The Semmann family have been members of the West Side Swim Club for close to eight year's now, but Mike said this had been a brand new experience for the family. "It's been a very positive experience and Laura has made a lot of friends by being involved in the swim club."Semmann also believes this event is much different from other sporting events. "It's really relaxed and you don't see the negative things you hear about in other sports."The swim meet is not only fun for the competitors and fans. Many of the coaches for the different swim clubs set a theme for their team and dressed in costumes. At Saturday's meet, one coach dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, two other's dressed as competitors from American Gladiators and even a group of astronauts could be observed poolside.Kristine Lindell's two sons, 9-year-old Logan and 6-year-old Keegan were busy getting photos taken with friends with event ribbons in hand. Her sons are members of the Hawks Landing Swim Club."The meet is going smooth and the children are having fun," said Lindell. "We're all out just enjoying it."This year's event marked the first time that 8-year-old Nicole Gessler of Parkcrest Swim Club took part in the meet. She competed in two relay events and two individual events. "It's really fun," said Nicole."She's really liking it and we're just letting her do what she wants to do and have fun with the All-City meet," said 42-year-old Jill Gessler, Nicole's mother. "Its perfect weather for this meet and the event is exciting. It makes them feel involved, special, and the coaches have been great."One boy's grandmother could hardly control her excitement as she talked about her grandson's performance in one of the relays."He swam like a mad man and did very well," said Anne Nahn, 74, about 8-year-old Caden Seymour-Nahn's showing in the Boys 8 & Under 100 Meter Freestyle Relay. His Parkcrest "B" team finished fourth overall in the 12 team "A" and "B" event. His relay team was the first place "B" team.A tired but smiling Caden said, "It was pretty good and fun. It felt pretty good to win and I didn't know we did until I got out of the pool.""These guys swam their hearts out and they have a lot of passion for it," said Caden's mother, 42-year-old Dineen Seymour-Nahn.
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