Note: there are two fantastic Pro-Am meets this week in Oklahoma City; we’ll identify them by their host teams: KMSC (King Marlin Swim Club) and AESC (American Energy Swim Club). This release is about the KMSC Pro-Am.
More than 770 of the nation’s top swimmers will compete side-by-side with more than 20 professionals this weekend at the King Marlin Swim Club’s Pro-Am Classic, making it the largest pro-am swim meet in Oklahoma’s 22-year history of hosting this unique format.
The meet will be held Dec. 18-21 at the Oklahoma City Community College Olympic Festival Pool.
Fifty-five elite amateur teams from across the country, as well as college, national, international and professional athletes are scheduled to attend.
Professionals competing include Jimmy Feigen, Eugene Godsoe and Katie Meili, as well as Connor Andrews, Karlee Bispo, Bobby Bollier, Bobby Button, Alexandru Coci, Kevin Ewald, Julian Fletcher, B.J. Hornikel, B.J. Johnson, Zach McGinnis, Sean Mahoney, Adam Mania, Ellis Miller, Maxim Molokov, Dan O’Conner, Stephanie Peacock, Arturo Perez-Vertti, Hannah Saiz, Giles Smith and Michael Weiss.
“We’re looking forward to a great meet and many fast swims,” said KMSC Head Coach John Brown, who has spearheaded pro-am swimming in Oklahoma City since launching the nation’s first such meet at the OCCC pool in 1992.
“Like in years past, we have outstanding athletes and teams coming, experienced leaders spearheading the event and a proven facility known for record-breaking swims,” Brown said.
In addition to Brown, the meet’s leadership team includes Meet Director Paul Thompson, Meet Referee Steve Potter and Senior Advisory Official Jim Sullins. George Young will announce.
This year the competition also serves as an Officials Qualifying Meet and will draw officials from coast to coast. Paul Memont, the starter at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, will serve as the national mentor/evaluator.
Meet highlights include a 50-yard Freestyle Shootout Saturday night. Eight female and male athletes who qualify in the preliminaries that morning will race one-on-one in three rounds Saturday night to determine the champion.
Additionally, professional athletes will share their love of the sport and deliver gifts to patients at The Children’s Hospital and attend a meet-and-greet event with local swimmers.
Professional athletes will earn cash prizes for placing in the top three in the championship finals of an individual event. Prize money ranges from $1,000-$2,000 for varying individual events.
This year’s bounty events provide double the prize money for professionals who swim under the OCCC pool or Oklahoma state records held by swimming greats such as Chloe Sutton, Rachel Komisarz, Kristy Coventry, Ian Crocker and Jason Lezak. The women’s bounty events include the 1,000-meter freestyle, 100-meter butterfly, 500-meter freestyle and 200-meter backstroke. The men’s bounty events include the 1,000-meter freestyle, 100-meter butterfly, 500-meter freestyle and 100 freestyle.
Live results will be available via Meet Mobile, and the latest meet-related information is also available by following @KMSCProAm on Twitter. For more information, visit the KMSC Website at www.kingmarlin.com.
KMSC is a competitive USA Swimming team with three Oklahoma City area locations. The team was created in spring 2014 by longtime Oklahoma City area coaches Brown, Kathy Mendez and Josh Everett.
What a great group of people involved with this meet! Huge props go out to John Brown and especially Paul Thompson for all they’ve done to promote and develop competitive swimming in Oklahoma for all these years.
I agree with Gardner! Have been attending this meet nearly every year they have hosted it. Kudos to the entire KMSC group for keeping this meet moving along!. Onward and upward! Swim fast everyone!
I think this release is actually about the King Marlin Pro-Am, not the AESC meet.
Jimmy Feigen, Eugene Godsoe, Bobby Bollier, etc. are attending the KMSC one, so I think this is accurate.
Ah, I probably read the initial comment wrong. I’m guessing this was initially published under the wrong host and has since been corrected!