Swimming Video edit – Coleman Hodges
MEN’S 200 butterfly – 2014 Arena Grand Prix Orlando – Swimming News Reported by Jared Anderson
The men’s 200 fly will probably go down as the tightest 3-man finish of the weekend. American Tyler Clary and Singaporean Florida high schooler Joseph Schooling battled much of the way before Hungarian David Verraszto suddenly sprang into the dual on the last 50. The three came to the wall dead even, but it was Verraszto that got the touch, going 1:59.59. Clary was just behind in 1:59.63 and Schooling was even closer to him at 1:59.65 in a thrilling photo finish. That’s the second victory for Verraszto this weekend; he won the 400 IM in a huge time last night.
Island Swim Club’s Alec Page led the next pack of swimmers into the wall, going 2:01.03 for fourth place. Puerto Rico’s Yeziel Morales was fifth, Brazil’s Luiz Pedro Ribeiro Pereira sixth, Colombia’s David Arias Gonzalez seventh and another Canadian, Eric Hedlin, eighth.
The B final went to Swim Ontario’s Evan White. The 18-year-old went 2:03.18 to win by a second and a half.
Southern California Swimming has Ricky Berens listed on their website as a Board of Review athlete. Last I heard, he moved to Texas. Does a process appear to be “legitimate” when Olympians names are used. Some committees have high school Juniors as their athlete reps – but whatever helps for that College application and berecruited.com.
Are these athletes being given the tools to make independent informed decisions or are they being “USED” as seat fillers and puppets (Have to have 20% athlete representation)? If a vehicle is running fine, most people do not know or care about what makes that vehicle run – about the specifics – only when they start having problems do they care and investigate.
If they are using Berens name for appearances only and he does not participate in the review process, that is an act of deception which is a USA Swimming Code of Conduct Violation.
USA Swimming Rules and Regulations 304.2……”or aids, abets or encourages another person to violate any of the provisions of the USA Swimming Code of Conduct”.
Why do you think the LSC Board of Review Chair recused himself from this hearing and secured the services of a long time attorney affiliated with USA Swimming for decades? Also, why do you think the LSC Review Chair appeared at the hearing to take notes?
What goes on behind closed doors in a Kangaroo Court? In my opinion, the attorney manipulated the facts, flat out lied, sent false information to USA Swimming, and was there to protect his friends. The female panel member was doing the same. I don’t know what you were told… Read more »
I’m sorry you were a pawn in their game. I’m sorry they put you in that position. Most of the complaints were aimed at one team and since the Head Coach of that team was also working with the elite athletes at FAST that should have been a red flag. This same Head Coach secured a position at Fullerton City College teaching a swimming class so the Elite athletes at FAST had more pool time (another red flag). One of the complaints dealt with the denial of entry of eligible athletes into a senior meet at FAST (another red flag). During the hearing, when a panel member told you that your mother was involved with the senior meets (a definite… Read more »
That’s the problem – the panel members should not be “crowned”. The panel members should not benefit at all. So you played the game well and benefited, therefore, no regrets? That’s sad!
While you bask in your glory, there were a couple of athletes squeezed out of the sport. How would you feel if you FINALLY beat Phelps and then admin. changed Phelps time so he would advance and not you? Of course you would file a complaint, but wouldn’t expect to see admin. on the review panel.
That’s funny that you bring that up. The details were a little different than you describe, but a similar thing did happen to me. At the time I felt very much like a pawn in the game. In my rules however, the pawn which makes it to the other side becomes king.
It does suck to be injured. It even sucks worse when injuries occur because of the unethical behavior of others. A few years ago, you were on a LSC FIXED hearing panel. The hearing was postponed over and over again because the Review Chair was waiting for a MATURE athlete to be available. The board of review athletes were Kicker Vencill, Peter Marshall, Jessica Hardy and Rebecca Soni. After 10 months of waiting, I was surprised that you were chosen since you were only 21 and not one of the review athletes.
It’s a good thing that the House of Delegates voted to get rid of the LSC level hearings. Now that you are older, do you feel bad that… Read more »