Updates from December 2004

Jill Harbinson
I am still swimming. We have a masters group here in Richland that started January 2004. Jennifer Tonkyn is coaching, who coaches for the local high schools and swim teams. The group is mostly tri-athletes. It is really nice to have a group together again after swimming in just small groups for the last several years. I completed the Grand Columbian 1/2 ironman in September and am signed up to do the Ironman race in Couer'dAlene in June of 05. I hope to just finish! Good to hear from you. I still miss training in Pullman, including swimming, biking and running.

Erick Armes
Just wanted to let you folks know what I'm up to. I'm still swimming, but doing so for triathlon training. I did my first two sprint triathlons this summer (SeaFair and Black Diamond). I've found open water swimming to be significantly different than lap after lap in the pool. I'm working for a public relations agency in downtown Seattle - Richmond Public Relations - attending Mars Hill Church in Ballard, and in general enjoying life in the big city.

MJ Redman
I don't have too much news at all. No real changes since last year-same job, same house, still single! I have more or less stopped swimming and doing triathlons and just focused on bike racing this year. I am on a women's team and have been competing on the road, mountain and cyclocross—I love it. I still have two dogs, five cats, three rats and three snakes. Sorry I'm not more exciting.

Matt Johnson
I actually do have news. But first swimming - none of that going on unfortunately. I did try to get involved last year while I was in Calgary, however the waiting to join the group was longer than my job - so no luck.

This year I haven't looked into it yet as I have been busy with a new job and…I got married last month. Her name is Lori Kroeker, I met her while I was in Calgary. She moved to be with me here in Missouri and we got married last month. We have been busy fixing up the house we own—so that’s been taking up most of our free time.
I sure do miss Graham and getting in the pool - although I'm sure you probably don't miss the whining too much!

Charee Boulter
No big news, our daughter Brianna is now 32 months old, super cute, super fun and very energized. Jay and I did move this fall to a bigger home, which has been a nice change, but we are still unpacking. I am still working at University of Puget Sound in the counseling center and love it. No major athletic endeavors, aside from keeping up with Brianna. I ran in the Jingle Bells Run in December—to benefit arthritis. Brianna has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, so the JBR will be an annual event for me. She is doing really well and we are hoping she will continue to do well.

Jay has been traveling all over the world. He went to Athens to watch two of his swimmers in the Olympics, Tara and Dana Kirk. They both currently swim for Stanford. He just returned from Dubai, where two of his swimmers competed in the Open Water Championships - one in the 5K and one in the 25K

I still miss Pullman and the masters program. Since Brianna has been born I have been in to swim laps probably a dozen times. I can now do some sculling in the pool during her swimming lessons. She has progressed to independence with the aid of a noodle or a cheese block!

Kristi Lee
I was just up in the Palouse not long ago for State champs in Moscow (I coach at Centennial High in Boise). I took my kids on a tour of the WSU campus, and it brought back fond memories of my years there.

It sounds like the WSU Masters program is doing really well. We have a small program here in Boise, but I'm still getting a lot of swimming in. I've started doing 2-a-days since I finished up coaching the high school season, and my practice times are almost on par with my WSU swimming days.

I haven't been to a meet in quite some time, so I don't really know what my workouts would translate to in competition. I did swim both the 5K and 3000 postal swims. I'm still waiting on the results for the 3000, but I placed second in the 5K with a time of 1 hour 8 minutes and some odd seconds. If I can manage to get time off from work, I would really like to go to Nationals in Ft. Lauderdale since it will be my last chance in the 24-29 age group.

It finally started to snow in the mountains around here this last week, and the local ski area opens today. I can't wait to get onto the slopes!

Nick Jarman
I am doing well, still living in Seattle and working for Clear Channel Outdoor Advertising as an account executive. I've been in the pool quite a bit lately… trying to keep in shape and lose a little weight (especially around the holidays!

Steve and Tara Young
We are both in graduate school at University of California, Davis. I am working on a doctorate in Soils. Tara is working on a doctorate in Nutrition.

I am the only one who is still swimming - I am an official "brute" swimmer as of December 2004. I swim for relaxation, training and variety (not all at once). Tara has found that swimming outdoors is just not any fun. Plus, she has not felt real compelled to join an organized group.

One of our significant activities includes teaching children's church on Saturday nights during the main church service (believe it or not this type of activity really can be exciting). Its fun to watch the kids and be able to give them some good instruction.

We have had the opportunity to travel to New York, England and Ireland over the past couple of summers. We are hoping for a biking trip in New Zealand before we are finished with graduate school.

We are truly blessed and hope to one day get back to Pullman for one of Doug's great swim workouts.