GAMBIER — It will be the past versus the present as new Mount Vernon High School swimming coach Jeff Gottke pits his young Yellow Jackets against the Jackets of old.
This morning’s first annual Alumni Meet will be more than a nostalgic swim down memory lane. It provides an opportunity for Gottke to get the current crop of Yellow Jackets to get some head-to-head competition and raise some money for the team.
The meet will start at 9:30 at the Kenyon Athletic Center and will showcase 20 to 25 Yellow Jackets swimmers from years past. The elder Jackets will be coached by former Jackets coach Marci Steen, who will be there along with her daughters, former Jackets swimmers Tori and Sarah.
“This is the first year that we did this and I wanted to establish a relationship between the former swimmers and our current swimmers,” said Gottke. “So far, I’ve gotten a pretty good response from swimmers going back to Clyde Kahrl in 1973.”
Also swimming for the alumni team will be David Bowers, James Richardson, Steve Sant and Josh Kline among others. They will put the current Jackets to the test.
“This is a preview for us,” said Gottke. “A lot of sports do a preseason. Our practice started on November 7, and I think we are doing good. They are about where they should be right now.”
Seniors Thomas Smith, Scott Nielson, Jack Takarsky, Michael Franks and Jess Zeller along with the younger Jackets will use this meet as a tuneup.
“I’ll be able to assess November’s training,” said Gottke. “It also helps us to raise a little money. The alumni are going to pay an entry fee. The proceeds go to benefit the team.”
Of course, getting an opportunity to swim at the beautiful KAC is a bonus and another reason for the good turnout of alumni.
“Most of us swam in the old pool,” said Gottke, “so I was really pleased that Kenyon let us have it there. Their help has been so valuable to us. They let us practice there. I can’t be grateful enough to Kenyon for letting us do that. I talked to Marci and she was my coach when I was in high school. She thought the Alumni Tournament was a great idea, and so did the other swimmers that I have been in contact with.”
That leaves former graduate Gottke split between his old allegiance to his fellow alumni and his new commitment to the team he is coaching.
“Yeah, I feel a little torn,” said Gottke. “Should I help my team or the alumni? I will be pulling for our team that I am coaching.”
