In October 2014 I was medically discharged from the Army with 100% VA disabled

Permanent and Total Service Connected. I have spine problems from my neck to the

coccyx. I have a torn adductor muscle in my right leg. The doctors also tell me I have a

closed head injury from a fall I sustained back during my Navy days in 96. When I got to

my local VA they took more MRIs and x-rays and told me to stop walking and issued me a

snazzy wheelchair and assigned me to the Spinal Injury Clinic. I was a Search and Rescue

swimmer in the Navy and a combat medic in the Army and got the EFMB badge.

Everything I did I excelled at. And then it all stopped. I laid in my bed wondering what

my next move would be. I couldn't run. Can't ride horses. Can't snow ski down a

mountain. Can't do the kayak programs. I've risked everything to try all of these programs

to no avail. And then the UpState Warrior Solutions sent out an email for Veterans to get

back into the water and swim. I was excited but I had some concerns. Am I strong enough

to swim again? Is it even safe for me to swim? I haven't swam in at least a decade. I've

been lifting light weights and doing what I can to stay as active as I could but it always felt

like it wasn't enough. One can only watch so many movies, binge so many shows and play

so many video games. Like most sharks in the ocean if they stop swimming they die. In my

heart I'm still a shark. I signed up for the Greenville Splash Veterans Swim Program. We'll see how it goes.

The morning I arrived I was presented with an intro to basic water safety. We talked about my past swimming experience; swimming since I was 3, competitive since I was 8, swam

competitively in high school and some college. The first day the coaches tossed out the program for me and immediately adapted to my skill level. I was impressed. Masters Swimming was done in the big pool and we swam in the heated Therapy Pool with a ramp for me to enter and exit the pool. There is a PVC wheelchair that is available to get me in and out if needed. Lifeguards are everywhere and constantly on guard for emergencies. The

Greenville Aquatic pool is legit. I feel very safe while swimming. There is now a “crawl,

walk and run" program being implemented as a pathway to a Veteran's Master Swimming

program. I hope, as I get stronger, to be a part of this program. Swimming, I can do. I'll

leave the skiing, horseback riding and sky diving to those crazier and better equipped to

do so. If you're not comfortable around water then this program is for you. If you like to

swim then this program is for you. If you want to be a part of the many different water

based activities that UpState Warrior Solutions provides but lack the water confidence then this program is for you. It is a no-judgment zone and nothing to lose but everything to gain. My mobility went from nothing to being able to get out of bed on my own. I can now walk with my

cane more than 100 yards. My flexibility has increased. I've lost almost 12 pounds. I feel

like I have a purpose again. Can't fit into a Speedo yet but give me a couple of months. I

I am excited again to live after years of wanting to die. Bring it on.

We are so excited to announce our first graduates of the Greenville Splash Veterans Swim Program: Josh Agripino, Jay Irick, Dan Knox, Michael Libbrecht, Mike Nobles, & Michael Pait

We are offering the next session for our Veterans Swim Program starting on April 5. Help us spread the word about this awesome program. This program is being taught by Jean Ference and Eric Woods.

April is Adult Learn to Swim Month. Greenville Splash received a grant from the USA Swimming Foundation to help with our ALTS program. We are excited to have 20 volunteers from our team to teach lessons to adults in our community. We are completely full with over 50 adults participating.

Please continue to thank our team sponsors by buying their products! Come visit Alpine Ski to pick up a Dolfin swim suit and / or swim equipment. Show your bag tag and tell them you are with Greenville Splash to receive a 20% discount off swimwear and swim equipment. We are also excited to be working with Synergy Wetsuits. Click here to receive a discount code for Synergy.

We are in need of Masters Swim Coaches. We would love for any swimmers to coach one workout per week. It's a very rewarding and enriching experience. Let Coach Leslie know if you are interested.

Send Leslie results and pictures of your events for our next newsletter. Feel free to email Coach Leslie at greenvillesplash@gmail.com or give me a call if you need any help with anything: 864-283-1328.

2022 Go the Distance. Keep a workout log with this fun program from USMS. Click here for more information.

April 5 - May 12 Greenville Splash Veterans Swim Program at GCAC. This is a 6 week program for veterans from 7:00-8:00 am on Tu & Th mornings. Please let any Veterans know about this opportunity. The program will teach basic water safety, swim lessons, advanced swim technique or custom coaching. We are proud of Bill Ewell, Jean Ference and Eric Woods for getting this program going and for coaching our veterans.

April 1 Greenville Splash Girls Night Out to Visit Artist Mary Whiteman 5:00-7:00 pm at Greenville Center for Creative Arts. We will plan to go out to eat afterwards or listen to live music. RSVP to Leslie

April 2 SCY Walt Weed Invite in Savannah, GA

Click here for more info:

April 2-3 SCY North Carolina SCY Championships in Cary, NC

Click here for more info:

April 4 - April 26 Greenville Splash Adult Learn to Swim at GCAC. We have these fabulous volunteers ready to teach: Leah Aragon, Amy Browning, Allan Byer, Kacky Elliott, Chris Gibbs, Janice Hebel, Mark Hohmann, Michelle Jones, Jean Ference, Kristin Knowles, Mark Kothe, Rebecca Maccaroni, Becki McKee, Melinda Menzer, Carolyn Moore, Shelley Rubert, Leslie Scott, Roz Selbach, Brenda Stephens. We have over 50 adults in our community that are signed up and ready to go! Synergy has a goodie bag for each participant including: cap, goggles and nose clip.

April 5 Bill's Last Day to Coach. Set your alarms and calendars. Don't miss out on a chance to wish Bill good luck on his next venture and move to Kansas City. Coaches love a pool full of swimmers so come on out for a fun workout!

April 24 Officials Get Together at Carolyn's home. Take the officials test with your swim friends and enjoy a beverage or two!

April 26- May 1 USMS SCY Nationals in San Antonio, Texas. Entry deadline is April 4. Good luck to Kristi Panayatoff, Roger Clifton, Jennifer Davis & Dylan Ogle

May 21 Greenville Tri-Fecta Triathlon Festival: family friendly event for youth, adapted youth and adult. For more information click here:

May 21 Team Social & Couples Shower for Dylan and Jenny at Carolyn's home 7:00 pm. RSVP for directions.

May 28 Lowcountry Splash: 2.4 and 5 mile open water swim in Charleston. Michelle Jones& Melinda Menzer are going, let us know if you are planning to go. Click here to enter:

June 4 Beaufort River Swim: Open Water Swim and Run Event Click here to enter:

June 17-18 Greenville Splash LCM Invitational at Greenville County Aquatic Complex. Registration is open, register by 5/31 for discount. All information can be found on our website: www.greenvillesplash.com

Swimmers: Click here for meet entry information:

Volunteers: Sign up here to be a timer:

Lane Sponsor: Click here for information

Officials: Get together to take the officials test on April 24th at Carolyn's home

Donations: Have an item to donate for door prizes? Let us know

Aug. 3-7 USMS Summer Nationals in Richmond, VA

Click here for information:

Sept. 17 Upstate Splash Charity Open Water Swim at Lake Jocassee. This event is hosted by Greenville Splash. Registration is now open! Click here to register:

We are sad to announce that Coach Bill is moving to Kansas. We want to send him off with a heartfelt thank you. Mark your calendars and make sure to come to his last workout on April 5th.The best present for a Masters coach is to have a pool full of swimmers! Coach Bill will truly be missed by all of us! Bill is definitely leaving a legacy here in Greenville. Bill started the Greenville Splash Veterans Swim Program at GCAC and he will live on forever with this wonderful program. Here are just a few comments about Bill moving:

"Thanks a lot Bill!! We will miss you soooo much!!! All the best for you and your family!

Best empathetic coach I’ve ever met!!" - Miriam Bierre

"Kansas got lucky! I’ll miss ya, Bill. Thank you for your great coaching" Joe Hammond

"One of the best guys and coaches I’ve ever met. Will certainly miss you, Kansas is picking up a winner. Go enjoy your fantastic family!" Daniel Hynum

"Wait, what? Wasn’t he supposed to ask how we felt about this first?" - Meredith Rigdon

"We can set up a Zoom call and he can tele-coach" - Michael Pait

Greenville County Aquatic Complex:

Coached workouts: TuTh 5:30-7:00 am, TuTh 6:30-8:00 pm, TuThF 9:00-10:30 am, F 7:00-8:30 am, Sat 7:00-8:30 am.

The pool will switch to long course on April 4.

Kroc Center:

Coached workouts: MWF 6:00-7:00 am

Due to lane space and safety concerns we require swimmers to circle swim at all workouts at both pools.

Congratulations to Jean Ference for becoming a Certified Level 1 Coach with United States Masters Swimming! Jean is going to coach in the evenings at GCAC starting in April.

Kudos to these swimmers for being elected to the board for the South Carolina LMSC: Carolyn Moore - Records, Top Ten & Sanctions, Jenny Davis - Fitness, and Leslie Scott - Vice Chair & Membership

Many accolades to Kristy Panayotoff for killing it at the Auburn swim meet. She had amazing swims in the 500 Free, 100 & 200 Back, 100 & 200 Fly, and the 100, 200 & 400 IM.

Coach Leslie went to the USMS Relay Leadership & Volunteer Conference in Denver. I presented a session on Working with Facilities and got to attend many sessions on how to grow Masters Swimming. The highlight of the weekend was our keynote speaker, Nathan Adrian. He was very funny and engaging. I am fortunate to volunteer with wonderful people from all over the United States with USMS.

Greenville Splash team swag is coming soon. In case you didn't know, Coach Leslie is also a special education teacher. My students have started a school based business called Ramtastic Goods. We are busy making bag tags and a special surprise for everyone.

We are proud to announce that we will be posting our Greenville Splash workouts on our website in real time! Coach Bill Ewell will be sending us four or five workouts each week. They will be the workouts we do at Greenville County Aquatic Complex. So if you are swimming on your own, you can print and take them to the pool. You can find them on our website in the workout blog section. Click here for workouts:

We love our partnership with Dolfin Swimwear! All Greenville Splash members will receive a 20% discount on Dolfin swimwear and swim equipment at Alpine Ski Center. Alpine is ready to help you with your swimwear and equipment needs! So stop by 30 Orchard Park Dr Suite 17, Greenville, SC 29615 to support our team sponsors and local business.

Swimmers must show their 2022 Greenville Splash bag tag to receive the discount. We have picked out a new team swim suit, backpack and warm-up jacket. Click here for more information on our website:

Thank you so much to all of our swimmers that volunteer for Greenville Splash! Your efforts help to make our community safer in the water and provide fitness and competition activities for swimmers. We host three big events every year: The Greenville Splash Invitational LCM Swim Meet, The Upstate Splash Charity Open Water Swim, and Adult Learn to Swim. We have taught over 250 adults how to swim! The Upstate Splash has raised money to provide swim lessons for over 3,100 children! We are proud to be a team that gives back to our community!

Meet the Greenville Splash Advisory Board:

Sara Bopp, Amy Browning, John Decker, Mark Kothe, Kristin Knowles, Carolyn Moore, Casey Oliver, and Leslie Scott

Please, reach out to these board members with any suggestions for the future success of your Greenville Splash Masters team. Email: advisoryboard@greenvillesplash.com

Follow us on facebook, twitter, instagram and our website for more information about our USMS club. We also have FB messenger for each of the pools, let us know if you want to be added. We always welcome all swimmers to any of our workouts, events and socials. Join the fun!

Facebook Links:

Greenville Splash

Upstate Splash Charity

"Make a Splash in Life, Swim!"

Email: greenvillesplash@gmail.com
Website: www.greenvillesplash.com
Location: Head Coach Leslie Scott
Phone: 864-283-1328
Facebook: facebook.com/greenvillesplash
Twitter: @gsplashmasters