Pictured above: Charlotte Bledsoe, Sidney Shankar, Sarah Fritzsche, Pat Yerkes, Noah Cignarale, Jeff Dietrich, and Charles Michael. Come out and join the fun Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Greenville County Aquatic Complex 6:30-8:00 pm

Greenville Splash was chosen as one of 35 adult programs from the USA Swimming Foundation’s nationwide network of swim lesson providers to receive grant money in early 2023. We are excited to be chosen for this grant! Jean Ference spearheaded getting this grant and we are so proud of her hard work. Upstate Splash will also match funds towards our mission of helping Veterans learn to swim. The grant award will go toward continued efforts to provide free swim lessons for veterans in our community. The USA Swimming Foundation has awarded a total of $647,522 to programs across the country.

The USA Swimming Foundation vetted more than 345 applications through a competitive annual review process and chose 69 youth and 35 adult programs to receive funding.

“The USA Swimming Foundation is thrilled to provide funding to 104 swim lesson providers across 29 states,” USA Swimming Foundation Senior Director of Development Elaine Calip said. “Over 14,000 individuals will now have the opportunity to learn the lifesaving skill of water safety across the country. We owe a tremendous thank you to our partners and donors who continue to make a difference in our mission of saving lives and building champions.”

Millions of individuals have received the lifesaving gift of swim lessons through the USA Swimming Foundation’s network of swim lesson providers, comprised of more than 1,500 qualified swim lesson providers across the nation. To learn more, click here:

Due to popular demand we are back to posting workouts every week on our website. These are the same workouts that we do at Greenville County Aquatic Complex from Coach Carolyn, Coach Leslie and Beth Cox. Thank you so much to Beth Cox for typing up all the workouts so we can post them for all to see. If you enjoy swimming on your own, make sure to check out our workouts. Click here for workouts:

Thank you to those that have paid your 2023 team dues. We appreciate your support. If you haven't joined, do so soon so you can get a cool t-shirt. If you have joined you should have received your team swag. Make sure to ask your coach at GCAC or the Kroc to give it to you. If you need it mailed to you, let me know. Our team shirts and bag tags were made by Ramtastic Goods a business run by special education students at Hillcrest High School.

Greenville Splash will be hosting the Greenville Splash LCM Invitational on June 16-17. We are in need of swimmers, volunteers (timers) and officials.

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.

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.

We are super excited to be featured on the radio! iHeart media recorded a 12 minute interview with Jean Ference about the Upstate Veterans Swim program. It will air as follows:

On WSSL 100.5 Sunday April 23 at 7am

On The Lake 102.5 Sunday April 23 at 7:30am

On WESC 92.5 Saturday April 22 at 7am

April 27-30 USMS Spring Nationals in Irvine, CA at the Woollett Aquatic Center. Click here for more information.

May 13 Lowcountry Splash: 2.4 and 6 mile open water swim in Charleston. So far we have Jeff Deitrch, Michelle Jones, Teri Laliberte, & Carolyn Moore swimming!

Click here to enter:

May 19-20 Beaufort River Swim: 8K-5K Open Water Swim & Run

Click here for more info:

June 16-17 Greenville Splash Invitational at GCAC. Save the Date for our Big Team Event! We are in need of swimmers, volunteers and officials! Enter by 5/31 for discounted price.

Click here for more information and to enter:

Sign up to volunteer for a session on Friday 5:00-7:30 pm or Saturday 11:00 am - 2:00 pm or 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Click here to be a volunteer timer:

August 2-6 USMS Summer Nationals in Sarasota, FL at the Selby Aquatic Center. Click here for more information.

Sept. 16 Upstate Splash Charity Open Water Swim in Salem, SC at Devil's Fork State Park Pavillion Lake Jocassee. Hosted by Greenville Splash

Greenville Splash swimmer Steve Leitch swam the Ka’iwi Channel or "Channel of Bones" in Hawaii on April 10th. This is the longest of the ocean's seven open water swims. The Kaiwi Channel separates the islands of Molokai and Oahu. It stretches 28 miles and plunges to a depth of 2,300 feet. The Ka’iwi Channel has the reputation as one of the world’s most treacherous bodies of water.

Steve swam 28 miles to raise much needed funds to cover therapy/counseling costs for children in foster care at Miracle Hill. You can still support him by donating to the cause or buying a cool t-shirt. Click here for the link to donate:

What an amazing journey! Steve started in Oahu, transferred to Maui for the waiting game (had to wait 4 days due to weather and currents). Then he grabbed a puddle jumper to Molokai and then swam out to a boat and kayaker for a harrowing 13 hour adventure through the rough seas. Steve started the swim at 6:00 pm on April 10th and finished at 6:56 am on April 11th. He holds the 7th fastest crossing time coming in at 12:56. He is the 94th person to complete the channel swim. Steve encountered sea sickness, jellyfish, Man O Wars, rouge fishing vessels and so much more. Every step of this journey was met with “God Winks” culminating in a double rainbow at the finish.

Here are some highlights from Steve:

- I swam my first ocean's seven

- 21 knot winds / bigger gusts 26-28?

- 5 to 8 foot waves/ swell (or bigger by east coast standards)

- had to breathe left side the entire swim … I only breathe right side!

- zapped by the shark shield / accident .. pretty sure the entire Hawaiian islands heard me scream and use a naughty word

- projectile vomited for a half hour from the huge swells / waves

- almost quitting after 4 hours as I was stuck in a current going slow and couldn’t eat or drink water.

- asked Jesus why he didn’t calm the ocean and he said I will calm you … in that moment I knew we would complete the swim (8 hours to go)!

- ate half a PBJ which settled my stomach

- stung 7 differed times by Portuguese man of war tentacles (this ended up being a great distraction from everything else

- Jack one of the Kayak guides getting so sick I had to call the boat back and get him out

- almost hit by a fishing boat that did not see us, came within 75 feet

- almost full moon / most stars I have ever seen in the sky

- completed 7 hours of the swim by eating 12 chips ahoy cookies and drinking a gallon of water

- double rainbow as I finished

- Kelly Leitch screaming from the boat with joy

- Herschel filming and feeding me … he went over and above. Amazing videographer and skilled at throwing the nutrition bottle line!

- Courtney Hawk with huge smile and hugs at Sandy beach

- Bruce our new brother in Christ being at sand beach for the finish (this is an other story)

- Captain Buckman’s huge smile and Aloha, I love to talk story with him!

- Miles & Jack kayaking through adversity and being in it with us.

- realizing that no one can come close to understanding this experience unless they were there

-We have many more stories and God winks but for now they will remain with our Ohana!

Step out in faith and fight!

Thank you to all that have joined Greenville Splash. We appreciate your support. Your new team swag is at the pool. Make sure to ask your coach to give it to you! If you need it mailed to you, let Coach Leslie know. Our swag was made by Coach Scott's students. We have a school based business called Ramtastic Goods that is run by special needs students. They loved making your t-shirts and bag tags.

Greenville County Aquatic Complex:

It's Long Course Season! Coached workouts: TuTh 5:30-7:00 am, TuTh 6:30-8:00 pm, TuThF 9:30-11:00 am, F 7:00-8:30 am, Sat 7:00-9:00 am.

Veterans Swim Program Mon Wed 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

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.

We are need of substitute coaches. Let us know if you would like to be a permanent substitute coach or a guest coach. We are in need of helping us out this spring and summer as coaches go on vacations. We loved having Scott Conklin and Bill Durbaun be guest coaches this past month. Thanks so much for filling in and sharing your passion for swimming!

Congratulations to Elizabeth and Andrew Platt on their recent wedding! Best wishes to you both!

Congratulations to Kiah and Jacob Farley on their new baby boy! Wilder James was born on March 6 5lb 3 oz and 18 inches.

Kudos to Jeff Deitrich for swimming awesome races in the 500 and 1,000 Free at the North Carolina SCY Championships in Cary, NC

The USMS Top Ten for Short Course Meters Has Been Published! We are super proud of our swimmers for placing top ten in the entire United States!

Individual Top Ten

Women:

25-29 Annabelle Kaye 4th 200 Fly

30-34 Sarah Tomashefski 8th 100 Free, 7th 50 Back, 6th 100 Back, & 100 Fly, 3rd 100 IM

60-64 Carolyn Moore 6th 200 Fly, 7th 100 IM

65-69 Susan DeMere 7th 200 Back

90-94 Barbara Eisele 1st 200 Breast, 100 & 200 IM and 50 Fly, 2nd 100 & 400 Free, 2nd 100 & 200 Back

* Special Note: Barbara earned All American in the 200 Breast & 100 & 200 IM and 50 Fly

Men:

18-24 Charles Michael 5th 1500 Free

30-34 Jacob Pocta 7th 200 Back

35-39 Mike Templeton 4th 100 Free, 3rd 50 & 100 Back, 4th 200 Back

40-44 Jason Williamson 8th 1500 Free

45-49 Randy Charcalla 6th 50 Free, 8th 100 Free, 6th 200 Free

55-59 Mark Kothe 4th 100 Back

65-69 Bill Grawe 9th 200 Free, 7th 400 Free, 8th 100 Fly, 5th 200 & 400 IM

Relays Top Ten

120-159 Men 200 Free Relay 4th Randy Charcalla, Jacob Pocta, Charles Michael, Mark Kothe Templeton

120-159 Men 200 Medley Relay 4th Mike Templeton, Jacob Pocta, Jeremy Wilson, Scott Conklin

120-159 Mixed 200 Free Relay 5th Sarah Tomashefski, Annabelle Kayye, Mike Templeton, and Jeremy Wilson

160-199 Mixed 200 Medley Relay 7th Susan DeMere, Sarah Tomashefski, Bill Grawe, Charles Michael

200-239 Mixed 200 Free Relay 8th Carolyn Moore, Susan DeMere, Bill Grawe, Scott Conklin

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.

Synergy Suits for Sale:

Contact Steve Croucher 717.683.8901 (c)

Email: steven.croucher1@gmail.com

(1) medium men's Synergy synskin 2 swim skin sleeveless ... $100 sale ($200 retail)

Click here for picture

(1) medium men's Synergy synskin 3 swim skin short sleeve ... $120 sale ($240 retail)

Click here for picture

(1) medium men's Synergy hybrid EFX3 sleeveless wetsuit ... $200 sale ($400 retail)

Click here for picture

(1) medium men's Synergy EpicSpeed full pants wetsuit ... $75 sale ($180 retail)

Click here for picture

(1) one-size Synergy swim sleeves $25 sale ($75 retail)

Click here for picture

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 Upstate Veterans Swim. We have taught over 350 adults how to swim! The Upstate Splash has raised money to provide swim lessons for over 3,400 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