Barb Church
Chetrick Award: Barb Church
The Chetrick Award was established in 1977 and is named after Dr. Myron Chetrick. The award is presented annually to the person who has given outstanding service and exemplifies commitment to MI-LMSC. Criteria include outstanding contributions to both MI-LMSC and USMS. All members and volunteers, including officers, are eligible for this award.
The Nominee:
· This swimmer/member first joined United States Masters Swimming in 1980.
· Over the past 44 years, she has seen masters swimming evolve and grow, along with her own swimming journey.
· She first started with a Lansing area Masters team and eventually settled in as a member of the FAST masters team for the past 15 years.
· She was there in 1983 when the legendary Indianapolis natatorium first opened and held the first long course USMS Summer Nationals meet. It was also the first year that USMS started keeping world records and she held the 50m Backstroke LCM world record for 3 three years in the 30-34 age group.
· In addition to her participation in many local and national USMS meets, she has been active in many national Senior Games meets, where she has six first place finishes and three national records.
· However, it’s her work outside of the pool that brings us to today’s recognition.
· When she first assumed the role of Membership Coordinator in 2022, she was determined to reunite the Michigan Masters club into a cohesive group that could compete at national and international meets as a unified powerhouse team.
· She contacted dozens of swimmers and coaches to explain the structure of clubs and teams in order to consolidate everyone into one team.
· She also went to almost every meet where she was able to meet in person with swimmers to answer any questions they may have had about how to register and select a team.
· The result was a reconstituted and unified Michigan Masters club with the largest number of members in many, many years.
