Courtesy of Julia Galan
The Germantown Maryland Masters are back this year with the 3rd Annual Solstice Meet, a short course meters competition that combines fast swimming and a friendly atmosphere with a touching tribute to our fallen veterans.
Taking place on Saturday, December 5th, 2015 at the Germantown Indoor Swim Center, this year’s Solstice Meet will include a variety of events that allow swimmers the chance to break some short course meters records at an excellent aquatic facility. Highlights for this year include free-of-charge relays, among them the 800m freestyle relay, and the traditional age-weighted, gender-neutral Crescendo Relay. Created by Germantown Masters swimmer Karl Wunderlich, the Crescendo pairs the 4 best swimmers of each team – any gender, any age – with each swimming 200, 150, 100 and 50 meters, in that order. Relay points are tallied via a specific mathematical formula that is explained on the Germantown Masters website.
Of particular significance to this year’s Solstice Meet is the return of 22 Too Many, a grassroots group that seeks to raise awareness of an important and often ignored issue: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Initially founded by Keri Jacobs and Dayna Harrison in 2012, 22 Too Many derives its name from the disturbing statistic revealing that 22 veterans on average commit suicide every single day in the United States due to PTSD, complications from traumatic brain injuries and the stigma attached to the idea of seeking help for post-combat distress.
Since 2012, 22 Too Many has grown from just 5 members into a nation-wide community, with hundreds of runners or triathletes taking up the cause – running with photos of veterans pinned to their vests, honoring their memories, and sharing photos and awards with veterans’ loved ones. In 2014, 22 Too Many reached out to the swimming community for the first time, embracing a well-received partnership with the Germantown Maryland Masters – and all participants – at last year’s Solstice Meet.
Once again this year, Solstice participants can dedicate any of their events, whether individual or relay, to some of our fallen military heroes. This is a unique opportunity for us, as swimmers, to be able to join 22 Too Many and their mission. In addition to swimming in memory of these veterans, 22 Too Many will also have a booth set up for participants to sign cards and have their medals and ribbons sent to the families and loved ones of the veterans, or take a photo holding a picture of the soldiers they swam for during the meet.
The Germantown Masters are looking forward to welcoming a variety of swimmers this year from teams across Maryland, Virginia and Potomac Valley, and even an international contingent, including a relay team of swimmers who are all originally from the United Kingdom. Individual registration closes on November 30 and relays close on December 4th. Join the Germantown Masters and 22 Too Many on Saturday, December 5th and swim in memory of our departed veterans at the 3rd Annual Solstice Meet!
REGISTER HERE!
ABOUT JULIA GALAN
Julia Galan headshot, PhotoJulia Galan is a lifelong competitive swimmer and a USA Swimming and U.S. Masters Swimming coach. Julia’s passion for the sport, for coaching and for writing led to the creation of Swimspire, a coaching and swimming inspiration source geared towards athletes of all levels and goals.