Swimming for Life

Biography

Articles about swimmers’ biographies

Toni Hecksel — Name: Toni Hecksel Age: 54 Local Team: Columbia Gorge Masters Occupation: Physical therapist practicing in the home health setting. Geriatrics is my specialty and that population is dear to my heart. Every day that I work is a reminder to take care of myself TODAY and surround myself with a […]

Swimmer Spotlight: Toni Hecksel

July 17, 2020 in Aqua Master Online / Biography / Spotlight by Karen Andrus-Hughes

John Foges — Name: John Foges Age: 76 Occupation: Retired English Teacher, R.A. Long High School, Longview, WA Local Team: COMA (remotely via Kalama, WA) I’m John Foges, I just turned 76. I’m a “remote” COMA swimmer. I live in Kalama, WA, with my wife Denise, and recent high-school-graduate […]

Swimmer Spotlight – John Foges

June 12, 2020 in Aqua Master Online / Biography / Spotlight by Karen Andrus-Hughes

Valeri Jenkins with her new puppy — Name: Valerie Jenkins Age: 56 Team: SOMA Occupation: Retired Sales Leader, Grainger Industrial Supply The sport of swimming has shaped and influenced who I am as a person from a young age. From an early understanding of goal setting and hard work, then building the values of teamwork and leadership, […]

Swimmer Spotlight – Valerie Jenkins

April 17, 2020 in Aqua Master Online / Biography / Spotlight by Arlene Delmage

Claudia Andrews — Name: Claudia Andrews Age: 63 Team: Oregon Reign Masters Occupation: Chief Operating Officer, Bonneville Power Administration (retired) I grew up in Gresham; learned to swim at the Gresham High School Pool when it was new in the 60s; worked at the Barlow High School Pool when it was new […]

Swimmer Spotlight – Claudia Andrews

March 18, 2020 in Aqua Master Online / Biography / Spotlight by Karen Andrus-Hughes

Sara Shepherd National Champion - 200 IM — Name: Sara Shepherd Age: 37 Occupation: Center Supervisor – City of Tualatin Parks & Recreation Local Team: Tualatin Hills Barracudas When I think about something that is so very important to me and continues to have a profound influence on my life, one word comes to mind: swimming. I was […]

Swimmer Spotlight – Sara Shepherd

February 19, 2020 in Aqua Master Online / Biography / Featured / Human Interest / Spotlight by Arlene Delmage

Lex Higlett Summer Nationals — Hi, I’m Lex. I’m an Aussie who swims (pretty much just Freestyle) with the MAC. Growing up in Australia we spent a lot of time in the water. My older sister, younger brother and I swam a couple of times a week with our local swim club run by Forbes […]

Swimmer Spotlight: Lex Higlett

January 18, 2020 in Aqua Master Online / Biography / Spotlight by Karen Andrus-Hughes

Nancy Milner — Name: Nancy Milner Age: 68 Occupation: Papermaker, Baker, Retired Local Team: Oregon Reign As told to Arlene Delmage After seeing Nancy at Long Course Nationals in Mission Viejo last summer, August 2019, I knew I had to spotlight her. For those of us who know Nancy, the fact that she […]

Swimmer Spotlight — Nancy Milner

December 21, 2019 in Aqua Master Online / Biography / Spotlight by Arlene Delmage

Grant Aldred — I started my swimming career when I was 7 years old at the Chehalem pool in Newberg. I wasn’t a very tall guy, so basketball or football might not have worked well, so I tried swimming one day. I really liked it and have been swimming ever since. I have […]

Swimmer Spotlight – Grant Aldred

October 18, 2019 in Aqua Master Online / Biography / Spotlight by Karen Andrus-Hughes

Ron Nakata and his wife of 55 years, Wanda — Name: Ron Nakata Age: 80 Occupation: Retired Dentist Local Team: REIGN (Oregon Reign Masters/Mount Hood Aquatics) I was born in Portland, Oregon, and my early childhood years occurred when the US went to war with Japan in 1941. I was three years old when my family was […]

Swimmer Spotlight – Ron Nakata

September 17, 2019 in Aqua Master Online / Biography / Featured / Human Interest / Spotlight by Arlene Delmage