April 2014 (2) Candygrams

Saturday, April 5, 2014---Swim with Mike

Check out my Google Plus album for more pictures from Swim with Mike.

My husband Jim and I arrived at the Uytengsu Swim Stadium fairly early at 10:00 a.m. There was already so much activity. There were swimmers everywhere completing their laps.

Trojan Candy saw friend Grant Nichol. He volunteers in the Massage Center every year. Here is Grant with friends Jacob Grieswold, Patricia Alderman and Daniel Schiavi.

It was so nice to see friend Kathleen DeCristo again. Kathleen used to work at USC but left to take care of her son.

Trojan Candy walked upstairs to the Kid's Corner. That is where the Women of Troy Basketball Team always volunteers. Yes, there they were!

While I was upstairs, I took a peek at the football practice going on downstairs in Howard Jones Field. Some football players will come for a swim relay in the pool after they finish their practice. Trojan Candy will definitely take pictures of them then. Stay tuned!

Next up was the Belly Flop Contest.

Some of the contestants wore costumes.

Here is a Song Girl belly flopping in her uniform.

Next Trojan Candy walked around the pool area. Here were three members of the Dance Force Team.

The Pep Squad also posed for me.

Sitting by the stage was Dr. Sammy Lee, his wife and his assistant Cathy Marino. Trojan Candy met Dr. Lee and his wife at the opening of the Uytengsu Swim Center on February 21st. I interviewed his assistant Cathy. Cathy competed in Kayak in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics. She has been a Fire Captain in Long Beach and volunteers for the para-Olympics. Now she accompanies Dr. Sammy and his wife to events. So nice to meet another Olympian! An honorary FIGHT ON, Cathy!

Before the formal ceremonies began, Trojan Candy was able to take a picture of Mike Nyeholt, the namesake of "Swim with Mike."

Again John Naber was the Master of Ceremonies.

Two scholarship recipients related their stories to the audience. UC San Diego student Jake Robinson spoke first,

then USC Public Relations major Natalie Buchoz told her story about her life after a skiing accident.

The "Silent Auctions" were closing after the conclusion of the formal ceremonies.

Trojan Candy browsed among the auction items. Three of them caught my eye. This sign,

this football autographed by Troy Polamalu,

and this football autographed by Heisman Trophy winners Mike Garrett and Charles White.

Then, some friends also caught my eye in the auction area. Volunteers Marilyn and Dave Sell,

Ray Wong,

and Mike and Lois Valerio (we see them at basketball games).

Trojan Candy walked back to the pool area to get a good place for the upcoming football/song girl relay. I saw even more friends at the pool. Friend and "Swim with Mike" founder Ron Orr smiled for a picture.

Then, Phillip Ribeiro, a friend from Northern California who used to visit Trojan Candy at the Heritage Hall desk, came to sit by me.

Along came Dr. Bartner who posed with yours truly for this picture.

Spectators started gathering around the pool in anticipation of the relay. Four Song Girls across the pool posed for this picture.

Leland Waters, Ben Chua, and Michael Yee

Then, three more friends posed for Trojan Candy just before the football players entered the center. Announcer Leland Waters, USC Pep Band director Ben Chua (8/30/2013), and friend Michael Yee.

Then, the football players walked to the pool and jumped in. Trojan Candy saw several friends. I managed to take pictures of Hayes Pullard (8/19/2010)

and Cody Kessler (9/8/2011) right before the relay began.

The football players pushed the song girls from one end of the pool, then a second team of football players pushed them back to the other end. When the relay ended, I took these pictures of the participants.

Relay participants

Trojan Candy walked over to the exit to take more pictures of football friends Greg Townsend (4/26/2012) and Charles Burks (8/19/2011).

Arthur Bartner, Joey Arguello, and Delvon Simmons

Dr. Bartner, Joey Arguello, and Delvon Simmons

and Alex Rios (8/16/2012).

Then, as I left Swim with Mike to walk to the Tennis Stadium to join my husband Jim at the USC Men's Tennis match versus California, Trojan Candy saw three more football friends.

and Nathan Guertler (8/19/2011).