Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 28, 1994 TAG: 9407280063
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``They're always talking about building the smart road [linking the Roanoke and New River Valleys],'' Blackwell said. ``Well, the RVAA's been doing that for years.''
Twenty-one swimming clubs comprise the RVAA, and Blacksburg and Radford are included on that list.
Furthermore, the Duane Whitenack City/County Championship Swim Meet, which begins Friday at Radford University's Dedmon Center natatorium, was held in the Roanoke Valley from 1964-1992.
When heavy snow in March 1993 destroyed Vinton's LancerLot, RVAA moved its keynote event to Radford. Last year's event was successful.
``[The Dedmon Center] was wonderful,'' RVAA Treasurer Irene Hurley said. ``It was a pretty pleasant place to be. There seemed to be a lot more room.''
``It wasn't a bad drive,'' Blackwell said. ``And [the Dedmon Center staff] really worked with us. We're already set for next year.''
The City/County is no casual dip in the pool. Hurley said 1,123 swimmers are registered for the City/County, an increase of 71 competitors from 1993.
Last year, 316 events made up the two-day competition. This year's total may be slightly less because two adult age groups have been consolidated. Of the 1,600 members of the RVAA, 80 are adults.
Forty-five records fell during the 1992 City/County competition. ``I think 18 or 20 were set last year,'' Hurley said.
In addition to Blacksburg and Radford, the RVAA clubs include Aqua Net, Bush Valley, Castle Rock, Countryside, Elks Club, Forest Hills, Hidden Valley, Hunting Hills, Lake Drive, LancerLot, Montclair, North Lakes, Olympic Park, Our Lady of Nazareth, Read Mountain, Roanoke Country Club, Spring Run, Stonegate and Tinkerview.
Elks Club, defending City/County champions, will have the most swimmers (173) in Radford, and Countryside will have the fewest (13). Montclair, which rejoined the RVAA this season, chose not to enter the City/County.
The teams expected to challenge Elks Club for the title are Roanoke, Hidden Valley and Blacksburg. They have 107, 97, and 92 entries, respectively.
The City/County is the culmination of the RVAA swim season, which runs for six Monday nights during the summer. Blackwell coordinated the program.
``It takes me about 20-25 hours a week in the summer,'' Blackwell said, emphasizing that hundreds of volunteers make the RVAA go. Don Thomas and Pat Willard, who have worked together for many years, are again co-directors of the City/County.
Most volunteers originally become involved with the RVAA through their children, but the assocation becomes addictive, Blackwell said.
Blackwell has worked with RVAA for 11 years, and served as vice president for the past five.
``I really do enjoy it,'' Blackwell said. ``I've met some wonderful people. Plus I think swimming is such a family activity.
``My kids have played other sports and at a baseball game, for instance, you go, sit, and watch. Oh, you're responsible for drinks now and then.
``But with swimming, you need people as timers, judges, scorers, a clerk of course ...Swimming forces parents to become involved.''
Hurley's two children are in their 30s, but both swam for Roanoke clubs as teen-agers. Twenty-two years after joining RVAA, Hurley remains very active.
``I love swimming and working with figures,'' Hurley said. She will coordinate the results at this weekend's competition.
Blackwell cited several other volunteers who have remained with the program after their children have left it.
Colleen McNulty and Melody Blankenship have worked with RVAA for 23 and 15 years, respectively, Blackwell said.
Memo: story also ran in Neighbors