Swimming 1-Hour Virtual Championship Together Creates a ‘Swamily’

The lyrics say it all.

Listen to Dan, and he’ll show you a way,
To glide far, and not screw up your lane.
Oh! I get by with a little help from my coach.
Yes! Two-armed fly with a little help from my coach.
Yeah! Gonna try with a little help from my coach.

This parody of The Beatles’ classic With a Little Help From My Friends, was written by Michele Lydon, a member of the Pittsfield YMCA Polar Bear Masters workout group in Massachusetts.

She and her teammates sang it to their coach, Dan Rogacki, during a team party on Jan. 29 to honor and thank him for all he does for the club as a volunteer coach. The party celebrated the club’s participation in the 1-Hour Virtual Championship, an annual USMS event that allows competitors to see how far they can swim in 60 minutes and how they stack up against other swimmers across the country in their age group.

The Pittsfield team fielded about 40 athletes.

The championship was started in 1977 to allow competition among teams and individuals from all over to compete without incurring travel expenses. Participants did the event at their own pool, wrote their results on a 3×5 index card, and mailed them in to be recorded. It's since evolved into a popular virtual challenge, a format that's had success and participation, especially during the pandemic.

Not only is the competition a day of fun—an opportunity to swim without worrying about times—but it’s an occasion for reconnection with teammates who have become like family, Lydon says.

Or, in Pittsfield’s case, "swamily."

“The 1-hour swim is something everyone on Pittsfield Polar Bears Masters feels comfortable with, so participation from all levels (slow to fast, newish to veteran) is high for us,” Lydon says. “We love any opportunity to come together, compete, and cheer each other on. That’s the kind of club we have.”

Back for the first time in six years because of health issues, Lydon adds that for many years, the 1-Hour swim has been a great excuse to gather afterward for a team party, congratulate each other, and thank their volunteer coach.

A couple from the club hosted the large group. Everyone relaxed, ate, talked about recipes, laughed, watched Rogacki open gifts, and talked about how glad they were the event was over.

And, of course, they sang.

“Coach Dan, in turn, gave out the traditional bear paw necklace to Rachel Seckler, our team member who contributed the most to our team this past year by coordinating several team-oriented events,” Lydon says. “It’s a unique, hand-blown glass pendant that is of huge significance to the person who wins it each year.”

For Seckler, who's been a member of the club for more than a year, it was a complete surprise when she received the coveted necklace.

In retrospect, she says all of the checking her teammates did the week before to make sure she didn’t have to work (she works nights) the evening of the challenge should have given her a clue something was up.

“I was late to the party because I swam my laps late,” Seckler says. “When I arrived, everyone gestured for me to sit in a red chair, and that’s when coach announced I’d won the bear paw for my team spirit and overall enthusiasm. It certainly wasn’t because I’m the fastest.

“Being part of this team really is like being part of family, or swamily. Everyone is so inclusive. No matter what your skill level is, everyone makes you feel like a member of the team. Everyone encourages you to swim the way you like to swim.”

Rogacki gave away some personal, funny honors as well, such as the award for being most tardy to practice—something Lydon says she's won in the past.

“My first day at practice, I showed up late, and I forgot my cap and goggles,” says Lydon, who's been a member of the club for 10 years. “People at this club are so generous, open, and friendly. A couple of women lent me a cap and goggles so I could join them.

“As it’s been for a lot of people, the past couple of years have made it challenging for us to get together, so when we do, we make the most of it. This event is our only guaranteed annual gathering, so we make a party out of it. It’s a time to celebrate together outside of the pool.”