This summer, the 2022 USMS Summer Long Course Nationals were held at the SwimRVA swimming facility outside of Richmond, VA. SwimRVA is well known regionally for hosting the 2008 US Olympic Trials and several professional swimming events over the years.
Twenty-seven E Team Cavalier Aquatics swimmers joined 1,077 competitors from 187 clubs at the USMS Summer Nationals meet. The team competed in 97 individual events and 15 relays, setting 1 FINA Masters world record, 2 USMS National records and 3 meet records, and 23 Virginia LMSC records, in addition to crowning 2 National Champions in 6 events and numerous top 10 finishes and some personal bests.
As a team, E Team placed 5th in the "local club" division, and 8th overall (including all regional and local teams). There were 17 regional teams, and 170 local clubs that competed at this years USMS Summers Nationals meet. This was the team's first top ten finish at a national level meet since its inception.
A FINA Masters world record was set by Shirley Loftus-Charley (70-74 age group) in the 1500 FR (22:17.49) and a USMS record in the 1500 and 400 IM (6:57.34). She also sprinted to five first-place meet finishes.
Team highlights include:
2022 USMS Long Course National Champions
Shirley Loftus-Charley (Women's 70-74 Age Group)
200 Freestyle (2:46.34)
400 Freestyle (5:46.36)
1500 Freestyle (22:17.49)
200 IM (3:19.48)
400 IM (6:57.34)
Bill Wardle (Men's 70-74 Age Group)
200 Backstroke (2:52.05)
FINA World Records (LCM)
70-74 age group
Women's 1500 Freestyle - 22:17.49 - Shirley Loftus-Charley
USMS National Records (LCM)
70-74 age group
Women's 1500 Freestyle - 22:17.49 - Shirley Loftus-Charley
Women's 400 IM - 6:57.34 - Shirley Loftus-Charley
Virginia LMSC Individual Records (LCM)
70-74 age group
Women's 100 Freestyle - 1:19.61 - Shirley Loftus-Charley
Women's 200 Freestyle - 2:46.34 - Shirley Loftus-Charley
Women's 400 Freestyle - 5:46.36 - Shirley Loftus-Charley
Women's 800 Freestyle - 11:51.70 - Shirley Loftus-Charley
Women's 1500 Freestyle - 22:17.49 - Shirley Loftus-Charley
Women's 50 Butterfly - 43.63 - Shirley Loftus-Charley
Women's 200 Butterfly - 3:46.10 - Shirley Loftus-Charley
Women's 200 IM - 3:19.48 - Shirley Loftus-Charley
Women's 400 IM - 6:57.34 - Shirley Loftus-Charley
Men's 50 Freestyle - 30.53 - Craig Bauer
Men's 100 Freestyle - 1:11.25 - Craig Bauer
Men's 200 Freestyle - 2:39.36 - Bill Wardle
Men's 400 Freestyle - 5:39.11 - Bill Wardle
Men's 800 Freestyle - 11:36.80 - Bill Wardle
Men's 50 Backstroke - 37.60 - Bill Wardle
Men's 100 Backstroke - 1:19.95 - Bill Wardle
Men's 200 Backstroke - 2:52.05 - Bill Wardle
Men's 50 Breaststroke - 41.43 - Craig Bauer
Men's 100 Breaststroke - 1:32.79 - Craig Bauer
Virginia LMSC Relay Records (LCM)
280-319 age group
Women's 200 Freestyle Relay - 2:27.38
- Ann Lyttle
- Kathy Umbdenstock
- Meg Clute
- Shirley Loftus-Charley
Men's 200 Medley Relay - 2:36.42
- Bill Wardle
- Craig Bauer
- Roland Walters
- Gilles Biscos
Mixed 200 Free Relay - 2:17.30
- Shirley Loftus-Charley
- Ann Lyttle
- Bill Wardle
- Craig Bauer
Mixed 200 Medley Relay - 2:39.79
- Bill Wardle
- Craig Bauer
- Shirley Loftus-Charley
- Ann Lyttle
The E team is named in honor of 90-year-old swimming and diving coach Don Easterling, who is affectionately known as "Coach E." During his coach- ing career, Easterling led North Carolina State to 17 ACC titles, coached nine Olympians and is a multiple Hall of Fame recipient. "This masters team has made me very, very proud,” Easterling said. “They showed the heart and determination of champions. The team came in fifth among local teams and eighth overall."
The E Team was started in 2015 and moved to the Brooks YMCA in 2017. In March of 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic shut down many businesses, including indoor pools like the Y. Once restrictions eased in late 2020, Coach Corey Krall, a USMS level 3 coach, restarted the team and it grew as vaccinations became available and swimmers grew more comfortable returning to the pool.
Since then, Easterling and Krall have worked to help swimmers reach their personal and team competition goals. "What I saw in every race and swim was pure heart and grit from block to finish," Krall said. "Teammates cheered each other on with hugs, high fives, and clapping. I couldn’t ask for more."
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