Tuesday, December 22, 2020
My Why: Will Frazier & Lucy Duncan
Some sage soul, possibly Rowdy Gaines, once mused, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
At this point, our hearts are to the point of bursting with pent-up fondness — and longing — for the pool. Continued and extended periods of quarantine have distanced us from the comfort of chlorine during the 'Rona’s reign, affecting all members of the swim community — athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, family and supporters alike.
We’ve missed the big moments: postponed U.S. Team Trials and 2020 Olympic Games Tokyo, as well as hundreds of cancelled international, national and local age group meets.
We’ve missed the little moments: obligatory groans at early-morning practice, the communal joy of a dropped tenth, as well as hundreds of laughs, hugs, cheers and tears shared with teammates, coaches, officials, volunteers, family and supporters.
Of course, these aren’t actually the little moments. The relationships, the bonds, the empathy and the love are the true comforts of chlorine.
"My Why" is a series of candid testimonials from individuals who believe in the power of swimming. Their passion for the sport is infectious.
Will Frazier | King Marlin Swim Club swimmer (17) | Oklahoma City, OK
I swam in our city’s summer recreation league for several years. At the end of each summer, I wanted to keep swimming, but at the time I was also practicing ballet with Oklahoma City Ballet. The practices were at the same time and I couldn’t do both.
At the end of the summer when I was about to turn 13, I decided I wanted to swim and give up dance. The last summer I swam in the recreational league was 2016, and I was super inspired by the Olympic swimmers. I had so much fun swimming on the summer team. I didn’t want it to end, so I started swimming competitively in the fall of 2016 with King Marlin Swim Club in Oklahoma City.
I have Cherokee heritage. In Oklahoma, Native heritage is very common! We have a number of tribes represented on our team and in our LSC. The way I feel most connected to my Native heritage and swimming is through my involvement in the Diversity and Inclusion efforts through the Oklahoma LSC. My team sponsored an annual Native American outreach effort. We put on a clinic and had a meet for Native American kids to introduce them to swimming. I got very involved with that and really enjoyed it.
I don’t feel any added pressure as a Native American swimmer. Being in Oklahoma, it isn’t very obvious to me that there are so few Native swimmers because it is very common to have teammates who are Native Americans. I know that’s not the same in all states, and we need to make our diversity and inclusion efforts reflect that.
Lucy Duncan | USA Swimming official | Avon, IN
I am currently a swimming official with 32 years of experience. I have been blessed to officiate at all levels of USA Swimming, including five Olympic trials and most recently served as the Head Meet Referee for the Toyota U.S. Open in November 2020. Hopefully I will be the only official to serve as Toyota U.S. Open Meet Referee for nine different sites. I also serve on the Credential and Election Committee for USA Swimming and on a task force for the National Officials Committee.
Our oldest daughter initially began swimming in a summer swim program at school and the coach/aquatic director came to me and said, “If we’re ever going to have a competitive swim program for this school, we need to become a USS — now USA Swimming — swim team. Will you help me get one started?” My response was, “Sure, I can do that,” which most who know me will tell you is typically my answer! I contacted Indiana Swimming and we began the Avon Community Swim Team. Our youngest daughter began swimming at age five. She later received a swimming scholarship to earn her college degree.
I served many years locally officiating for ACST and then for Indiana Swimming LSC, eventually volunteering as an official for the Zone, Sectional, and National levels, as well as officiating many local and national Master’s meets. My husband and I also officiated high school and college competitions. We were blessed to serve at all three NCAA national championships in one year, and we officiated at two Olympic trials together.
Swimming is a very unique sport which requires a volume of volunteers but is one which I quickly found to be a very inclusive sport for not only the athletes but the volunteers, officials in particular. Swimming participants, coaches and volunteers are so supportive of one another and appreciative of each person.
Swimming allowed my husband and I to travel to many areas of the country. We enjoyed watching many swimmers grow through the sport not only in the water but in developing work ethic and an attitude for life. We made many friends — family — throughout the country, including coaches, athletes, officials and volunteers. During my husband’s recent cancer battle and finally his death, these people were so supportive. This swimming family continues to support me in unbelievable ways. I know of no other sport that has this type of continued loving “family” involvement for its athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers!
At this point, our hearts are to the point of bursting with pent-up fondness — and longing — for the pool. Continued and extended periods of quarantine have distanced us from the comfort of chlorine during the 'Rona’s reign, affecting all members of the swim community — athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, family and supporters alike.
We’ve missed the big moments: postponed U.S. Team Trials and 2020 Olympic Games Tokyo, as well as hundreds of cancelled international, national and local age group meets.
We’ve missed the little moments: obligatory groans at early-morning practice, the communal joy of a dropped tenth, as well as hundreds of laughs, hugs, cheers and tears shared with teammates, coaches, officials, volunteers, family and supporters.
Of course, these aren’t actually the little moments. The relationships, the bonds, the empathy and the love are the true comforts of chlorine.
"My Why" is a series of candid testimonials from individuals who believe in the power of swimming. Their passion for the sport is infectious.
Will Frazier | King Marlin Swim Club swimmer (17) | Oklahoma City, OK
I swam in our city’s summer recreation league for several years. At the end of each summer, I wanted to keep swimming, but at the time I was also practicing ballet with Oklahoma City Ballet. The practices were at the same time and I couldn’t do both.
At the end of the summer when I was about to turn 13, I decided I wanted to swim and give up dance. The last summer I swam in the recreational league was 2016, and I was super inspired by the Olympic swimmers. I had so much fun swimming on the summer team. I didn’t want it to end, so I started swimming competitively in the fall of 2016 with King Marlin Swim Club in Oklahoma City.
I have Cherokee heritage. In Oklahoma, Native heritage is very common! We have a number of tribes represented on our team and in our LSC. The way I feel most connected to my Native heritage and swimming is through my involvement in the Diversity and Inclusion efforts through the Oklahoma LSC. My team sponsored an annual Native American outreach effort. We put on a clinic and had a meet for Native American kids to introduce them to swimming. I got very involved with that and really enjoyed it.
I don’t feel any added pressure as a Native American swimmer. Being in Oklahoma, it isn’t very obvious to me that there are so few Native swimmers because it is very common to have teammates who are Native Americans. I know that’s not the same in all states, and we need to make our diversity and inclusion efforts reflect that.
Lucy Duncan | USA Swimming official | Avon, IN
I am currently a swimming official with 32 years of experience. I have been blessed to officiate at all levels of USA Swimming, including five Olympic trials and most recently served as the Head Meet Referee for the Toyota U.S. Open in November 2020. Hopefully I will be the only official to serve as Toyota U.S. Open Meet Referee for nine different sites. I also serve on the Credential and Election Committee for USA Swimming and on a task force for the National Officials Committee.
Our oldest daughter initially began swimming in a summer swim program at school and the coach/aquatic director came to me and said, “If we’re ever going to have a competitive swim program for this school, we need to become a USS — now USA Swimming — swim team. Will you help me get one started?” My response was, “Sure, I can do that,” which most who know me will tell you is typically my answer! I contacted Indiana Swimming and we began the Avon Community Swim Team. Our youngest daughter began swimming at age five. She later received a swimming scholarship to earn her college degree.
I served many years locally officiating for ACST and then for Indiana Swimming LSC, eventually volunteering as an official for the Zone, Sectional, and National levels, as well as officiating many local and national Master’s meets. My husband and I also officiated high school and college competitions. We were blessed to serve at all three NCAA national championships in one year, and we officiated at two Olympic trials together.
Swimming is a very unique sport which requires a volume of volunteers but is one which I quickly found to be a very inclusive sport for not only the athletes but the volunteers, officials in particular. Swimming participants, coaches and volunteers are so supportive of one another and appreciative of each person.
Swimming allowed my husband and I to travel to many areas of the country. We enjoyed watching many swimmers grow through the sport not only in the water but in developing work ethic and an attitude for life. We made many friends — family — throughout the country, including coaches, athletes, officials and volunteers. During my husband’s recent cancer battle and finally his death, these people were so supportive. This swimming family continues to support me in unbelievable ways. I know of no other sport that has this type of continued loving “family” involvement for its athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers!