Sept. 25, 2006

Last Sat., Sept. 23, The University of Maryland Swimming and Diving program welcomed Terps alumni back to the Campus Recreation Center Natatorium to swim against this year's Varsity Squad for the 2006-07 Alumni Meet.

Former University of Maryland head coach, and member of the Maryland Hall of Fame, Bill Campbell, led the Alumni Squad. Campbell coached at Maryland for 20 seasons, from 1956-1976. During his career, he collected an overall record of 206-52 (.798) and set his ACC record at 88-29 (.752). Campbell is the most successful coach in Maryland Swimming and Diving history.

At the close of the meet, Campbell and the rest of the Alumni Squad were victorious over this year's Varsity Squad. Ahead of the Varsity swimmers, the Alumni were awarded a .25 second advantage for each year removed from their last year of competition for the University of Maryland.

Coach Durden said, "I was excited to see our Alumni and Varsity swimmers together in the same pool competing and having fun. We have some fast alumni and with the rousing speech Coach Campbell gave our alumni prior to the meet, our Varsity Squad was going to be in serious trouble."

The individual events for the Alumni/Varsity Meet were the 50 Freestyle, 50 Backstroke, 50 Butterfly, 50 Breaststroke, and the 100 Individual Medley. The two relay events were the 200 Medley Relay and 200 Free Relay. Also, in the diving competition, athletes competed in the one-meter dive. Among the divers in this event was 1963 ACC Champion in the 3-meter dive, Ron Squires.

At the close of competition, alumni swimmers who were coached by Bill Campbell presented the former coach with a vintage letterman jacket from the 1960's era. This was perhaps the most emotional moment of the meet and captured the purpose of the event.

The Varsity team returns to action this Friday for their Black and Red Intrasquad meet at 4:00 pm.