Tsunamis attend Ryan Lochte Dinner!

Mac Crutchfield Foundation Fundraiser Dinner with Olympian Ryan Lochte!

Yes, you heard me...........6 Tsunami swimmers had the pleasure of meeting Ryan Lochte last Friday at a fundraising dinner for the Mac Crutchfield Foundation.  The foundation was created in loving memory of Mac Crutchfield, a former ATAC swimmer and great individual who passed away unexpectedly in August 2008.  Mac’s goal was to swim in college and create opportunities for swimmers with disabilities through his eagle scout project.  The money raised from his foundation will ensure that swimmers from Florida and Georgia will get to swim in college by raising money for scholarships as well as the money necessary to host a Special Olympics event in Tallahassee, FL.

Ryan Lochte, who won Olympic Gold Medals in Beijing in the 200 Back and 800 Free Relay, has asked to be the face of the foundation to help raise money.  He is not taking a cent for his efforts and is kind enough to help out the Crutchfield Family by making appearances and speaking at dinners like the one on Fri, March 27th.  He is from Daytona Beach, FL and swam collegiately for the Florida Gators, becoming one of the greatest swimmers on college history.  Needless to say, it was a little tough for him to have dinner in the Florida State ballroom overlooking the football field at Doak Campbell Stadium, but he was a good sport about it.

The Tsunamis were well represented at the dinner as 6 swimmers a parent and 2 coaches attended (all dressed up pretty I might add).  Myself and Coach Sharon were there as well as Debby Hove, Victoria Hove, Sarah McDermott (who is in love with Ryan Lochte and proud of it, haha), Kyle Olstad, Jamie McDonald, Carlee McDonald and Laura Kearns.  The night brought great food, an entire ballroom full of well dressed ATAC swimmers, parents and some great looking Tsunamis!  :)  Hehe. 

The evening concluded with raffle prizes, a short speech by Ryan and a question/answer session where Victoria Hove proceeded to ask Ryan for his number, haha!  After a good laugh from the crowd, she followed up with a serious question about his favorite thing about Beijing outside of the Olympic Village.  His response was classic as he first asked........"First of all, how old are you.......".  It was good times!  Oh yeah.......and his answer to just about every "What’s your favorite memory of the Olympics" question was the all you can eat McDonalds in the athlete’s village, haha!  That seemed to have made more of an impression on him than all of his medals. :)

Next up for the Mac Crutchfield Foundation is a similar dinner in Jacksonville with Ryan Lochte again as well as Brendan Hansen (World Record holder and Olympic Champion in breaststroke).  Brendan actually requested that he come to the dinner to help out too.  I’m proud to say that both Ryan and Brendan are two class acts and I love seeing that in our wonderful sport.

CATCH THE WAVE!

Jonathan