I swam with Ron from age 5 until I graduated high school at 17. He ruined me to other coaches.  His calm, assuring presence made my college swimming experience with a yelling coach an extremely short one. 

We shared the same birthday and I'm sure he appreciated me giving him the exact day countdown starting in September. 

He liked to claim that it was he who changed MHS's colors from red and white to black, red and white.  He wasn't going to let his girls swim in white suits!! (Thank you, Ron!)

He was truly a blessing to McMinnville and I'm so grateful I got to swim for him. 

Sending much love!!

For those of you interested here are the final practices Ron sent me. 

For the next two weeks I think your main workout should be 2x500 freestyle and three x200 side glide kicks. Side glide kick is when you flutter kick on your side with your lower arm extended in front of you and your top arm on your hip and maybe every 10 or 12 kicks take you switch sides. In the meantime I will be working on a workout that you can build up on. You can go more than what I have just said if you are in better shape than I think you are. 

June 3rd

Okay  here are your add-ons. On Mondays add four times 100 breaststroke 45 seconds rest on Wednesday do the same but with backstroke. On Friday go four times 100 IMs 45 seconds rest take the butterfly as right arm left arm both arms. Do not get your heart rate too high. The objective is to keep your joints strong and your flexibility healthy. You build your heart rate up only if you're going to compete. If you're not competing don't swim really high heart rates. Every two weeks add another 25 yd so like your IM will be better back breast-free free free. Keep building until you run out of time.