The Oswego State Swimming team is ready for a new season full of fast swimming and adrenaline. The team comes from accomplishing a 10-0 on the men’s team and an 8-2 on the women’s team last season. The team has experienced an exponential growth this year as a 24-strong class of 2022 has stepped into the game. Led by Coach Holman, Oswego State Swimming is looking forward to an exciting season.“All the international swimmers that we actually have here, you know, have been, you know, pretty serious about what they do,” says swimming coach Michael Holman. Assistant Coach Dragunas is experienced on the national level in Canada.“I think they bring a little bit of diversity and different perspective, you know, from where they come from,” says assistant coach Andrew Dragunas. This year the Oswego State Swimming team has three international swimmers. Luis Perez of Colombia is a sophomore this year. “I was once top 10 in all ages in all the country, so that was like really big for me. My main goal is to break the 100 and 200 backstroke records, school records, and hopefully to get a medal at SUNYACs,” said Luis. Alex Davie was born in Malaysia and is a junior this year. “When I was younger I was really focused on trying to make an Olympic team or make a national team because I have like five different nationalities, but as I’ve gotten older I realized that swimming just takes a lot from your life,” said Alex. Gigi Hon, a New York native, believes this is a great experience.“I learn a lot about everyone else’s culture, even if like you’re from a different state, but especially if you’re from out of the country,” Gigi says.

Oswego Autism Task Force established in 2005 is having their 4th annual fun run/walk. The fun run/walk will take place Saturday, April 6th, a great way to kick off National Autism Awareness month! The walk is being coordinated by one of the original parents who helped found the organization OATF, Julie Chetney. Julie’s family has been directly affected by Autism, her son was diagnosed when he was younger and she helped found the OATF to spread awareness and collect opportunities that she could share with not only her son but other families that have been affected as well.

Another person that impacts the organization greatly is their president Tammy Thompson. In 2005 after many families in Oswego County had been affected by Autism she gathered a group of parents to form the organization and she was named president with her expertise in the subject due to the fact that at the time she was an early intervention specialist and was able to share insight on the matter.

The fun run is attended by many people every year, Julie said that over 200 people usually participate in the run/walk. The run/walk is a great family activity, but is also great just volunteering. Julie says “We can never have too many volunteers at that event. It does make a 5k event more fun and enjoyable when you have great people that are volunteering and out there on the course especially just cheering on people. It’s a good feeling, for those participating and those volunteering”. Or if you would like to cheer on the runners you can enjoy the “Breakfast of Autism Champions” for an additional price that will benefit the event in the Press Box.

If you would like to partake in this event you can register at www.auyertiming.com, registration will close on April 4th. Or if you would like to volunteer you may Facebook Message the group at Oswego Autism Task for or email the race coordinator Julie Chetney at juliechetney@yahoo.com.