Making A Splash With Service – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swim & Dive
Sept. 8, 2011
Columbus, Ohio – Highlighted by the involvement of two team members who completed the Pelotonia ride, the Ohio State women’s swimming and diving team has been making quite an impact in terms of community outreach.
Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Buckeyes have contributed an amazing 229.5 hours of community service on campus and in the Columbus area.
“It’s very important for our athletes to give back to our community. We want to enhance their undergraduate experience by serving others and sharing our human qualities with the university community,” explains associate head coach Stefanie Williams.
“Our ladies love to be out in the community. They realize they are a part of something bigger than themselves. Wearing the Scarlet and Gray goes beyond the swimming pool.”
Riding in Pelotonia were Megan Detro and Kelly Ann Baird, who logged 180 miles each in the massive August bicycling event to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. Started in 2008, Pelotonia is a grass roots bike tour with one goal: to end cancer. Riders choose routes of 23, 43, 102 or 180 miles over a two-day period. 100% of all rider-raised donations go towards cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center; more than $9 million has been raised this year.
“I chose to participate in the Pelotonia because I have been volunteering at The James Cancer Hospital, and I have heard such great things about the ride,” said Detro, a junior from Carmel, Ind., who holds several Ohio State freestyle records. “I have seen how cancer affects families and friends, and I wanted to give back.
“I did no special training for the 180-mile ride. I did swim or in-pool training about 24 hours a week and then after nationals in the beginning of August, I did a couple of longer bike rides.
“I started to really worry about being able to finish the race a week or two before the ride. I was very nervous, but my nerves were soothed a bit when I saw the 2,000 people doing the 102-mile and 180-mile rides lining up to start the race. I got excited when we started the race because everyone around was reassuring me that I would be fine.
“When I finished the race, it was a feeling of accomplishment. In the ride, Starner Hill was the dreaded 3/4ths of a mile hill. There were signs all the way up that families and friends made. I saw one sign that said, `This hill is easier than chemo.’ For the rest of the ride, that is all I thought about when any part of the ride started getting rough for me.
“I definitely would encourage others to participate with me next year. All the people rode for the cause, and were all so friendly.”
“It was a lot of fun,” agreed Baird, a sophomore from Lexington, N.C., who swims the freestyle and individual medley events. “Megan and I wanted to try it, but the first time I went for a ride, I was dead tired after about 10 minutes! We did some spinning with our swim team and that was my main training for the ride.
“The thing that impressed me is how nice everyone was. I stopped to change my gears and so many people asked me if I needed help. The people made it a great event, and the cause is very important.”
As a team, the Buckeyes were involved in the Cap City half-marathon and also visited a number of local elementary schools to promote reading and literacy.
