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UM’s Wren, Graham shared lifelong lessons in pool

I read recently that Jeff Wren of the University of Maine swim program is considering retirement.

This brought back special memories of Jeff, which have turned out to be the highlight of my educational career.

Thirty years ago I was a graduate student there. All my life I had never learned to swim, but it was not for lack of trying. I had taken lessons at every opportunity and always flunked.

I decided to sign up for a swim class once again because of the marvelous Wallace Pool to enjoy at noontime lap swims.

Once again I flunked the class which was personally taught by Jeff Wren. As I was walking away from the class, my dejectedness must have shown. “Mrs. Best,” he called out to me, “I’d like to speak to you.”

Our talk resulted in a series of private lessons with a student lifeguard Lance Graham who was a star on the diving team.

We went to the deep end of the pool (the diving area) not used during lap swim. Lance sat by the edge on a chair. I slipped into the water right by Lance. Jeff had me tread water in that one spot. I could grab the edge when I felt panicky. Lance and I got to know each other over our daily half-hour sessions at the noon lap swims.

By the end of the third week something amazing happened. All of a sudden that panicky feeling was gone! I could swim freely! I could swim to the middle of the deep end. I began to swim in circles. It felt wonderful and I did shed a few tears of gratitude and joy.

Ever since then I get a rush of excitement at this time of the year (the middle of June). My swim friends and I await our annual gathering for our first swim. We make a day of it, bring great snacks, celebrate all our spring birthdays and catch up on each other’s lives. And our day is punctuated with delightful leisurely swims around the cove.

Thanks to Jeff Wren and Lance Graham forever.

Linda Best

Belfast

UMaine coach Standbrook deserving of accolades

What distinguished individuals both Jim Montgomery and Grant Standbrook are. Grant Standbrook certainly deserves accolades for his outstanding recruiting and hockey knowledge.

I have been a hockey fan since I was in high school when I attended a Harvard-Dartmouth game. Dartmouth had an outstanding line of (Jack) Riley, (Dick) Rondeau and (Bill) Harrison. Rondeau made one of the greatest rushes I had ever seen, much like Bobby Orr. The line of Montgomery, Paul Kariya and Cal Ingraham was also outstanding. Who will ever forget Jim Montgomery’s come-from-behind three goals in the third period to win the NCAA championship.

The Massachusetts colleges recruit most of the outstanding local hockey players there. It is necessary for the University of Maine to recruit many Canadian players to stay in contention. Grant Standbrook has been very successful doing that.

I hope that Grant Standbrook will continue at the University of Maine in some capacity for many years to come.

Jim Buchanan

Willimantic

UMaine made right switch to FM radio sports broadcasta

Kudos to the University of Maine for contracting with a new radio station to carry university sporting events. As an alum and a fan, I look forward to listening to the games with some decent radio reception.

I do enjoy WZON of Bangor, but the limited broadcast range is discouraging and AM quality is terrible. I live only 10 miles outside of Bangor, and at night the signal fades in and out, on a good night. If one is driving much beyond Ellsworth, forget it.

Perhaps before the contract comes up for bid again, WZON can work toward increasing its broadcast coverage area, or better yet, go FM.

Thank you, UMaine.

Ann Sawyer

Lucerne

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