Hello Gators, When I was in college there was a weekend late night show on MTV called “Headbanger’s Ball” that focused on heavy metal rock music. Well we’ve started to discuss our end of year club party and based on all of the “heavy metal” that many of you have recently achieved in becoming “Ironmen” and/or “Steelmen”, we might have to consider calling our party the “Gators Headbanger’s Ball”. Some of these recent successes are highlighted below. This week's news topics include...Accomplishments… Iron Eric, Steel Gators, and Hazy Swimming!!Who’s Next?… These Gators are up for the Challenge, a “Light” swim that’s anything but light, the Heavy Metal tour continues in Maryland, and TIMBER!!Elections… Got a candidate? Club officer elections coming soon (August 17-31)!!So What Do You Think?... Member survey coming to your in-box soon!!Mark Your Calendars… Club elections, club events Happy Birthday!: Best wishes to the following Gators recently celebrated birthdays!..Sunday, August 9: Jen PhillipsWednesday, August 12: Mary Kain Accomplishments: Several new distance records, some podium finishes, and another new triathlete..Sunday, August 2: Ironman Boulder (Boulder, CO): Eric Afre successfully completed his first full Ironman distance event and decided to up the challenge by doing it in the high altitude of Boulder, Colorado…Eric Afre, You are an Ironman!!Sunday, August 9:Hazy Open Water Swim (Hazleton, PA): Nabil Radouane successfully completed another long swim, this time 2 miles. He was also able to capture a 2nd place age group finish… PODIUM!!!... Great job, Nabil!Steelman Triathlon (Quakertown, PA):Sprint:Suzanne Angelaccio finished in the top 30% of her age group and in the top 40% overall. Suzanne’s other accomplishments included a top 35% bike and a top 50% run… Nice job, Suzanne!Steph Babiec had a successful race finishing in the top 45% of all female participants… Congrats, Steph!Maribeth Baker finished #2 in her age group… PODIUM!!!... and also in the top 10% of all females and in the top 25% overall. Maribeth also had a top 20% swim, a top 35% bike, and a top 45% run… Excellent, Maribeth!Joe Boris had a fantastic result finishing in the top 10% overall as well as #4 in his age group, just missing a podium spot. Joe also was the #4 overall swimmer and #25 overall runner plus finished in the top 20% on the bike… Nice work, Joe!Kerri Brannen was able to overcome a dropped chain at the start of the bike (with an assist from super supporter, Vince Bellino) and achieve a successful race finish that included a top 50% run… Way to stick with it, Kerri!Mike Connelly, fresh off of his great “Chiropractic for Triathletes” seminar, achieved a top 25 finish (#21 overall out of 445) as well as accomplishing the following results… #7 overall run, top 15% bike, top 20% swim, and just missed a podium spot with a 4th place age group finish… Great race, Mike!Heather Irwin achieved a new personal distance record with her first ever Olympic distance finish... Congrats, Heather!JD Landis finished in the top 25% overall and in the top 45% of his age group. JD also had a top 20% swim and bike and a top 45% run… Awesome, JD!Maureen Pinkerton finished #4 in her age group (seems like we have a trend!), in the top 25 of all female finishers, and in the top 30% overall. Maureen’s other accomplishments include a top 30% bike, and a top 35% run and swim… Way to excel, Maureen!Patty Trainer is now a triathlete as she completed her first triathlon!!... FIRST TIME TRIATHLETE!!!... Way to go, Patty!Allison Wesler finished #3 in her age group… PODIUM!!!... and in the top 15% of all females and top 30% overall. Allison’s other accomplishments included a top 25% bike and a top 40% swim… Way to go Allison!Olympic:Trevor Bellino took 2nd place in his age group… PODIUM!!!... and finished in the top 45% overall as well as achieving a top 35% bike and finishing in the top 50% on the swim… Way to go, Trevor!Jason Brannen finished in the top 40% overall as well as in the top 40% in the bike and run. Great race, Jason!Rob Fletcher captured another top 3 age group finish… PODIUM!!! and finished in the top 10% overall. Rob’s other accomplishments included top 30% run, top 15% bike, and top 35% swim… Great results, Rob!Tiff “reformed non-triathlete” Pfluger, fresh off of her long training day at Ironman Lake Placid, decided that two weeks was enough rest and it was time for another race. Tiff finished in the top 30% of all female finishers as well as in the top 50% overall and in her age group. Tiff’s other accomplishments included a top 35% run and a top 50% swim. Wow, Tiff!Andy Rosebrook finished in the top 35% overall and in the top 50% of his age group. Andy’s other accomplishments included top 25% bike, top 40% run, and top 50% swim… Great job, Andy! Who’s Next?: Lots of Gators in action this weekend in five states including a bunch of relay teams in the Poconos. Best wishes to all for a safe and successful event!Saturday, August 15:Boston Light Swim (Boston, MA): Nabil Radouane takes on a lengthy test of his swimming ability in this 8 mile event.Sunday, August 16:Ironman Timberman 70.3 (Gilford, NH): Chris Phillips participates in his first non “Ironman Security” event of the season in this half Ironman distance event.Iron Girl Columbia (Columbia, MD): Diane Lynch participates in her 1st ever triathlon!Top of the Delaware (Bear, DE): Deb SeymourChallenge Pocono (Pocono Mountains, PA):Olympic: Andy RosebrookHalf Ironman Distance:Individual:Michelle Leonard… Competing in her 2nd triathlon and 1st half distance event!Byron SolvasonAllison WeslerJon WeslerRelay: The following teams will be participating in the relay event…Team 1: Steph Bieloski (swim), Kelly Beauchamp (bike), and Tiff Pfluger (run)Team 2: Joe Boris (swim), Ken Beauchamp (bike), and Tim Pfluger (run)Team 3: Maddie Matarazzo (swim), Tim Moseby (bike), and Don Mack (run)Team 4: Chris Reiter (swim), Brian Kozera (bike), and Vince Bellino (run) Elections: Our club officer elections will take place starting this coming Monday, August 17 through Sunday, August 31. If you would like to nominate a candidate for any of the positions listed below (2 year commitment starting on January 1, 2016), please reply back and we can include their name on the ballot that will be distributed on August 17. Officer positions include…President (current nomination: Byron Solvason)Vice-President (current nomination: Frank Moffa)Treasurer (current nomination: Chris Reiter)Secretary (current nomination: Don Mack) Also, we are looking for new members to join our leadership team. One position that is opening is for a Social Committee co-chair position (i.e. to assist in planning our fun social events). If you are interested, please reply back. So What Do You Think?: We’d like to get your input on a number of topics. We’ll be sending you a link to a short 10 question member survey in about a week and would really appreciate your input to help us plan for the rest of 2015 and start to plan for 2016 (and maybe even 2017). Watch for the survey request coming to your inbox soon! Mark Your Calendars:Sunday, August 16: Challenge Pocono Mountains: We have 16 athletes participating as individuals and on relay teams. It’s a short 75 mile drive to the event in case you’d like to support the club (and our tent will be set up near the finish line)!Monday, August 17-Sunday, August 31: Tri club officer election period.Saturday, September 12, Diamondman Challenge: This event features all sorts of races… Sprint and half Ironman distance triathlons and duathlons, off-road triathlon and duathlon, and kids triathlon and duathlon. We’d like for it to be a family event and we’re planning to host a few kids training sessions over the summer so that we can have a pack of Jr. Gators participate. Reserve the date on your calendar and stay tuned for more details coming soon! Go Gators! Don M