Hello Gators, If you are a sports fan and live in Pennsylvania, there’s a good chance your routing interests include either the Eagles or the Steelers. This weekend is a chance for all of us to unite and route for both… For the Eagles we have Ironman Eagleman 70.3 where four of our Lady Gators will be taking on their first Half Ironman distance event. For the Steelers we have the inaugural Steelman French Creek sprint triathlon that will include at least seven Gators including our newest member plus two athletes taking on their first triathlon that are being coached by a Gator. Read about this plus last week’s fantastic results below and more below! This week's news topics include...Accomplishments… Gators feeling both Grand and Quassy, but take on the Challenge and Tri-It!!Who’s Next?… 16 Gators in action across four states!!About a Gator… Czech out this week’s profile!!Mark Your Calendars… Need a last minute Steelman French Creek bike course preview?? Welcome! A very warm welcome to our newest member, Kristin Kozera! Welcome (officially) to the Gators, Kristin! We’re looking forward to seeing you participate in your second triathlon at French Creek this Sunday (following your debut at the recent Independence Triathlon)! Happy Birthday!: Best wishes to the following club members that are celebrating birthdays this week…Monday, June 8: Al MatarazzoSaturday, June 13: Dave GaleSunday, June 14: Deb Seymour Accomplishments: Gators running rampant!!...Saturday, June 6:Challenge Quassy Olympic Triathlon (Middlebury, CT): Andy Rosebrook celebrated his birthday with his annual successful finish in this event. Andy’s other accomplishments included a top 40% overall finish as well as a top 50% finish in his age group. Great birthday, Andy!!Grand Teton Half Marathon (Jackson, WY): Dean Milligan showed Wyoming how the Gators can run with a spectacular event. Dean’s results included a top 5 age group finish… PODIUM!!... as well as a top 12% overall finish. Way to show some Gator power out West, Dean!!Sunday, June 7:Challenge Quassy 70.3 Triathlon (Middlebury, CT): All four of our Gator finishers are in training for Ironman distance events later this season. Just think what they would have accomplished if this race was their goal!First Time Half Ironman Distance Finisher!!... Adrienne Foster turned in an outstanding effort and continually got stronger through the race passing 4 during the bike and another 54 on the run… Great job, Adrienne!!First Time Half Ironman Distance Finisher!!... Tiff Pfluger also had a very successful half Ironman debut that included a top 50% age group swim, age group overall finish, and female overall finish. Tiff blazed her way through the run passing an amazing 92 athletes on the way… Way to get it done, Tiff!!Tim Pfluger participating in only his 2nd half Ironman distance event had a phenomenal day. Tim finished #8 in his age group as well as in the top 12% overall. Tim was also in the top 35% of all swimmers and managed to pass 78 athletes on the bike and another 77 on the run… Nice work, Tim!!Andy Rosebrook took “the Challenge” by completing both events on the weekend. Andy is one of our most experienced triathletes and added two more successful race finishes to his resume. Great day after your birthday, Andy!!Tri-It Triathlon/Duathlon (Bear, DE): We had 6 athletes in action…Sprint Triathlon:Rebecca Bonawitz just missed the podium with a 4th place division finish. Rebecca’s other accomplishments included a top 25% swim and top 50% T1, bike, and T2. Excellent race, Rebecca!!Bill Cooney finished 2nd in his age group… PODIUM!!... as well as achieving the following overall results… Top 15% bike, top 25% overall finish, top 25% run, and top 45% swim… Fantastic event, Bill!!Don Schlichtmann had another stellar event finishing #12 overall and also winning his age group… PODIUM!!... Don’s other accomplishments included #8 overall bike, top 10% overall T1 and run, top 15% overall T2, and top 20% overall swim… Awesome, Don!!Deb Seymour also had a successful day with a top 10 finish in her division… Great race and congrats, Deb!!Sprint Duathlon: Can’t wait to see what happens when the Beauchamps get healthy! As a result of the team’s efforts so far this season in Piranha events, our club is currently a solid #3 in the overall club standings. If you have a free weekend and can contribute to our point total (all finishers are awarded points), please consider a Piranha event!Kelly Beauchamp was/is spectacular in WINNING the event as the top overall female finisher… PODIUM!! As impressively Kelly was #3 overall on the bike (men and women) as well as #11 overall in the race plus achieved a #3 overall T1 and a top 20% run 1… Wow, Kelly!!Ken Beauchamp finished #2 overall and also won his age division… PODIUM!! Ken had the #2 overall bike split on the day (wonder if he was looking over his shoulder?) and the #1 overall T1 and #9 overall run 1… Fantastic effort, Ken!!Honorable Mention: There were actually four Beauchamps that finished on the podium as Kelly and Ken’s daughters Alexis and Amanda competed in the kids race and finished #1 and #2 overall… PODIUM!!… Great work, ladies!!See Chicks Run 10K (Philadelphia): Maureen Pinkerton participated in this event and this chick can run finishing in the top 25% overall… Way to stomp out the competition, Maureen!! Who’s Next?: This Sunday, June 14 there are at least 16 Gators racing in at least five different events. Best wishes to all for a safe and successful event!Ironman Eagleman 70.3 (Cambridge, MD): Four Lady Gators take on their first half Ironman distance event... Steph Babiec, Ellen Friend, Maddie Matarazzo, and Melissa MoffaSteelman French Creek (Elverson, PA): Seven Gators and two “friends of the Gators” will be participating…Gators: Trevor Bellino, Jason Brannen, Rob Fletcher, Gregg Heimer, Kristin Kozera, Dave Marine, and Steph Stranick.Friends of the Gators: Lee and Keith (friends of and coached by Brian Kozera)Princeton Tour de Cure (Plainsboro, NJ): Doug Schmidt will be participating in this cycling event.Great Chesapeake Bay Swim (Stevensville, MD): Nabil Radouane will be once again going long… This time swimming all the way across the Chesapeake Bay (4.4 miles)… Yikes!Cape Henlopen Duathlon/Triathlon (Lewes, DE):Sprint Triathlon: Don SchlichtmannSprint Duathlon:Kelly Beauchamp… Kelly is currently the #1 female in the overall Piranha season standingsKen Beauchamp... Ken is currently the #2 male in the overall Piranha season standings About A Gator: This week’s profile covers an athlete that has completed in events from California to Prague, play guitar and golf, has a wonderful seven year old daughter, and recently became a Big Sister.. Learn all about Steph Stranick in this edition of “About A Gator”. Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Workouts:Saturday, June 6, 6:00am start (please arrive in time to be ready for a prompt start led by Don M): Steelman French Creek Preview Ride #2 (and optional brick run). The 18 mile loop includes a Shed Rd. loop (6.5 miles) and most of the Steelman course loop (11-12 miles) plus brick run after final loop is completed. First loop will start promptly at 6am from the parking lot on Shed Rd. near the intersection with Rt 345/Park Rd. Plan is to complete at least four loops for a total ride time of up to 5½ hours. We will pass the parking lot twice during each loop, so you can jump in or out at any time. If you plan to join in late, please let us know so we know when to stop at the parking lot to look for you. Go Gators! Don M