Like a proud parent, legendary Fairview swim coach Richard Segrist, (third from right) who took his team to a state title in 1964, is flanked by some of his former athletes. From left to right, Scott Bliss (class of 75), Ed Bettendorf (66), Segrist, and Mike Zappone (71) all came back to enjoy the last meet ever at Fairview’s pool with their mentor. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

An end of an era for Fairview swimming
By Matt Pawlikowski
Sports
Published Jan. 24, 2007

All good things must come to an end, and after 45 years, Friday night proved to be the end of an era, as Fairview High bid farewell to the pool that has not only been host to one of the premier early relays, but also miles of memories.

It was an emotional night, as swimmers from every era returned, but made even more so as Fairview’s legendary swim coach Richard Segrist, who not only founded the team, but also coached the Warriors to a state championship in 1964 and several runner-up and district championships, was on hand for the closing ceremonies.

As Segrist stood at the tip of the pool, hands crossed, watching current swimmers such as Katie Simon and Diana Mruk prepare for the upcoming meet with Avon and Firelands, you could tell the feelings were flowing.

“It is very sad, no doubt about it; There are a lot of memories here,’’ said  Segrist.  “The years just go too fast. They sneak by you like a flickering light.”

Segrist says that while the State championship team he coached is one of his fondest recollections, he also talked about Ed Bettendorf, whose name remains on the record board, something the coach smiled about.

“Ed was the best swimmer we ever had,’’ he said. “He never made it to the level he should have, and yet he still was in the finals at the state meet.”

Yet as special as Bettendorf was, Segrist got teary eyed as he talked about all the kids who came through his program.

“There are some 500 kids on the team over the years that I coached here,’’ he said. “This was my whole life. They all were special; I really had a great life. The pool doesn’t look any different than it did when I retired here in 1989; it’s a shame they have to close it.”

Today, Segrist bides his time by working at a golf course as a Ranger, but not where many would expect. Instead of the sunny warmth of Florida, it’s in Northern Michigan, where he spends his summers.

“I come south for the winter,’’ he said with a huge grin. “We come back to Mt. Vernon for the winter.”

Bettendorf was just one of Segrist’s alums who came back for the meet. Unlike Segrist, while he was disappointed to see the pool go, he also knows that the new pool in the Recreation Center, which is currently under construction, will be a bonus for the kids.

“I’m a little sad about it, but not a whole lot,’’ said Bettendorf. “The fact that they are building a new pool, I think it is exciting.”

Asked what his fondest moment of his career was, while he said the support that the parents gave the swimmers is first, he said the state title won by the team in 1964 is something they can never take away.

“We succeeded at a time when you were still able to do that with a small club,” said Bettendorf, who is a trial lawyer now for AT&T here in Cleveland. “Our base was really narrow, but we had good depth and it worked. Today it would be much more difficult to draw from a small community like this, but it’s obviously still a good program because they have so many kids here tonight.”