Flotsam & Jetsam: Big news on the home front is Rick Skarbo. Rick qualified in the Men's Nat'ls in 54.8, 100 back (54.2 leading off a relay) and then in a glorious burst of mental energy came up with a new flip turn in the finals. Consequently, he was disqualified, but nobody can take sixth away form you, Rick. Doug Webster, trying to snap out of post-season let down, came up with a 5:07 500 free and an 18:02 1650. Ol' Webfoot will be basking on the Isle of Barbados soon. Seems that they're holding a three day calypso festival down there and they want some long-distance swimmers to feed the sharks and 'cuda. Ask them if "all expenses paid" includes a funeral, Doug (and don't fall for that burial at sea jazz).............the Akron meet added a few more promises to our future. Gary Gotschling, 11 yr. old newcomer this year is starting to shape up: 1:009 100 back; 4:55 400 free. In the same age-group John Sherk had a 4:49 400 free; Greg Penn a 4:48; and John Szuba 5:00.3. Sherk also had a 1:01 100 free and 8 yr. old Tommy Szuba a 2:25 200 free. Joanie Makkonen led the girls with a 20:37 1650 (9:52.8 at the 800) with Joanne Scarborough not far behind..........Anybody got three points? That's the margin of victory in the Women's State Meet: Golden Lions 110, Patton 107, Ann Arbor 106. The old issue of swimmer-stealing sulked in the background, as an inspired group of Patton swimmers went down proudly before some equally fine performances by GLSC. Many Patton parents felt that they were watching a Patton intersquad meet; recent departees from the home program garnered a sizable margin for the winners. Further fuel for the fire was supplied by a Free-Press article which maintained that Golden Lion's swimmers were expected to double their opponent's score. But if the victory was not clearly defined, a few of the races were...particularly Cynthia Goyette's 100 and 250 yard breastroke races in which she set American records; a fine tribute to Roy Pouliot's coaching ability, as were Sue Stuckey's, Patti Kelly's and Kathy Filgo's performances. These girls are a rich heritage to swimming. Coach Pouliot (pronounced "Pool-yacht") is a proponent of the three-day a week program, dictated by necessity, and also has a team that abounds in sprinters (no connection intended, of course). Perhaps, some day he will have a four or even five day program and then his "scions", I mean "lions," will be even better than they are. Meanwhile the Hauck, too, is on a three-day program. He works out three days every three days. Results--almost every girl on the team, as in the girl's state, came up with her best performances. Mary Beth Ceresko set a 13-14 yr. old Nat'l record in the 200 fly with a 2:28.6 She also had a 1:07.2 100 fly; 5:41 400 I. M.; and 6:06.9 500 free. Her sister Alice, just missed a Nat'l record for 12 yr. olds in the 100 fly. She hit 1:06.2 (also 1:05.7 on relay); 2:34.2 200 fly; and had nice 250 and 500 free times. Joanne Scarborough, raging along in the breastroke, is now only tenths behind ex-teammate Johanna Cooke. (Johanna netted herself 3 second places...three silver medals...just twenty-seven short of thirty pieces of silver....) Scarborough's new times 1:14.3 100 br.; 3:22.4 250 br.; 5:57.1 500 free; 2:33.2 200 fly. Tina Solis also plummeted down the time scale, gleaning a 1:09.2 100 fly; 2:34.7 200 fly; 5:29.8 400 I.M.; 6;10.7 500 free. Not to be left out, Mary Lou Shefsky hit 2:33.8 in the 200 back and 5:30.5 in the 400 I.M. Last, but not least, Joan (the Great Pencil) Makkonen came through with a 58.8 100 free; 2:27.9 200 I.M.; 2:47.2 250 free; and 5:21.0 400 I.M. Considering that many of these times were done back to back, they're not bad...not bad at all..........Unheralded new friend of Patton is Sharon Marcotte. In the past several months she had branded herself one of those timeless, unselfish people who are the backbone of a good organization.........explanation to coach Bob Firlik of DIT: They said drink Canada Dry, so we tried it....