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With the possible exception of judging,' she later admitted Wallace, who is a Level !! National Judge, finds judging synchronized swimming, like skating, uncomfortably subjective. The judge often finds herself between a mckandahardpleenhatispartly why the Oakville synchro group has elected to prepare and perform annual shows at the pool, forgoing the time- consuming and frustrating exercise of convention. "In the eady years we went into competitions," the coach, chomogra That doesn't mean she regrets any part of it. "I love what I do," the nationally-rated synchro and speed swimming coach affinmd. "I like the girls and everything about the sport" "I started synchm just to offer' something different," Wallace recalled "In fact I was sort of talked into it" She chuckled. It's a fitting one. Certainly, in the strenuous and elegant sport of synchro nized swimming (originally called 'omamental swimming), age is not an issue. According to the coal, her troupe of swimmers range in age horn 8 to 65, 73 girls and 10 women. A few of the women (sometimes called the Gmmy Group), have been performing synchro since it began here in Oakville in September 1968, a few months after the pool on Navy Street opened. "l think of myself as only 25," she pointed out. Right. Since we already know she has a 30-year-old daughter, and we dis. cover she's been happily married for 33 years. we can only assume that '25' is how she 'feels' (and frankly, we like the concept). T (thol8ititittsr or almost a quarter of a century F Manlyn Wallace has been turning synchronized swum- ming at Oakville':; Centennial Pool. Does it seem like 25 years. we asked the lady in pink? "No," the plain-spoken Wallace said emphatically in her lovely west Oakville home. She laughed. (The swimming coach laughs often.) May i'-s:ei-.iryi" BLINDS is?iiiiiTiii::! al,i,,ljslst,. A'iT-it'i4i:i:iiciTiiiil k/tll - 410 Speers Rd, Oakville 338-2603 mun - moo-s II moon. noun cum. mun. GUM. minim. mum. mum, mum“ mu: May-Imam 10-5230: mumw1H. Friday 1M; Salinity 10-5 Synchronized swim coach celebrates 25th anniversary In 27 Bitterent Sizes To Choose From Sale ends May 29/93 BLIND moms VENETIAN BLINDS rvrtj, “We sell verticals. venetian: and pleated shades at VERY. VERY Low PRICES!" Wh l fresh Lobst , * c2; on the Col? Mil and Potato Call For Reservations 338-1773 22 PASTEL DECORATOR COLORS Hunter Douglas 35 60 It W. “ll Vania-II. VOMIIIHI and Planted llmdl ll VERY Lobster Di"iitw Spikid Clam gigowder Caesar Salad J0 M" 'l? 'l3 '10 'M 'lil '43 '48 '45 '41 M' ’19 '15 'l2 '58 '58 'lil ‘56 M8 'M as" '21 'l? '14 " '68 '63 '66 '59 'M '56 BLIND WIDTHS Includes one-way drnw tracks, bottom weights, chains and installation hardware BLIND WIDTHS TiirarattvrrEitTe of these VERY, VERY, LOW PRICES! FABRIC VERTICAL BLINDS C" '23 'lg 'lii '68 " 76 63 64 72 '25 '22 'l7 Bom in Toronto's Parkdak area, Marilyn went to school there with her two olde: sisters. Her dad died when shewasbutonesohermomwasleft “Oh pshaw," the delightfully unas- suming 'driving force' said. She would rather walk on glass than blow her own horn it seems. "Ihis is just something that I do she explained. "When you enjoy something, time flies." Grinstead asserted: "Marilyn Wallace is synchronized swimming in Oakville. She is the burning centre and the driving force. For all her work over the years she deserves to be recog- nized" "On the other hand, I am constantly amazed at her patience, especially with the little ones. Marilyn is a genuinely kind person with old-fashioned values. Yes, she demands a high standard of performance but the girls don't have to be perfect, as long as the effort is "Marilyn," Grinstead said, "is a coach and teacher of the old school. She demands courtesy and quietness and she has high expectations of the girls." That is largely because of her own dedication and strong work ethic, the co-ordinator added. Margaret Grinstead, Centennial Pool‘s coordinator, was once a pupil in Wallace's synchro program and she has been working with the swimming instructor for the past 18 years. Grinstead thinks she knows the lady pretty well. In a telephone interview she spoke respectfully and with affec- tion of her mentor's serious approach to her craft as well as her amusing antics in more personal moments. '86 pher and costume designer stud, "but we rmally realized it wasn't something the girls needed to have fun." Ir? " 79 Tt Sale ends May 29/93 '24 '28 tttt ’19 'Stl 97 IU In " VERY LOW PRICES 60 'M 'N '21 IN £1 ml 97 90 ‘84 Prrtfile 66 'M 'N '22 132 115 10 m 100 It? 95 72 '38 'M '24 'g? 100 121 105 ll? She married her husband John, now a retired Ford executive, 33 years' ago, and they've lived in Oakville ever since. Their one daughter Sharlene is an artist and professional harpist. Both John and Sharlene have often been part of Oakville’s annual Synchro Show; Sharlene sometimes as a swimmer and more recently as the creator of the scenic backdrops that transform the pool. Over the years John has built props for various routines. "He is just terrific," his wife said. When she first came to Oakville Marilyn and her sister offered swim- ming lessons in her backyard pool to the children of neighbors. For the past twenty years she has been the swim- With the task of musing the three girls It was her mother, u non swimmer, who got the girls into a leam-how-to-swun program at Central Commerce High School pool when they were quite young. At first Marilyn was drawn to swimming for speed and competition which she pursued through high school, while her sisters were more interested in diving and 'omamental' swimming. After high school she joined the Mermaid's Club of Toronto, a syn- chronized swimming group which was norrcompetitive, strictly for show. She was also teaching swimming and div- ing, though she admitted diving was one thing she never did much like. 50% off 'Jubilee' 20yeor warranty . Double set Sears reg 1999 98 999.99 Queen set. Sears reg 2199 98 1099.99 King set. Sears reg 2999 98 1499.99 GUARANTE Cl(])lsss,/hf(])R""l (]1,,.,,, 45% off ’Chiro-Supreme 20% worr' 45% off 'Prestige' 20-year warr' 50% off 'Regency Aus'9ryear warn' Double set. Reg 1299 98 704.99 Double set. Reg 1299 " 709.99 Double set. Reg. 1299.88...649.99 Queen set. Reg 1499 98 819.99 Queen set. Reg 1499 98 819.99 Queen set. Reg ld99.98...r49.99 King set. Reg 2199 98 1199.99 King set. Reg 2199 " 1199.99 Reg prices shown are Sears pnces DEW SLEEPQN YQUR SEARS SLEEP SET FOR 30 NIGHTS F YOUR? NOT COMPLETELY SATISFIED SEARS WILL BUY IT BACK. THATS SEARS COMFORT RROAAISEI 'DREAM CLOUD'...L0WESl' PRICES OF THE SEASON'. 5999f), FINAL WEEK TO SAVE ON SEARS-O-PEDIC® ASK ABOUT' OUR DEFERRED PAYMENT' PLAN 7999.? "__" "i, JC SALE PRICES END SAT., MAY 22, 1993 OR WHERE SEARS IS OPEN, SUN. MAY 23, 1993 50% offt feat SHOP SEARS OAKVILLE PLACE u WE'RE OPEN.. MON.-FRI. 9:30 A.M. 9:00 P.M., SAT. 9:30 A.M.-6 P.M., SUN. NOON-5P.M. According to the coach, synchro- nized swimming has changed a lot over the years. She's stayed cunent She summed up her philosophy: 'Tve always been a firm believer that going to the meet and coming home are the fun parts; the bonus is in the middle. As long as they swim well, I am happy." Marilyn Wallace has been coaching synchronized swimming in Oakville for 25 years. (Photo try Peter McCusker) ming teacher and coach to the girls at through courses. There are always new St. Mildred’s-Lightboum School. training methods, new figures, and the She's proud of her girls at St. swimmers stay under a lot longer. How Mildred's who compete in the private long? school circuit in synchro and speed 'My ladies claim I keep them under events and do very well. for 10 minutes," she quipned and SUDF r! tth fir D " 45% off 'Celebrotion' 20-year warr . Double set. Reg 1499 98 819.99 Queen set. Reg 1699 98 929.99 King set. Reg 2399 98 1299.99 ow tor 3/4. Twin RL coil set also on sale 59992 Expect more from Sears D ace ket. SEARS FC]) is" Twin set. Sears reg 1899 98 849.99 Double set. Sears reg 2 I 99 98 989.99 Queen set. Sears reg 2399 98 1079.99 King set. Sears reg 3099 98 1389.99 'My ladies claim I keep them under for IO minutes," she quipped and laughed. The coach seems to have a lot of fun with her women's group. She teases them about being late for class and talking too much and being mighty slow learners. Some, as noted, have been coming back for 25 years. Seriously, Wallace said, my real- ly work hard and do difficult figures. In the show," she added, "they perform V ht'znlllllll patterns in the water _ its T really an audience appeal thing tT Year alter year, Wallace admitted, W.” L", v an: continues to be thrilled by her 70- " Mr, odd girls strutting their uuff at the - . , MrN .,, TN 'hid" - annual show L“ J . ' T"MW, "lt is lust amazing when you see ' them lined up along the pool for the T 'ri finale," she mused, "in all their differ- ”41% ent colored suits and caps." i, 7 This year will be particularly amaz fr, 'il ing as many of the alumni from the a past 25 years will be in the audience. Wallace said many of her girls have moved to various corners of the globe St', from Japan to California to C Newfoundland. fl""f'iii)tisigc 45% off 'Millenium' 20-year worr, *' Double set. Reg I399 " 759.99 Queen set. Reg 1599 98.. 869.99 King set. Reg 2299 98 1259.99 I W 99 Mn bel Drtidr: Jag 1'9938 9 Ohm set Hep 1099 98 (There will be two "Silver Synchro " Shows, May 19th and 20m at 7:30 pm at Centennial Pool. Admission $4.) But what she has treasured most through it all, she said ref1ectively; what puns everything else into perspec- tiveisthesensethatshehashada small part in the growth and development of a few girls. "Being invited to somebody's wed- ding, when you don't know anybody but the bride," she explained, "is still neat Especially when you get intro- duced as her 'second mum.'" "lt's quite a compliment,' Wallace added. "lt helps you to realize maybe you‘ve done something good - and you should keep on doing it" OAKVILLE PLACE 842-9410