Wild Bill Swim 2023 - 2nd Annual

My name is Jenn Yorzyk Triger. This year hosts the 2nd annual “Wild Bill Swim & Paddle Challenge” in memory of local swimming legend Bill Yorzyk, my dad.

The Challenge is for fun, fitness and adventure! We are an event that caters to experienced 3 mile swimmers and new 1 mile participants. We are pen to adaptive swimmers with their own team. Because everyone deserves to swim or mission to introduce 200 local children to swimming & water safety.

A Swimming Legend

Yorzyk won an Olympic Gold Medal in the 200-meter Butterfly event at the 1956 Summer Olympics, shattering world records, just seven years after learning to swim as a freshman at Springfield College. He was a five-time NCAA All American who set a total of 11 World Records. In the 1970s he used his swimming skills, diving experience, and knowledge of physiology gained through swimming, and his medical training and experience, to assist in the development of diving tables still in use today. Yorzyk swam competitively into his 70s and passed on his love of the sport to his sons and daughter.

Lake water in his veins

Although Bill learned to swim at Springfield College as a freshman-year requirement, he learned to swim the competitive strokes in a lake in New Hampshire over a summer, beginning what was a long partnership between Bill and Swim Coach Charles Silvia. That lake experience led to the creation of an unprecedented 2-beat dolphin kick and Yorzyk’s Gold Medal. As he swam for the next 50 years, Bill also became an anesthesiologist and was a groundbreaker in pain management.

It takes $200 to teach a child to basic water safety and swimming.

Swimming is more than a sport, it is a life skill. North America has a notable lack of life guards, and a noted increase in drownings. In an area chock full of lakes, the average child spends time if not in, then on the water. every child should have the chance to learn basic water safety & swimming.

Our program would use the school system and local YMCA to provide lessons to 200 local 3rd graders, during school time. logistics include lessons, bus transportation, towels, goggles & bags.

Please visit our lake! We welcome you with open arms! Every Wednesday you can find us on South Po0nd beach for Open water Wednesdays, followed by social at Oakholm Brewery.

You can find more information about the event and the lakes and Bill at

www.wildbillswim.org