Oxy Swimmers Complete “Hour of Power”

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2008) – Joining 96 other teams from across the country and the nation, Occidental College swimmers left it all in the pool after participating in the “Hour of Power” in which the 32-student team combined to swim nearly 2800 yards.

“Occidental was honored to participate again this year,” interim head coach Glen Myer said. “Mike Hill, a high school friend of Ted Mullin, was on deck and brought a much more personal feel to the event, which our swimmers took into the pool with them”

Mullin, the swim team captain at Carleton College, suddenly passed away after being diagnosed with synovial cell sarcoma. This is a rare form of soft tissue cancer that attacks muscles, joints and connective tissues. It occurs most frequently in young adults, age 15-29. This cancer is significant to athletes in that it focuses on their age group and the important strength components of their bodies.

Since then schools have joined forces to promote awareness and research of synovial cell sarcoma.

This year over 5,700 students from 97 schools including 82 colleges from 30 different conferences. Swimmers spanned from Massachusetts to California and all the way across the world to Australia.

In Minnesota at Gustavus Adolphus College, Bill Mullin, Ted’s uncle, was on the deck to speak before the event, leaving no dry eyes in the venue.

“The swimmers transferred that strong emotion into the loudest, most energetic hour!” GAC swim coach Jon Carlson said. “A special thanks to Bill from the Gusties!! With his presentation and knowing so many were doing the same thing....one of my swimmers put it best, "I think I found a new level of ALL OUT!!”

Prompted by Carleton College’s head coach Andy Clark, many schools exchanged emails following the event, which was a great way to learn of people’s experiences while also further affirming their strong sense of community and united stance toward eradicating and finding a cure for this deadly cancer.

Additionally he shared the following, “On behalf of Ted Mullin's family and the Carleton Swim Teams, thank you all for your efforts, involvement and encouragement for making the Ted Mullin "Hour of Power" swim relay an incredible and impacting event.”

Occidental College came together for this event with numerous members of the administration on deck throughout the hour. Among the Tiger teams that were in attendance were the volleyball and football teams as well as the cheer squad, who got the swimmers fired up.

In the words of the coach Clark: Swim hard, Swim fast and LEAVE IT IN THE POOL!