Local Coach Inducted Into Hall of Fame

When he was a ten-year-old boy, swimming was just a fun summer activity for Rick Benner. He never would have guessed that the thousands of hours spent in crowded locker rooms and on hot pool decks would lead to a Hall of Fame induction.

But 42 years later, that is exactly what happened. On July 31, 2010 Benner became one of six individuals inducted into the Pacific Northwest Swimming Hall of Fame.

The life-long swimmer turned coach in the late 1980s for a small club team on the Jersey Shore called the Ocean City Sea Serpents. Now, the father of four resides and coaches in Manassas, VA for the QDD swim team.

Coaches can be inducted into the PNS Hall of Fame only after having coached for at least 20 years and having coached at least one exceptional swimmer during that career. In Benner's case, that includes two-time Olympic gold medalist, Megan Quann and three-time national champion Jamie Reid.

"Coaching Meagan and Jamie are two of the highlights of my career," said Benner.

Benner also said he was extremely proud of the accomplishments QDD has made as a team over the years and felt they were largely responsible for his induction.

"As a club we had set 126 new PNW swimming records, 9 American records and 26 national age group records," Benner said. "This honor was an identification of an exceptional age group club swim program in the northwest. We are establishing these records, which are usually set by college or post grad swimmers, with age group kids."

Under the direction of Benner QDD also qualified three individuals for the Nebraska Olympic trials in 2012, one of which happens to be Benner's son.

As with any great coaching career, a few low moments came with the highs.

"When Jamie won the gold at the Pan American Games in 2003 she was the top seed in the country," said Benner. "It was my shared responsibility with her to ensure that she made the Olympic team. The disappointment was shared when she didn't."

Benner's successes can largely  be attributed to his outstanding work ethic, as he says he is willing to work harder than most people he knows to help his swimmers achieve their dreams. Take one look at his schedule and that is quickly believed since the coach starts his mornings at 4:30 am and doesn't leave the pool deck until 9 p.m.

"We train 7 days a week, 364 days a year. Christmas is really our only day off," said Benner. "The bottom line is that I genuinely care about these kids as individuals and not just swimmers. I think they know and appreciate that."

Though Woodbridge Senior High School senior Kelsey Lisbon has only been swimming for Benner for two years, she already can see how much he cares about his swimmers.

"You really can tell Coach Benner loves what he does and he believes in us, even when we don't believe in ourselves," said Lisbon who has been swimming since she was five-years-old. "Coach was a psych major so he teaches us a lot of life lessons outside the pool and helps us to see that swimming isn't just a sport, but something that will help us later in life.

While Benner's swimmers are learning from him, he is learning right back.

"I learned one of the most important lessons from one of my swimmers. The summer after Meagan [Quann] first won a national championship, she had the opportunity to make the U.S. National Team," said Benner. "She needed to be in the top two, and she came in third. I was so disappointed for her until she reminded me that she had gone a best time. She had no regrets and she taught me how to measure success. It isn't always about winning, but just doing your best."