History of the Central Zone
The four-Zone concept was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1978, at the last Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) convention of which swimming was a part. At this convention, United States Swimming, Inc. got its start. The first Central Zone Championship meet was held in August, 1980, at Lincoln, Nebraska. The original “Central Zone Manual” with “Championship Meet Policies and Procedures Manual” was completed in 1985. The Policies and Procedures must be updated each year following the annual meeting.
The following individuals have served as Zone Directors for the Central Zone Committee of United States Swimming (as of 1998, USA Swimming):
1978 Dan Ventres, Minnesota Dick Hammer, Midwestern
1979 Dick Hammer, Midwestern John Bogert, Missouri Valley
1980 Guy Barnicoat, Michigan Jordan Harwood, Wisconsin
1981 Guy Barnicoat, Michigan Audrey Birklid, Minnesota
1982 Audrey Birklid, Minnesota Peter Malone, Missouri Valley
1983 Peter Malone, Missouri Valley Audrey Birklid, Minnesota
1984 Audrey Birklid, Minnesota Peter Malone, Missouri Valley
1985 Peter Malone, Missouri Valley William Maxson, Ozark
1986 George Schluter, Missouri Valley Penny Taylor, Ozark
1987 George Schluter, Missouri Valley Penny Taylor, Ozark
1988 Penny Taylor, Ozark George Schluter, Missouri Valley
1989 George Schluter, Missouri Valley Penny Taylor, Ozark
1990 Penny Taylor, Ozark Dale Neuburger, Indiana
1991 Dale Neuburger, Indiana Peter Malone, Missouri Valley
1992 Peter Malone, Missouri Valley Dale Neuberger, Indiana
1993 Dale Neuburger, Indiana Peter Malone, Missouri Valley
1994 Peter Malone, Missouri Valley Audrey Birklid, Minnesota
1995 Audrey Birklid, Minnesota Mick Nelson, Indiana
1996 Mick Nelson, Indiana Audrey Birklid, Minnesota
1997 Audrey Birklid, Minnesota Mick Nelson, Indiana
1998 Mick Nelson, Indiana Bob Staab, Oklahoma
1999 Bob Staab, Oklahoma Michael Lawrence, Illinois
2000 Michael Lawrence, Illinois Julie Bare, Lake Erie
2001 Julie Bare, Lake Erie Michael Lawrence, Illinois
2002 Eric Nelson, Missouri Valley Julie Bare, Lake Erie
2003 Julie Bare, Lake Erie Eric Nelson, Missouri Valley
2004 Eric Nelson, Missouri Valley Arlene McDonald, Indiana
2005 Arlene McDonald, Indiana Eric Nelson, Missouri Valley
2006 Eric Nelson, Missouri Valley Arlene McDonald, Indiana
2007 Arlene McDonald, Indiana Eric Nelson, Missouri Valley
2008 Arlene McDonald, Indiana William Schalz, Illinois
2009 William Schalz, Illinois Paul Thompson, Oklahoma
2010 William Schalz, Illinois Paul Thompson, Oklahoma
2011 Paul Thompson, Oklahoma William Schalz, Illinois
2012 Paul Thompson, Oklahoma David Anderson, Wisconsin
2013 David Anderson, Wisconsin Stephen Potter, Michigan
2014 Stephen Potter, Michigan David Anderson, Wisconsin
2015 David Anderson, Wisconsin Amy Hoppenrath, Missouri Valley
2016 Amy Hoppenrath, Missouri Valley John Bradley, Minnesota
2017 John Bradley, Minnesota Amy Hoppenrath, Missouri Valley
2018 Amy Hoppenrath, Missouri Valley John Bradley, Minnesota
2019 John Bradley, Minnesota Pam Lowenthal, Illinois
2020 Pam Lowenthal, Illinois Michael White, Wisconsin
2021 Michael White, Wisconsin Pam Lowenthal, Illinois
2022 Pam Lowenthal, Illinois_______ ___Michael White, Wisconsin
2023 Michael White, Wisconsin____ __Jack Swanson, Minnesota
2024 Jack Swanson, Minnesota _____________Bob Staab, Oklahoma
2025 Bob Staab, Oklahoma ________________Jack Swanson, Minnesota
