Posted on Friday, August 12, 2022
Being able to swim two miles through the cold, treacherous waters of the San Francisco Bay is a difficult feat, but Biology Professor Dr. William Paschal and his two daughters were up for the challenge. On July 16, they completed the journey from Alcatraz Island to the St. Francis Yacht Club in under an hour.
“It was not an easy swim for a 55-year-old man,” Paschal said. “It gave me a real sense of accomplishment.”
He said the high waves, fog and strong currents increased the level of difficulty in his first open water swim.
“It was easy to get disoriented and lose sight of the target beach,” he said. “I actually swam much further as the current pushed me near to the Golden Gate Bridge.”
In preparation for the Odyssey Alcatraz Swim event, Paschal said he swam two to three times a week at the Troup County Parks and Recreation pool.
“For the last five months, I got serious with my training, and each swim session consisted of swimming 3,500 yards without stopping,” he said.
He said the Alcatraz swim was a surreal experience.
“Being in those dark, cold waters, I felt so small in the vastness of the bay,” he said. “It was quite relaxing and serene.”
Paschal said the last 800 yards were the most grueling.
“I was swept far off course,” he said. “A kayaker redirected me and helped guide me into shore.”
The day after the swim, Paschal and his daughters took a tour of Alcatraz prison.
“We got to revisit the same waters which we swam while riding the ferry back and forth,” he said.
Swimming, which he said started out as an activity he could do to rehab old basketball injuries, became a family affair after he coached his daughters, Maddie and Allie, on the Troup County Sharks and LaGrange High School swim teams. When his daughters completed high school, they accepted swim scholarships to Georgia Tech. Maddie swam for the Yellow Jackets from 2013-2017 and Allie swam from 2017-2021.
“Swimming was our life, and it paid off,” he said. “This past year was the first year that my wife, Heather, and I have not attended a swim meet since this whole affair started back in 2002.”
Paschal said he was proud to take part in the Alcatraz swim with his daughters.
“It was an experience that I will always cherish because we did it together,” he said.
National History Day Georgia, a program sponsored by LaGrange College and Georgia Humanities, was recently featured in the August issue of Georgia Magazine. Statewide sponsor since 2014, LC serves as the primary mentoring and education branch of NHD Georgia and provides support services to teachers and students.
Dr. John Tures, Professor of Political Science, presented his piece on red flag laws during Northeast Public Radio’s Academic Minute segment on Tuesday, August 9.
The Rev. Dr. Quincy Brown, Jane Cooley ’83, M.Ed. ’84, Michael Fay ’86, Dr. George Lankford ’11 and Lisa Tunstall ’84 have joined the college’s Board of Trustees. For more, read the full release.
Welcome Week activities kick off on Tuesday, August 16. Highlights will include a hypnotist on Thursday, August 18, glow golf on Saturday, August 20, and a beach bash on Sunday, August 21.
The Fair on the Hill will be held Friday, August 19, at 2:30 p.m. at Caswell Plaza. Students will have the opportunity to visit with vendors, businesses and campus/community organizations that are providing general information and promoting part-time jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities.
Fall classes will begin on Monday, August 22.
Make plans to attend Homecoming Weekend Oct. 7-9. Visit the alumni website for more information.
Advice Every Freshman Should Know
Senior Servant Scholar Andrew Cunningham, a political science/history major, offers four tips incoming freshmen need to know as they begin their four-year journey at LaGrange College.
It’s go time for the Panthers, who held their first preseason football practice on Thursday afternoon.
LaGrange College has three weeks to prepare for its season opener on Sept. 3 against Middle Georgia, with kick-off set for 3 p.m. at Callaway Stadium.
Earl Chambers has returned for his third season as the Panthers’ full-time head coach, and with practice time at a premium, he’ll be relying on the team’s veterans to lead the way.
One of those experienced players is senior tight end De’Queze Fryer, who is coming off an All-American season as a tight end.
“I don’t know any coach in America at this level that’s going to say we have enough time before the first game,” Chambers said. “I haven’t seen these guys since the spring. So, you make sure you have kids like Quez who understand what we’re trying to do. They can go out and lead by example.”
Helping Out
The Atlanta Braves World Series trophy tour made a stop at Sweetland Ampitheatre on Saturday, and LaGrange College was well-represented.
Panther baseball players served as volunteers, and their head coach, David Kelton, was in attendance with his family.
At the start of the event, LaGrange College’s baseball team was recognized for its remarkable season that included an appearance in the NCAA Division III World Series.
Also on Saturday, Athletic Trainer and Senior Woman Administrator for Athletics Janet Lin helped organize things as a key volunteer.
Phil Williamson, the longtime coach and director of athletics at LaGrange College, was at the event as well and got his photo taken with the trophy. Coach Williamson was a member of the LaGrange College family for close to 50 years.
Campus Visit
Nearly 30 high-school players from Georgia and beyond spent their Saturday at LaGrange College for a basketball camp.
The camp was led by LaGrange College Women’s Basketball Coach Jasen Jonus, who welcomed 28 players to campus.
The players participated in drills and five-on-five competitions in Mariotti Gym, and they were also given a tour of the campus by Jonus.
Category: College
Keywords: faculty
