20th Annual Black History Invitational Swim Meet

Jourdan Stewart, Kiamesha Stewart, Brett Lake and Taylor Byerly represented the Wilton Y Wahoos February 17-18, 2007 in Washington, DC. at the 20th Annual Black History Invitational.  High point winner for the 11/12 boys was Jourdan Stewart. Congratulations!

Jourdan, Kiamesha, Brett and Taylor joined over 800 athletes at the Takoma Community Center Aquatic Center. USA Swimming published the following article summarizing the significance and history of this meet:

 "Co-founded in 1987 by the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation and the United Black Fund, the invitational is the first and only swim meet held in honor of Black History Month.

According to the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation’s Web site, the meet was “established to provide urban youth nationwide exposure to organized competition, and a positive outlet for self-expression, a forum of positive role models, and an opportunity to visit the nation's capitol.”

Since its inception, the Black History Invitational has grown from a small, inner-city competition to one attended by 680 athletes from 28 swim clubs across the country. The competition field is predominantly black and is open to swimmers aged 18 and under.

“We would like for it to go international and accommodate as many clubs as possible with the expectation that this meet grows, and we in turn grow along with it,” said longtime meet director Michael Walker, director of the D.C. Parks and Recreation Aquatics Facilities. “Hopefully we’ll get some Olympic winners from this meet someday.”

Each year, the Black History Invitational honors a notable African American and hosts an inspirational speaker who attends the event to encourage and inspire the participants. Past honorees and speakers have included former National Team members Byron Davis, Michael Norment and Sabir Muhammad. Muhammad, a member of the 2000 U.S. Short Course World Championships Team, competed in this meet as a youth and still holds meet records in the 100 free and 100 backstroke.

This year, the meet honors two individuals – Philadelphia Park and Recreation coach Jim Ellis and former local swimming hero Fred Evans.

Ellis’ life as a swim coach has been made into a major motion picture, “Pride,” which will be released March 23 by Lionsgate Films. Evans competed in the D.C. Parks and Recreation program since he was 8, and then went on to set a number of records at Chicago State University.

This year’s motivational speaker is 10-time Olympic medalist Gary Hall Jr."