New England LMSC

🏆 Congratulations to Chris Carpino, a 2026 NELMSC Appreciation Award recipient!

The NELMSC Appreciation Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the conduct, leadership, and support of Masters Swimming in New England—and Chris’s impact at Kingsbury Club Masters is easy to see.

Since taking over as coach of Kingsbury Club Masters in 2016, Chris has helped transform a small group of fewer than 10 swimmers into a thriving workout group of more than 50 active members. His nominators credit that growth to the welcoming, motivating, and inclusive environment he has created for swimmers of all abilities.

Chris doesn’t just coach from the deck—he gets in and races alongside his swimmers, too. A longtime New England Masters swimmer, Chris has logged more than 100 USMS meet swims and earned 10 USMS Top 10 relay achievements. That willingness to be both coach and teammate has helped build the commitment, camaraderie, and team spirit that define Kingsbury Masters.

Chris continues to invest in his coaching and in the swimmers he serves and is now a USMS Level 3 Certified Masters Coach. For building a Masters community where swimmers want to show up, work hard, compete, and be part of the team, thank you, Chris—and congratulations on a very well-deserved NELMSC Appreciation Award! 💙🏊‍♂️

Come celebrate Chris and all of our 2026 award recipients at the NELMSC Hall of Fame & Awards Celebration on October 4!

🛟 2026 NELMSC Lifesaver Recognition Award — Elaine Howley

Some awards recognize accomplishments. This one recognizes an action that saved a life.

The New England LMSC is proud to recognize Elaine Howley as the recipient of the 2026 Lifesaver Recognition Award, a Specialized Appreciation Award honoring her attentive, swift and decisive actions during Ben Bryant’s In Search of Memphre swim.

On July 13, Ben set out to complete the 25-mile international swim across Lake Memphremagog between Vermont and Québec. With approximately four to five miles remaining, Elaine joined Ben in the water as a buddy swimmer and quickly recognized that he was struggling.

When Ben momentarily lost consciousness, Elaine acted immediately. She grabbed him, swam him to the boat ladder and, with assistance from another member of the crew, got him safely aboard. Following EMT and hospital care, Ben made a full recovery.

For Elaine, looking out for another swimmer is part of a much larger commitment to the open-water community. An accomplished marathon and ice swimmer herself, she has completed both the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming and the Triple Crown of Monster Swims, became the first person to swim the 32.3-mile length of Lake Pend Oreille, and has spent years crewing, observing, organizing and supporting other marathon swimmers. She was inducted into the NELMSC Hall of Fame in 2020 in the Open Water/Long Distance category.

Her experience extends well beyond her own swims: Elaine has supported more than 30 successful marathon and ice swims, served as an official observer, spent years supporting the Boston Light Swim, and has repeatedly served on the safety boat for In Search of Memphre.

This summer, all of that experience mattered at precisely the moment it was needed most.

Congratulations and thank you, Elaine, for your extraordinary presence of mind, for taking care of a fellow swimmer, and for your continued commitment to making open water swimming safer for everyone. ❤️🌊🛟

Join us in celebrating Elaine and our other 2026 NELMSC award recipients at the NELMSC Awards & Hall of Fame Celebration on October 4!

🏆 Congratulations to 2026 NELMSC Coach of the Year Stacy Sweetser!

Coach. Competitor. Connector. Community builder.

The New England LMSC is proud to recognize Stacy Sweetser as our 2026 Coach of the Year! 🎉

Through SweetWater Swim Studio⁠ in Amherst, NH, Stacy coaches Masters swimmers and triathletes at every level—from adults developing their swimming skills to experienced athletes looking for their next breakthrough. Her coaching combines technique, expertise, encouragement, and a genuine enthusiasm for helping every swimmer reach their goals.

But Stacy’s impact reaches well beyond a coaching session.

She has a knack for bringing swimmers together—connecting newcomers with training partners, encouraging athletes to try their first swim meet or open-water event, creating opportunities to train and socialize together, and building the kind of community that keeps people involved in the sport.

And Stacy certainly practices what she preaches. A former NCAA Division I swimmer, she is a USMS All-American, USMS Top Ten swimmer, New England record holder, accomplished open-water swimmer and triathlete. Longtime Granite State Penguins teammates also know Stacy as someone who brings plenty of speed AND team spirit every time she puts on a Penguins cap. 🐧💨

One of Stacy’s swimmers may have summed up her impact best: Stacy has done much more than improve his swimming—she has helped him build a lifelong fitness and social activity.

That’s what Masters Swimming is all about. 💙

Congratulations, Stacy, on being named the 2026 NELMSC Coach of the Year! 🏆👏

Stacy won’t be able to join us at the NELMSC Awards Celebration on October 4, so we’re bringing the celebration to her! 🎉🐧

Join us September 27 at the Granite State Penguins Pool Party Swim Meet in Nashua, NH, where we’ll recognize Stacy and celebrate this well-deserved honor with her swimming community — poolside, of course! 💙🏊‍♀️

🏆 Congratulations to Jennifer Downing, recipient of the 2026 NELMSC Distinguished Service Award! 🏆

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes outstanding long-term service to Masters Swimming — and Jen has been giving her time, energy, and enthusiasm to our swimming community for nearly two decades. 💙

A member of USMS since 2006, Jen swims with the Boston University Masters workout group (BOSMS) and New England Masters (NEM) and has made an impact at seemingly every level of our sport.

Jen currently serves as Secretary of the NELMSC Board of Directors, following five years as our Open Water Sanctions Coordinator. Since 2018, she has served as NEM Team Coordinator, tackling the monumental job of organizing relays for the USMS Virtual Championships — including the One Hour Swim, which regularly has more than 250 NEM swimmers participating. She also lends her editing talents to NEM News.

And then there’s Swim Across America. ❤️ For more than 15 years, Jen has served on the planning committees for SAA Boston and SAA Rhode Island, helping raise funds for cancer research and patient care as a volunteer coordinator, Angel Swimmer and top fundraiser.

She’s also an accomplished pool and open water swimmer, an English Channel crew veteran, a longtime team social organizer, a champion of her fellow swimmers and coaches, and someone who has spent years making the New England Masters community stronger, safer, more welcoming — and more fun.

Please join us in congratulating Jen Downing on the 2026 NELMSC Distinguished Service Award! 👏🎉

🥂 Come celebrate Jen and all of this year’s NELMSC award recipients at the Hall of Fame & Awards Celebration on October 4 in Worcester!

We hope to see you there! 💙🏊‍♀️

🏆 Congratulations to Shannon Linsey (BOSMS/NEM) — 2026 NELMSC Contributor of the Year! 🏆

If you follow New England Masters Swimming, chances are you’ve already seen Shannon’s contributions in action.

As Communications Coordinator for New England Masters, Shannon has transformed the way NEM connects with its swimmers. From creative social media and an ever-growing online community to a completely revamped NEM News monthly newsletter, Shannon has made it easier—and a lot more fun—for members to stay informed, celebrate one another, and feel connected to the team.

And she does far more behind the scenes. Shannon has helped organize and modernize NEM’s communications, created systems that will provide continuity for future leadership, answers member questions, encourages swimmers to share their stories, and somehow manages to keep the rest of us organized along the way. 😄

Creative, enthusiastic, collaborative and always willing to help, Shannon embodies what the NELMSC Contributor of the Year Award is all about: giving your time and talents to make Masters Swimming better for everyone.

We’re so excited to celebrate Shannon and this very well-deserved honor! 💙🏊‍♀️

🎉 Come celebrate Shannon with us! The 2026 NELMSC Awards & Hall of Fame Induction Celebration is Sunday, October 4 at J. Anthony’s Italian Grill in Auburn, MA. Social hour begins at 1 PM, followed by the buffet, awards and Hall of Fame inductions.

Join us as we celebrate Shannon and all of this year’s honorees! 🥂

Summer Sprints, round two! 🏊‍♀️🔥

Shamrock Swim Club hosted another night of racing with a decidedly relaxed summer vibe. Fast swims, plenty of laughs, an underwater photo! Then the goggles came off, the marshmallows came out, and everyone headed outside for s’mores by the fire. 🔥🍫

Thanks to Chris Payson and Shamrock Swim Club for a fun August night of racing and a sweet way to wrap up the Summer Sprints series!

🤠 The Good, the Bad & the Glennie 🏊‍♀️🌵

There was a new posse in town today as 180 swimmers descended on Goffstown for the Glen Lake Swim!

Cowboy hats, boots, bandanas, wanted posters, outlaws and sheriffs were everywhere as swimmers saddled up to take on one or two miles of the wild waters of Glen Lake.

They came from near and far.
They chose one loop or two.
They donned skins, wetsuits or jean shorts.
They rounded the buoys.
And then they moseyed back to shore for one heck of a post-swim hoedown. 🤠

The water was good.
The costumes were bad—in the very best way.
And the Glennie? Legendary.

That’s a wrap on The Good, the Bad & the Glennie. Until next year, cowpokes…happy trails! 🐎🌊

Northern attitude. Open water state of mind. 🌊

From the 1-mile swim to the legendary Border Buster 25K 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 , swimmers gathered on Lake Memphremagog for one of New England’s most iconic open water events. Fast swims, long swims, first swims, and unforgettable swims—all shared in the Northeast Kingdom. 💙

Who’s adding Kingdom Swim to their calendar next year?