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Spring 2004
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A
True Maverick
 Two
years ago, Paul Hutinger (BSPE ’50/MA’52)
suffered a stroke. He recovered with no paralysis or loss of
mobility, something his doctors credit to a strict aquatic regimen,
a regimen that began at age 15. Today, at 79, he is in good
health and swims four or five days a week. He has won so many
races, set so many records, and helped so many swimmers that
in January he was inducted into the International Masters Swimming
Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale.
Currently, Hutinger is the mastermind behind the Florida Maverick
Masters Inc., a club for seniors who enjoy swimming and socializing
and who work hard at staying fit. He and six other swimmers,
including his wife Margie, founded the group in 1996.
According to an article written in the St. Petersburg Times,
the Florida Mavericks are one of the most formidable swim clubs
for seniors in the United States, and they have the trophies
and speed records to prove it. But competition is just one way
this group shines. Members place a premium on maintaining their
health and enjoying life.
“We wanted more from a club than exercise and an occasional
race,” Hutinger told the Times. “We wanted to create
a family atmosphere for retired people around a common love
for swimming, and we didn’t want to limit the membership
to people in the neighborhood. Basically, we wanted to have
fun with friends, maintain good health, and improve as competitive
swimmers.”
But being a maverick is nothing new for Hutinger. His unconventional
ways of teaching swimming and providing service to the sport
began in the late 1930s when he worked as a swimming leader
in the YMCA.
He competed through high school, the Navy, and into The University
of Iowa, where he lettered all four years that he swam as a
Hawkeye. Hutinger says he learned a great deal from Iowa assistant
coach, James “Doc” Counsilman (PhD
’51), such as his ability to question many established
ideas in swimming.
 “He
was creative and scientific in his approach,” Hutinger
said. “He told me my hard kick was outstanding, but thought
I could swim faster if I narrowed my kick and he was right.”
At Iowa, Hutinger says he also learned the importance of a basic
core curriculum that leads to becoming a well-rounded college
graduate. “One of these required courses, statistics,
was taught by Professor E.F. Lindquist,”
he said. “Most of us had to sign up for the special tutor
class, but we made it through and were better graduates for
it.”
Other teachers Hutinger credits as influential in his career
included H. C. McCloy of the Graduate College; Paul Brechler,
director of athletics; Irving Weber, the first All-American
swimmer from Iowa; and “Doc” Counsilman, who went
on to coach the 1964 and 1976 U.S. Olympic swim teams, including
among other things, becoming the oldest man to swim the English
Channel in 1979.
After Iowa, Hutinger went on to get his doctorate in exercise
physiology from Indiana University. It was there that he started
one of the nation’s first fitness swimming programs and
helped establish the fledgling Masters program. He held the
first Masters meet in the Midwest in 1971 and annually thereafter
for 18 years at Western Illinois University where he was a professor
of physical education and coach of swimming and water polo for
nearly 30 years.
While at Western Illinois University, he helped pioneer new
areas of fitness and physiology, including concepts that have
since become part of many colleges’ sports medicine degree
programs.
Hutinger continues this revolutionary spirit through the Mavericks
and his popular column, “Health Tip of the Month,”
in the club’s newsletter, which helps readers set up comfortable
pool exercise programs.
Through a lifetime of coaching and research, Hutinger has enjoyed
serving others through the sport of swimming as none other.
| "You’re
not obligated to win. You’re obligated to keep trying
to do the best you can every day." Marian Wright
Edelman |
 
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