Brogan Open Water Classic
From Openwaterpedia
(Redirected from BOWC)
Marianne Brogan, the namesake of the Brogan Open Water Classic, previously named the Lake Erie Open Water Classic
The Brogan Open Water Classic (BOWC) is an open water swimming event organized by Chuck Beatty, held annually in June at Edgewater Park, west of downtown Cleveland, Ohio, USA with half-mile, 1-mile and 2-mile open water swims.
Event History
- Marianne Brogan and Doug Brogan attended the 1989 United States Aquatic Convention in Portland, Oregon, and came away with the idea that O*H*I*O Masters Swim Club could host an open water swimming event in Lake Erie. The inaugural event was held in 1990 at Edgewater Beach in Cleveland, which has remained the event location. The event was known as the Lake Erie Open Water Classic.
- The O*H*I*O Masters event has hosted a USMS Open Water National Championship event several times: 1 Mile in 1994 and 2006, 2 Mile in 1999 and 2002, and co-hosted the 2014 International Gay Games.
- Marianne Brogan and Doug Brogan served as the event directors in 1990 and 1991.
- In 1992, Maureen Koss served as the event director with Doug Brogan assisting until 1999.
- From 2000 - 2004, Doug Brogan served as the event director.
- Todd Urban was the event director in 2005.
- Thomas Spence became the event director in 2006 and ran the event for the next nine years as he co-hosted the International Gay Games in 2014.
- Beth Katterle served as the event director from 2015 through 2017.
- Chuck Beatty has served as the event director from 2018 to 2024.
Namesake of the Brogan Open Water Classic
- Marianne Brogan is the namesake of the event. She led a life that was focused on healthy living and an active lifestyle. Giving back to the community was an important tenet of her life, as shown by her participation in raising funds for charities that focused on the needs of children.
- Her swimming career included membership with O*H*I*O Masters for over 40 years. She served on many committees, including the fitness committee for USMS where she was awarded the Fitness Committee Award at the National Convention. Her swimming accomplishments included 10 individual USMS National Championships and 5th place in the 5 km swim at the World Championships.
- She passed away on 18 August 2016. That year, to honor her and her husband Doug Brogan, and to recognize their contribution to open water swimming in Lake Erie, the name of the event was changed from the Lake Erie Open Water Classic to the Brogan Open Water Classic.
