After dusting off their Speedo Vanquishers, stretching out their caps and lacing up their Jolyn suits or jammers, around 60 former Trojan swimmers returned to campus for the annual Alumni Relays on Saturday. Around 40 alums got a taste of the past — in the form of chlorine — across a multitude of heats, while 15 other former swimmers and their families cheered from the sidelines. 

Memories and reunited teammates’ shouts echoed off the walls and skylights of the Physical Education Building’s indoor pool — also known as “The Dungeon” — as former Trojans picked up where they left off after graduation, racing each of the strokes throughout the meet in several relays. The event also served as a celebration of life for former team captain and 14-time All-American Trojan swimmer Presley Bard Anderson.

“There was so much energy [in the first heat], everyone was having so much fun,” said Associate Head Coach Meghan Hawthorne, who will take on the role for the first time this season after five years as an assistant coach. “Swimming is so simple; it’s such a simple thing, and we all share that common bond.”

All bets were off as relays became co-ed and excitement grew with each passing heat: The volume rose and applause became compulsive between several smiling faces, as if the novelty of being back in the pool with fellow Trojan alumni was exciting enough to fuel each race.

“It’s so great. The Trojan family really is everlasting,” said Sean Mulroy, a former IM-er who graduated in 2014 and swam the 200 freestyle relay along with the breaststroke leg of the 200 medley relay. “These are my best friends. We were trauma-bonded, and it just becomes so easy [to swim again]. It’s really great to come back and share this with them.”

Children and spouses cheered alongside former teammates as both sides of the pool deck were covered in supporters for those returning to their Trojan roots. The attendees painted a picture of past, present and possibly future Trojans reveling in the USC spirit — regardless of whether or not they had previously attended the University.

“[The mix of generations] is incredible. I got emotional today,” said Head Coach Lea Maurer. “Just the full gamut of babies, to people [who] started this swimming tradition and people who are leading us in the right direction. So, it was really nice to have a larger showing and a really enthusiastic energy.”

More tangible than the nostalgia in The Dungeon was the celebration of the present, as former swimmers could see the fruits of their legacies at USC.

“I remember when [Hawthorne] was a recruit and really trying to tell my coaches how important [she] would be and how awesome it would be for her to be on our team,” said 2011 graduate Lyndsay Naish, who swam in the 200 freestyle relay and the backstroke leg of the 200 medley relay. “Being able to see her shine as a coach was super cool. … So many young faces and talented people coming through the program.”

At the end of the event, several of Anderson’s former teammates — including Mulroy and Anderson’s former co-captain, Naish — all jumped into the pool after the relays were complete, holding cardinal and gold flowers and orange kickboards for a passionate chant of the SoCal Spell-out.

Just as amplified as the previous cheering during the relays, the spell-out grew in fervor with each letter before reaching its peak, as everyone threw their flowers in the center of the pool and used their kickboards to unleash a tidal wave worthy of Anderson’s legacy.

“There’s something super magical about the Trojan family, and especially with regards to our program and seeing how successful everyone is,” Hawthorne said. “One of the smallest things you can do is bring them back and give them honor.”