Champion swimmers part of Benner’s legacy

The coming weeks will be devoted to one of this city’s sport’s heroes, coaching legend Benner T. Cummings. Here is the second installation. — M. M. Athey & The Ritzville Swim Club­

Part Two: The Summer of 1953

The Ritzville Swim Team competed in the Inland Empire AAU Swimming Championships in Spokane on Aug. 3 and 4. The event attracted 350 competitors including six former Olympians. The Ritzville Swim Team was short-handed for this meet with only Dan Schwisow, Gordon Gering, Vern Kiehn and Benner Cummings able to compete. However, this small team managed to garner a number of third and fourth...