The Pleasant Prairie Recreation Department welcomes Olympic Coach John Dussliere to announce the Open Water Championship event at the Pleasant Prairie RecPlex in Prairie Springs Park on Lake Andrea. USA Swimming sanctioned the swim meet hosted by the Pleasant Prairie Patriots Swim Team and Wisconsin Swimming. The competition is the Central Zone's most prominent 2022 open water swimming event. It will feature open water swimmers from Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
The Central Zone Open Water Championship will have events for different age groups, ten and under will swim 1.25K, ages 11 to 12 will swim 2.5K, and ages 13 to 14 will swim 2.5K. The main 5K open water event is open to all ages and will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, June 17, 2022. All events will occur on Lake Andrea, with swims starting and ending in the water at the Lake Andrea Beach. A finishing slap board near the beach shoreline will decide the winner and placement of other racers.
Dussliere will announce the Open Water Championship event on Lake Andrea. He is enthusiastic about open water marathon swimming and has been essential to the competitive sport. Dussliere was a critical part of producing America's first 10k Open Water Olympian. Additionally, he led open water swim coaching for the United States Olympic Swimming Team at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Lake Andrea Beach is located along Park Drive on the west side of Lake Andrea, near RecPlex Wruck Beach Pavilion, in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Large grassy areas for spectators are available on both sides of the beach, with ample parking nearby. In addition, there will be space for swimmers and spectators at the adjacent pavilion and concession areas. Picnic tables will be available in the viewing area, and spectators are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets to set up on the grass areas outside the beach fence.