Dennis and Keri Carvalho

2017 Special Award of Recognition

Both Dennis and Keri assisted in organizing, managing, and directing swim meets for the benefit of all United States Swim team members in Rhode Island and New England for more than twenty-five (25) years.  Dennis began his career in competitive swimming as a board member and President of the Cumberland Area Swim Team (CAST).  Dennis developed an expertise for meet management especially in the development of Hytek computer entry and data systems for swimming.  In the 1960’s and 1970’s swimming meet data was entered by hand and heat sheets were typed.  Irene McCann and Carol Peckenham both have been honored by the Hall of Fame for their services during these years.  When the computer systems developed, Roger Mooney (honored in 2015) and Dennis used their computer expertise to manage swim meets.  Eventually, Dennis, Keri, and Roger became proficient in using HyTek software for entering, operating, and tabulating swim meet results.  They became a team.

Dennis’ ability to manage well run swim meets resulted in his directing many of the major event in Rhode Island Swimming.  To their credit, Dennis and Keri directed and managed the Bay View Invitational for many years, assisted with the management of all Interscholastic Division Championship meets and the RIIL State Championship meets.  When the New England Interscholastic Swim Championship were hosted in Rhode Island, Dennis and Keri were again an integral part of the success of those programs.

It should also be noted that Dennis and his wife Keri teamed to manage and direct our swim team meets.  Keri was always present to support Dennis and additionally has been the Announcer for most of the Rhode Island Interscholastic Swim meets.

It is with gratitude that the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame presents to Dennis and Keri this year’s Distinguished Service to Aquatics award.