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West Valley City Journal

Former Wolverine swimmer takes on Willard Bay

Oct 21, 2020 03:13PM ● By Greg James

Mike Peters, his wife Courtney, and longtime friend Peter Leung celebrate his swim across Willard Bay. (Photo courtesy of Courtney Peters)

By Greg James | [email protected] 

A former Hunter High School swimmer swam the length of Willard Bay and now has his eyes set on accomplishing other marathon swim goals.

“I moved to Arizona and had been going to the gym and getting back into swimming because I loved it so much,” Mike Peters said. “I was going pretty often then COVID hit. I started swimming in some local reservoirs and lakes. I realized I liked swimming in the open water.”

Peters graduated from Hunter in 2012 and now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. He works as a CPA for a renewable energy investment firm and decided to try marathon swimming.

“I swam the shortest distances in high school, but this opened my mind up to an entire world of marathon swimming. I have become more and more interested in that,” Peters said.

The open water swim made him more alert to his surroundings. 

“I like the challenge. At times in my training I did not have a guide or spotting crew. Sometimes the waves and currents are different. This was my first attempt at a marathon open water swim and I figured Willard Bay was a good place to start,” Peters said.

Straight across Willard Bay is slightly shorter than the required distance to qualify as a marathon swim. Peters added distance to complete the 6.2 miles on Aug. 28. He was supported by his wife Courtney and longtime friend Peter Leung.

“My wife saw some fish by the boat, but I did not see anything. The bugs were the worst of it. I did not have much trouble, but Peter got some in his eyes and they got swollen,” Peters said.

The length of Bear Lake is the next target swim on his goal sheet. That swim averages about 19 miles. His other plans include swimming Lake Tahoe, but those will most likely wait until next year. The Bear Lake leg is part of the Utah open water triple crown.

Peters finished 19th overall in the 50 freestyle at the 2012 Utah High School Activities Association’s state swim meet. He was also part of the 200 medley relay team that finished sixth that year. 

“My whole life I have been trying to accomplish the next thing. I think I am very goal oriented,” he said. “I think that kids should know that there is more to swimming than going back and forth in the pool. It can keep you in good shape. I have met interesting people that have my same goals.”

Salt Lake Open Water (SLOW) is an organization that helps promote safe swimming in Utah’s many lakes and reservoirs. 

The triple crown of open water swimming includes the English Channel, Catalina Channel, and the Manhattan Island swim. Utah has had three residents complete all three: Gordon Gridley, Joelle Beard and Chad Starks.

Utah has its own version of the triple crown; Antelope Island to Black Rock Beach (8 miles), Bear Lake Marina to Cisco Beach (7 miles), and Deer Creek Reservoir (10 miles). SLOW helps organize each of these swims once a year in June, July and August. Currently, 28 swimmers have completed the Utah triple crown. 

“I am excited to see what other swims that are available. I can’t wait to see what else I can accomplish. There are swims everywhere in the world. Marathon swimming can take you to lots of unique places,” Peters said.