Patricia Tullman, 65, was born in Woonsocket, RI. She earned her BEd from Rhode Island College and MA from Rowan University. Tullman commenced her teaching career in RI and continued in Izmir, Turkey, the following year. While there, she met her husband, Norman, from New York City. They were married in Izmir, in 1961 and their three children were born while they lived in Europe. They resided in Germany for several years and Tullman also taught in Hawaii and Italy. As an 8 year old, Tullman took swimming lessons at the YMCA. In her 30's she resumed recreational swimming, mainly in lakes and the ocean. Her introduction to competitive swimming was in RI as an age group swim team mom. She attended her first Masters meet in Wilmington, DE, when she was 40. It was at this meet, she met Jean Troy. Tullman joined Troy's Delaware Valley Masters, now known as the Colonials "1776" . While competing at Nationals in Ft. Lauderdale in 1997, she met several Mavericks, including the Hutingers. Since she was planning to move to their area, they included her on the mailing list. In 1999 she moved south, joined the Mavericks (reuniting with former teammate, Troy) and is "glad she joined the Mavericks." After 25 years of competition and Top Ten achievements, 2002 was her best performance year. At the worlds, she won the 200 free and placed 3rd in the 100 fly. At LCM Nationals, she won both events, with the help of a new skin suit. At the Orlando SCM meet in Oct, she was on a USMS record relay. She believes her greatest achievements are her three children, who have matured to be successful, helpful and caring people. Pat lives in the River Hills area of Valrico and is working on being a gold medal grandma to five. Her swim goals include swimming into her 90s, "till I can't swim no mo'."

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