ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - It was a stroke of good luck. Literally.  

A chance meeting with other swimmers in the Pacific Ocean, off Kaanapali Beach in Maui, helped two local senior athletes to set a positive and meaningful goal: one that kept them in tip-top physical shape and aided in a worthy cause.

Steve Ladd and Mike Zehnder had never expected to be in Hawaii together. However, while at their local sports club where they continue to swim several times a week, the two friends mentioned to each other that they were headed to Maui right after Labor Day. 

They soon discovered that their stays would overlap and that they’d be lodging just 15 minutes walking distance from the other. Since they both share the same desire to swim, they decided to meet for some practice sessions during their trip and then celebrate their September birthdays together. Who would have thought?

But the coincidences didn’t stop there. While swimming in the ocean off Maui, Ladd, the former superintendent of the Elk Grove Unified School District, and Zehnder, the former fire battalion chief of Elk Grove Fire Department, met other swimmers who were set to participate in the Sophie’s Swim event that weekend.

Pictured from left are Steve Ladd and Mike Zehnder as they await the start of the open water race at Sophie’s Swim on Sept. 7, 2025. Photo courtesy of Kathey Zehnder

Since neither Ladd nor Zehnder had heard of the race, they investigated the fundraiser online.

They learned that the charity event is held each year in honor of Sophia Mae DeLoria, a local eight-year-old who died suddenly in a freak accident in 2011 when a rock slightly larger than a baseball struck her head while she was hiking with her family. The money raised from the annual event is distributed to multiple agencies, many of which focus on children. 

After reading the story, the two men jumped on board, registered for the 2025 10th annual fundraiser and planned to return to Maui to take part in the swim.

Although Sophie’s Swim was almost a full year away, Zehnder and Ladd immediately began to train as soon as they returned to Elk Grove. While both retirees are in good physical shape, their objective was to finish the 1.2-mile ocean swim with respectable times.

They maintained their schedule to visit local pools several days a week but altered their swimming regimens to add distance to their workouts. Zehnder continued to bike often, while Ladd jumped on his Peloton occasionally and walked with his wife at the local senior center.

Because Zehnder and Ladd love the water and their exercise routines, training was never an issue. To add to their motivation, Zehnder had acquired a sizable donation from T.J. Gardner, a national electrical contracting firm. The acquisition pushed the two athletes even harder.

Fast forward 12 months. The men and their wives arrived in Maui just after Labor Day, and the anticipation continued.

Zehnder and Ladd scouted out the area where the event would occur, and the two men practiced their swims in the Pacific together in preparation for the race. The weather and ocean almost always cooperated.  

 

Swimmers gather along the shore ahead of Sophie’s Swim, an ocean race held in memory of local eight-year-old Sophia Mae DeLoria, who passed away in 2011. Photo courtesy of Kathey Zehnder

On Sept. 7, five days after their arrival to Kaanapali, Zehnder and Ladd awoke early. They and their wives drove together to the pavilion where the Sophie’s Swim would commence. Because it is so well organized, coordinators, including Sophie’s parents (Sue and J.D.), were on hand to greet all participants. Assistants checked in the many swimmers, provided them with required ID numbers and bathing caps, and delivered instructions.

As the starting time approached, swimmers (some of whom had travelled from other parts of the world) congregated in a park next to the pavilion. Monitors and lifeguards stationed themselves in the water and on shore to make sure that safety precautions were in place.

The weather was pristine, and the water was inviting. What a day for a charity race.

Just before 9 a.m., an announcer called for the first group to assemble.

Those who were 17 years of age and under were anxious to begin. Some wore fins; others did not. A countdown was broadcast over the speakers and a blast from an air horn started the race.

The kids dashed into the ocean, and they were off.  The second group, the one in which Zehnder and Ladd swam, were adults with no fins. They entered the ocean about 15 minutes later in order to allow ample space for participants to swim. Last to enter the water were adults with fins.  

Almost 210 swimmers took part in the event. They included people of all ages, with the eldest being 80 and the youngest being 10.

As swimmers finished the course, they were greeted on shore by supporters and volunteers. Smiles and words of congratulation overflowed. Both Zehnder and Ladd were pleased with their performances, as Zehnder’s time was 41 minutes, 22 seconds and Ladd’s time was 46 minutes and 51 seconds. They had achieved their goal.

 

Steve Ladd, left, and Mike Zehnder lend a hand during race day preparations, assisting volunteers with the buoys set in the ocean for the race. Photo courtesy of Kathey Zehnder

After the race, a closing ceremony and silent auction were held. Awards were bestowed on those in various age groups who had won in their categories. The winning time, 24 minutes and 27 seconds, was earned by a 53-year-old man from Australia. A great time was had by all.

Those chance meetings in 2024 had evolved into a genuine desire to do something worthwhile for both body and soul.

The race was memorable, the fundraiser was heartfelt, the excitement was palpable and the camaraderie was genial. Most importantly, the swim was beneficial and profound on so many levels. That Sunday in September was a wonderful way to honor Sophie’s memory and to spend a beautiful morning in Maui. 

Oh, did I mention? Zehnder and Ladd have already registered for the 2026 11th annual Sophie Swim. Aloha.

Make contributions to Sophie’s Swim at sophiedeloria.org/your-contributions.