STEP INSIDE JOHN CHAPLIN’S world, and you quickly realize you’re not in a typical home. The walls are adorned with art collected from around the world, including woodcuts by his father, an internationally acclaimed artist. His den is filled with hundreds of books curated by an intellect … the Harvard Classics, the complete works of Spinoza, 15 volumes of the Catholic Encyclopedia, and the book he believes is the finest of the 20th century, Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond.

The books share space with an eclectic liquor collection befitting a world traveler of discriminating taste. Chaplin holds a soft spot for Vintage Port, with Hungarian Tokaji and Lemon Grand Marnier from Argentina not far behind. 

The 2.5-acre Chaplin spread sits about seven miles outside of Pullman, off Highway 27, on the way to Palouse. Inside and out, the place is almost as interesting as the man himself. 

“As you can tell, this is where I belong,” Chaplin said in conversations with Cougfan.com over the last month-and-a-half. “This den is the 14th century without the TV set. This is a library den with a bar and that’s the best liquor collection in Eastern Washington.”

To talk with John Chaplin is to enter a place where history, philosophy, and blunt honesty matter more than any medal ever could. Asked about the news earlier this month that WSU is paring its track and field program down to just distance running, he delivers in straight-forward fashion.

“As an alumni who coached here for many years and led the program to worldwide success, WSU has delivered a strong message to current athletes, past athletes and coaches: you don’t give a damn. There are many ways to adjust budgets without throwing in the towel,” he said.

“To drop a bomb like this in the dark of night and then run off and hide from questions the media is asking is embarrassing. And the kids didn’t even find out from the athletic director — an associate AD, who couldn’t tell you if a track is pumped or stuffed, was sent.”

Efforts by Cougfan.com to reach WSU AD Anne McCoy and track coach Wayne Phipps for insight beyond the five-sentence June 16 press release announcing the gutting of the program have so far been unsuccessful.

CHAPLIN’S SPIRIT AND ENERGY, nearly nine decades in, suggest but one thought about the younger Chaplin who built a juggernaut on the Palouse: he must have been a perpetual motion machine.

In Man of the Oval: The International Legacy of John Chaplin and WSU Track & Field — the page-turning book about Chaplin that came out in 2023 — Chaplin recounts asking the doctor how his blood pressure was stacking up. The doctor replied, “Hell, John, you don’t have high blood pressure. You give it.”

Chaplin, 88, spends much of his time today reading and writing. Asked how he stays fit, he fires back, “Are you crazy? I don’t believe in physical exercise. As a former quarter-miler, I say anyone who runs more than one lap is missing their hole card.”

From 1965 with Gerry Lindgren to 1999 with Bernard Lagat, Washington State University was a world power in track and field, and Chaplin was part of all but a handful of those 34 years. In 1968 the legendary Jack Mooberry hired him as an assistant track and field coach and cross country head coach. For 21 years, from 1973-94, Chaplin ran the whole show and the results were downright storybook.

And it was storybook in colorful fashion. Chaplin was a walking quote factory and his recruiting — built on in-staters, walk ons and a marvelous array of international athletes — was nothing short of head turning.

When opposing coaches grumbled about his international pipeline, Chaplin ringed Mooberry Field with flagpoles flying the colors of every nation represented by his Cougars. By the time he retired in 1994, 31 different flags had flown at the track.

The City of Maryville is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Mozingo Lake Recreation Park with an Independence Day celebration Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5.

On July 4, there is an All Day Hole-In-One Contest at the Sechrest 18 Golf Course.

Saturday, July 5 events start off at 8 am with the Optimist Club Youth Fishing Tournament located at the City Boat Ramp. There are two age divisions: birth to 10 years-old and 11 to 15 years-old. Registration begins at 8 am, fishing starts at 8:30 am and ends at 11 am. First place goes to the biggest fish, second place goes to the most fish and third place goes to the smallest fish. Worms are provided and there is free Kool Kats.

•The Watson 9 golf course adult and youth scramble starts at 9 am.

• The beach party is at 11 am with activities including free pizza, DJ Hendrix, foam cannon, sand volleyball free-play and water guns.

• The Mega Pong tournament is at noon at the Visitor’s Center patio.

• Activities at “The Point” beginning at 4 pm include free face painting, cornhole freeplay, bounce houses, food trucks and Mozingo Bingo starts at 5 pm.

• Live music by Jimmy Harris starts at 7 pm.

• At dusk there will be the fireworks display.

Spain, Hungary, Greece and Italy all marched into the quarter-finals by landing big wins on the last day of the Group Stage at the Women’s U16 European Water Polo Championships in Istanbul on Sunday.

Women’s U16 European Water Polo Championships
Day 3 Results – Istanbul, Türkiye
Sunday 29 June 2025

Group A

Spain 20-8 Serbia
Hungary 18-5 Netherlands

Standings: 1. Spain 9pts, 2. Hungary 6pts, 3. Netherlands 3pts, 4. Serbia 0pts

Group B

Greece 26-4 Germany
Italy 24-9 Croatia

Standings: 1. Greece 9pts, 2. Italy 6pts, 3. Germany 3pts, 4. Croatia 0pts

Group C

Czechia 6-4 Slovakia
Türkiye 15-10 France

Standings: 1. Türkiye 9pts, 2. Czechia 6pts, 3. France 3pts, 4. Slovakia 0pts

Group D

Romania 12-14 Ukraine

Standings: 1. Romania 3pts, 2. Ukraine 3pts, 3. Malta 3pts

Women’s U16 European Water Polo Championships
Day 4 Crossover Fixtures – Istanbul, Türkiye
Monday 30 June 2025
(Local times shown)

15:00: Serbia v Türkiye
16:30: Netherlands v Czechia
18:00: Croatia v Romania
19:30: Germany v Ukraine

Greece made few mistakes in their clash with Germany – in fact they had virtually wrapped up the win in eight minutes as they rallied to a 6-0 lead against the Germans, who could only hit their first goals in the middle of the second period at 8-0. All the Greek outfield players managed to score and nine of them finished with at least two goals.

Italy followed them into the quarter-finals shortly after. The Croats, perhaps still in shock after losing to Germany a day earlier, were down by five after just four minutes. The half-time score says it all, 14-3, and it didn’t look much better at the end.

In Group A, Spain did a clean job against the Serbs. A very strong first half, ending in a 13-3 rout, did the damage, but the second half was a bit more balanced as the tournament favourites cleared the first hurdle flawlessly winning three out of three.

Second place and the other quarter-final berth was at stake in the match between Hungary and the Netherlands. While at senior level this is usually a great battle, here it was a lopsided contest right from the beginning.

The Magyars stormed to a 6-0 lead which determined the rest of the game. The gap grew somewhat slower in the following periods, but the Hungarians’ superiority was never in question. They booked their place in the quarters while the Dutch will have to play in Monday’s crossovers.

In the second division, there were a lot more excitements on Day 3, with a fierce battle of neighbours’ kicking off the day as Czechia and Slovakia staged a memorable showdown.

The Slovaks fought hard and took a slender 0-2 lead by half-time, but their efforts took a toll as they were tiring as more and more exclusions were called against them. The Czechs took advantage in the third and finally broke the ice after a lengthy 20:11 minutes and they added another goal from extra 34 seconds from time to make it 2-2.

Slovakia hit back with a double in 67 seconds in the fourth, however, these were the only goals they could score in the entire second half – while their arch-rivals could level again with 3:37 to go.

The Slovaks missed a crucial six on five at 4-4 and an action goal from Ludmila Chlupsova put the Czechs ahead for the first time in the match with 1:53 remaining and they secured the comeback win with another six on five hit 35 seconds from time.

Their rank depended on the result in the last match between Türkiye and France. After the host nation continued their fine form in Istanbul with another victory, it meant Czechia secured the second spot and a place in the crossovers.

So far, it’s been a tournament to remember for the Türks, as they maintained their winning streak with relative ease. Captain Eda Moroglu fired in five times against the French, with four of them penalties, while Mina Bozkurt hit six.

In the crossovers on Monday, Türkiye will face Serbia, and an expectant crowd will once again fill the arena to see if they can reach the last eight.

Group D didn’t lack dramatic scenes either, as Romania and Ukraine played a back-and-forth game where the lead changed hands constantly.

Early in the third, the Romanians led 9-7, but their opponents hit three in a row in 78 seconds. Viktoriia Rudnyk’s last-gasp goal then gave Ukraine a 10-11 lead at the end of the third and they managed to stay in front throughout the fourth, which sent them to the crossovers, at the expense of Malta.

After their four-goal defeat to Romania on day one, the Maltese dropped to last place in a three-way tie.

A few days after Xavier Worthy broke the NFL combine 40-yard dash record, USA TODAY Sports sarcastically asked the then-draft prospect if he thought he could beat Usain Bolt in the 40-yard dash.