Team Trip 2002 – Santa Fe, New Mexico!!

On June 14th thru the 17th, 2002 the Dallas Mustangs took their annual team trip – this year to the Land of Enchantment – New Mexico to take part in the Dia De Padre (“Father’s Day”) Invitational held on the weekend in beautiful Santa Fe.  Twelve-plus hours on the way to Santa Fe on the bus, with almost 60 swimmers, was bearable only because of three things - Advil, Earplugs, and a huge number of PG movies ranging from “Cool Runnings” to “Ninja Turtles.”  After the long ride from Dallas the scenery surrounding Santa Fe was spectacular!

 

 

On Friday the team took a long hike at a local National Park and saw some Pueblo dwellings and some beautiful scenery.  Some lucky swimmers even found a sleeping rattlesnake on the path and luckily, decided not to wake Mr. Rattlesnake up.  The older kids even got to get wet by wading into a river, which had some irritating drop-offs right as you were entering or leaving the water.  A brisk pace back to the bus left more than one of our champions breathless. 

 

During the day on Friday (and throughout the weekend) many of the parents took advantage of the beautiful weather (82 degrees/15 % humidity) to take in the arts, crafts and jewelry in abundance in downtown Santa Fe.  In addition to the ‘normal’ shopping in the area, Santa Fe had an Arts and Crafts Fair on the town square over the weekend.

 

Above from left DM Parents MaryEllen Savage, Nancy Beck, Kim Nguyen, Greg and Debbie Howison, Rhonda Ferrin and Adele Wherry.

Mustang Parents meet at the Coyote Café in downtown Santa Fe on Friday prior to the weekend swimming festivities.

Above from left Debbie Howison, Rhonda Ferrin, Cindy Weber, Linda Higgins and Adele Wherry.

 

On both Saturday and Sunday mornings the 12 and under age group swam.  Our swimmer’s did a super job! We were at an altitude of 7,000 feet above sea level.  Can that affect your performance as an athlete?  Definitely! It usually takes about a week to get acclimated to altitude of that magnitude.  Despite the altitude, many of our young Mustangs posted best times at the meet.

 

Above Mustang 11 yr old Spin Beck takes a break between races with Mom.

 

WAY TO GO YOUNG MUSTANGS!

 

At right 8 yr old Liam Veazey waits behind the blocks to compete in another race.

 

The afternoon sessions were for swimmer’s 13 and over.  The DM team showed its strength throughout this session winning against teams from all over New Mexico and another visiting team from Colorado.  As you can see in the photos below, meet preparation was the key to success --

 

Gold Group swimmers Clint Hallum and John Bannnon discuss pre-race strategy as John downs a corny dog.  I think Clint just finished his cheese nachos.

National swimmer Byron Carlisle sports a new streamlined ‘doo’.

National Group swimmers Fabian Toth and Jennifer Blackman chill with a game of cards prior to warm-up for the afternoon session.

 

Above, Nick Bredehoft, Audrey Rogers and Erika Saito give a smile before stretches.

 

At right, Coach Mook Rhodenbaugh oversees some exercises before the afternoon session.

 

And…What is a Team Trip without a Team Dinner…?

 

After a hard day of swimming DM Team Members put in their dinner orders At the head of the table sportin’ the shades is Reagan Marshall.  On the left are Alex Vanderzant, Jennifer Penley, Eric Gusa, Candace Blackman, Nicole Keller, Byron Carlisle and Erika Saito.  On right are Nick Bredehoft,  Meredith Grubb, Kenley Woods and Matt Primeaux.

 

Below, the band gets the group revved up with some lively tunes from south of the border.

Maggie Marshall leads her table in grace - - NOT!  Also facing are Audrey Rogers, Matt Saunders and John Bannon.

 

 

 

 

 

Coaches Doug Moyse and Mook Rhodebaugh take in some chips and salsa as they check out the menu.

 

Gold Group member Caroline Barnett does a twirl with Silver Group swimmer Hannah Ferrin.

National Group swimmers Candace Blackman and Kenley Woods gets the team going and forms a conga line that stretched its way through the restaurant!

 

On Sunday Mustang Relays Ruled the Pool!

We won the meet handily and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.  Below is a listing of those swimmers who scored points.  The names of those who won an event are in italics. 

 

John Bannon (13), Caroline Barnett (13), Spindrift Beck (11), Candace Blackman (16), Jennifer Blackman (16), Molly Bollen (13), Byron Carlisle (14), Megan Daniel (13), Hannah Ferrin (10), Kathleen Gallagher (17), Beth Geis (15), Kaileen Gersper (17), Brad Gommesen (7), Meredith Grubb (14), Emma Gunning (12), Kate Gunning (15), Eric Gusa (18), Clint Hallum (13), Andrew Hansen (17), Meredith Higgins (12), William Howison (17), Kent Irvin (12), Alexandra Jennings (13), Caroline Jennings (15), Nicole Keller (15), Brooke Louisell (18), Griffin Marshall (17), Reagan Marshall (15), Erin Morrison (15), Matt Primeaux (16), Lauren Roth (12), Erika Saito (16), Matt Saunders (16), Fabian Toth (17), Caleb Veazey (11), Liam Veazey (9), Alexis Vigier (12), Kenneth Wherry (18), and Kenley Woods (17).

 

Thanks to a late night, watching the U.S.A. beating Mexico in the World Cup game, Coaches Mook and Doug were in prime shape for the drive back on Monday morning!  Several people tried to unseat Doug as the “Bop-it” Champ, but he was so successful, that our patient bus driver even requested that the “Bop-it” be banned from the front of the bus. 

What a Super Trip!!!