Mustang Monthly- Internet Edition

February 2008

 

MEET RECAPS

 

December BB/B/C Meet (Dec 7 – 9)

This holiday season meet was held at the new LISD pool in the Colony.  Sixty-Seven Mustangs participated and finished a respectable 3rd in the team race with most of our Mustang Swimmers posting lifetime bests.  Several of our swimmers just did a couple of their favorite events which is okay but it is a good idea to mix up your event choices every once in a while and swim some events that you never have attempted.  After competing in these new events, many times swimmers surprise themselves that they actually performed much better than they expected.  This is even if the event seemed somewhat intimidating prior to them tackling it.

 

Below is the list of those swimmers who scored points in either the BB, B, or C divisions at the meet. Great job to all our Mustang Swimmers! 

 

Tate Arhelger (12), Harrison Armstrong (11), Davis Benn (11), Parker Benn (8), Caroline Blaylock (10), Bianca Bowring (10), Carolina Campbell (8), Parker Capron (10), Patrick Crowling (14), Alex Diduck (12), Clare Donaldson (10), Kendall Ernst (11), Emilee Gant (9), Sara Granger (13), Jon Hoffman (14), Jacob Hum (8), Madison Hutts (8), Jay Jen (13), Kenny Jen (9), Alvin Jiang (9), Brian Jiang (7), Siobhan Kelley (12), Pauli Kerr (9), Avery Kesterson (10), Morgan Koranda (12), Brianna Kuhn (8), Mika Malouf (10), Mary Katherine Mangin (12), Boni McVey (10), Ishan Mistry (7), Gordon Montgomery (8), Natalie Morris (10), Kyle Morrissey (12), Connor Mullen (11), Jeffrey Nichols (13), Sydney Patterson (13), Laura Rathjen (11), Hector Rivera (11), Charlotte Rolfe (10), Cole Sadler (14), Yui Sato (13), Shauna Seidel (9), Jena Seidemann (10), Mary-Carolyn Sloan (9), Annie Smith (14), Maria Tovar (9), Annelyse Tullier (10), Jo Jo Veazey (11), Catherine Ward (14), Ellie Ward (12), James Welch (9), Elizabeth Wessman (8), Rebecca Wessman (8), William Wessman (9), Jono Womack (13), Megan Yancey (10), Max Zotos (11)

 

 

NTN A Invitational (Jan 11 – 13)

About 50 of our “A” level swimmers journeyed to the Southlake pool to shake out some of the kinks from too much “Christmas Cheer” which could have meant a few too many days out of the water or maybe too many candy canes or other nefarious confections that are an integral part of the holiday season.  The Mustangs finished 3rd out of 18 teams in the team race and showed great spirit in supporting their teammates in and out of the water. 

 

Those Mustangs who scored points are listed below.  Those in bold won at least one individual event. Congratulations to all, especially those knocking down some TAGS and/or Sectional time standards.  Another awesome Mustang effort!

 

Christopher Alkire (14), Jack Beckwitt (16), Caroline Blaylock (10), Luke Blaylock (12), Hannah Ferrin (16), Erin Florence (13), Tiffany Futscher (1), Des Godfrey (15), Laura Gray (12), Audrey Gruber (11), Emma Gruber (12), Jacey Hodan (14), Avery Kesterson (10), Caitlin Klemme (12), Fernando Lara (16), Barrett Mark (16), Kenzie Murphy (1), Sam Murphy (13), Lauren Murski (12), Jordan Newman (15), Courtney Nichols (11), Steven Nichols (16), Natalie Rathjen (11), Lauren Roth (18), Nicholas Saliba (17), Jessica Temple (17), Taylor Temple (14), Harrison Tran (12), Caleb Veazey (17), Liam Veazey (14), Jake Watters (12), Keegan Watters (15)

 

 

MAC/MARS BB Invitational (Jan 19 – 20)

This meet was hosted jointly by the Mansfield Aquatic Club and Mid-Cities Arlington Swim Team.  Held at the pristine Mansfield Aquatic Center our Mustangs finished 7th out of 30 teams despite a relatively low number of our swimmers attending the meet (30).  Those that did make it might have been small in numbers but definitely were not small in terms of the size of their hearts and the level of their efforts.  Some of our Mustangs even achieved a few of those elusive “A” time standards while all did a great job of racing every time they hit the water.

 

Those swimmers who scored points are listed below.  Those whose names that are in bold represent those that finished first in at least one event.  Go Mustangs!!!

 

Caroline Blaylock (10), Parker Capron (10), Patrick Crowling (14), Sara Granger (14), Jon Hoffman (14), Jacob Hum (8), Sarah Jones (13), Connor Mullen (11), Laura Rathjen (12), Shelbi Smith (16), Michelle Wessman (11), William Wessman (10), Jaclyn Zhou (12), Max Zotos (11)

 

TRS B/C Meet (Jan 25 – 27)

Our B/C swimmers ventured out to Grapevine to swim in the Texas River Sharks (formerly GCAT) meet held at the GISD pool.  We finished 4th out of 18 teams despite again low numbers of Mustang families (36 kids) either too busy with life or unwilling to undertake a 30-minute drive out to Grapevine.  As a team we have to get more kids at the B/C and BB meets.  If we don’t get our kids to the meets, we won’t have as many kids move up to other, more challenging groups. 

 

Maybe a certain practice schedule works fine for your family given all that your kids are involved in but please understand also that our swimmers need goals that are challenging and they feel a great sense of accomplishment when they achieve them.  It helps keep them motivated and into the sport!  Enough of me on my soapbox, here is the list of the swimmers who scored points for the team.  Congratulations to all of our Mustang swimmers, let’s keep it going!  Those whose names are italicized won at least one individual event.

 

Tate Arhelger (12), Davis Benn (8), Parker Benn (8), Carolina Campbell (8), Eliza Cope (11), Nolan Daniels (11), Patrick Daniels (9), Clare Donaldson (10), Megan Fitzgerald (7), Caroline Forbess (8), Christianna Hass (10), Mikaela Johnson (9), Siobhan Kelley (12), Mika Malouf (10), Gordon Montgomery (8), Madison Monzingo (10), Andrea Mora (10), Reese Myers (12), Christy Purnadi (12), Shauna Seidel (10), Jena Seidemann (10), Mary-Carolyn Sloan (9), Dana Valley (9), Jo Jo Veazey (11), Ellie Ward (12), Elizabeth Wessman (8), Rebecca Wessman (8), Megan Yancey (10)

 

Greater Southwest Invitational (Feb 1 – 3)

Similar to the COR Classic, this is a prelim/final meet that gives kids the opportunity to race in one of the more competitive meets during the season.  Several teams from Colorado who have a different schedule for their high school season showed up with all of their eligible “A” level swimmers and given the fact that many of our best high school kids didn’t swim either more than one day or at all we faired extremely well with our 4th place finish (just 19 points out of 3rd!).  Congratulations to Max Murphy, Flavia Rigamonti, and Michelle Vlasakova for their awesome meet records! 

 

Many of our Mustangs that did swim did a great job of getting those Mustang caps out in front and winning heat after heat in the mornings but the heats that count the most are the ones at night!  Here is a list of those who did score points in the meet.  Names in italics represent at least one victory.

 

Christopher Alkire (14), Jack Beckwitt (16), Caroline Blaylock (10), Luke Blaylock (12), Dominique Diezi (30), Megan Ernst (14), Tiffany Futscher (10), Audrey Gruber (11), Jacey Hodan (14), Greg Hoffman (16), Alvin Jiang (9), Avery Kesterson (10), Caitlin Klemme (12), Fernando Lara (16), Kenzie Murphy (10), Max Murphy (17), Sam Murphy (13), Lauren Murski (12), Courtney Nichols (12), Adam Rathjen (10), Natalie Rathjen (12), Flavia Rigamonti (26), Lauren Roth (18), Nicholas Saliba (17), Justin Smith (23), Andrew Tran (17), Harrison Tran (12), Caleb Veazey (17), Michelle Vlasakova (24), Claire Walters  (12), Jake Watters (12), Keegan Watters (15), Scott Weeks (16), Catia Weickgenant (17), William Wessman (10)

Social News

Mark your calendars for the Mustangs' annual banquet on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 5:00 PM in the Grand Ballroom of the Umphrey Lee Center at SMU.  More information will be available in early March.

 

Questions?  Contact Barb Beckwitt via email.

 

Stroke and Turn Officials Clinic

 

If you are interested in becoming a Stroke & Turn official, a clinic for new officials will be held on March 29, 2008 from 8-11am at the Dan Rhodenbaugh Natatorium, 110 Rivercrest Blvd, in Allen.  For further information, please email Mike McDonald or call at 972-390-1810

 

Everyone is welcome to attend!

Spring Break

 

Reminder that the Mustangs will take their annual spring break this year from March 17 – 21, resuming Monday, March 24, at regularly scheduled practice times.  

 

Team Trip

 

Please mark your calendars for the Mustangs annual team trip.  This year we will travel to Louisiana for the Damon McCoy Invitational June 6 – 8.  More information will follow as the date approaches.

 

Scheduling Updates

 

Please remember to check your email frequently or the team line at 972.530.SWAM (7926), for last minute changes to our schedule.  If you are not receiving team e-mails, please email Donna Watters.   

 

Tuition Policy

The Dallas Mustangs is a competitive year round age-group swimming program.  As such we strive to provide consistent quality coaching and workout facilities.  To achieve this goal we establish pool rental contracts and salary commitments with our coaching staff for a full 12-month period.  The Dallas Mustangs Swim Team is not, and was not designed to be a swim program where swimmers drop in one month and out the next.  Flexibility has always been important to us.  We try to work with each family on the team and we will continue to do so. 

 

Tuition may be paid annually or monthly.  Monthly Tuition must be paid via electronic bank draft or credit card only.  NO checks will be accepted at any pools or through the mail.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  Annual tuition may be paid by check submitted with your registration form.

 

·        Tuition is due from September through July.

·        Leave of Absence (LOA) is available only for injury and medical reasons.

·        There will be a $10.00 per month discount for the second and subsequent swimmers in the same family.  The fourth swimmer is free.

·        If dues are paid annually, there will be a $110.00 discount for the second swimmer and a $220.00 discount for the third swimmer. If there are more than 3 swimmers; the three highest tuition rates will be billed and the 4th and subsequent swimmers are free.

·        A swimmer transferring from another team must be in good standing with their old team.

·        Tuition is due the first of every month. There will be a $5.00 per family late fee after the 10th of the month for non-zero balance accounts.

·        There are no tuition refunds, tuition paid for the month or the year commits you for that period.

·        Written communication to the DM Treasurer is required to change or stop automatic billing.

·        The swimmer(s) may be barred from swimming if there is an aged account balance is excess of 60 days.

 

Any questions regarding billing should be addressed to the team treasurer via e-mail

 

Meet Entry Policy

Meet entry fees will be paid by credit card only.  Your credit card will be charged monthly.  There will be a $1.00 surcharge per meet per swimmer added to the fee.  Meet entry fees will be charged separate from tuition charges.  All swimmers must maintain a current and up to date meet entry account.   Swimmers who do not provide valid credit card information for meet entry fees will not be allowed to enter swim meets.