2000

Long Course Championships

To begin the summer championship season the Mustangs sent 43 athletes down to Austin, TX to compete at the Texas Age Group Swimming Championships (TAGS). The Mustangs came away with an 11th place finish and numerous individual accolades. Candace Blackman set a new meet record in the 400 freestyle, and Debbie Forinash once again captured the 15-18 girls high point award. Also contributing individual points for the Mustangs were - Sarah Wells, Jennifer Blackman, Clare Williams, Lauren Roth, Meredith Grubb, Kenneth Wherry, Jeff Girard and Eric Gusa.

The Mustangs sent a strong team to the Long Course Junior Championships in Gainesville, FL. Courtney Patterson, Debbie Forinash, Jennifer Blackman, Candace Blackman, Tiffany Bohon, Jeff Girard, Eric Gusa, Brian Stephens, and Andrew Hansen all represented the team in Gainesville. The women came away with a 25^th place performance, and the highlight of the meet for the Mustangs was Candace Blackman’s record breaking performance in the 50 free. With that swim Candace qualified for the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials.

A team record 17 swimmers represented the Mustangs at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, IN. These athletes joined about 1,400 of America’s most talented swimmers to compete for a very prestigious spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Two of our Mustangs made it to the top sixteen: Katie McClelland (100 & 200 breast), and Tim Carlson (200 IM). The other swimmers to represent the Mustangs in Indianapolis were Candace Blackman, Andrea Stouder, Andrew Priest, Bart Wickard, Billy Coleman, Brandon Jernigan, Ed Wagner, Katherine Inskeep, Mike O'Keefe, Pat O'Keefe, R.D. Trinidad, Rob Harrison, Steve Barnes, Steve Kemmerling and Suzanne Black.

Though none of the Mustangs swimmers were able to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team the Mustangs were well represented at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Martina Moravcova (Slovakia), Lars Frolander (Sweden) and Rania Elwani (Egypt) joined some of the greatest athletes in the world to represent their countries and the Mustangs. They did more than that as Martina claimed silver medals in both the 100 meter butterfly, and the 200 meter freestyle. Lars also won an exciting 100 meter butterfly on the men’s side to bring home the gold medal.

Short Course Championships

The Mustangs began the new millennium in fine fashion at the Texas Age Group Swimming Championships (TAGS) coming away with a 5th place finish. The team got off to a hot start by breaking both the Men’s and Women’s 15-18 800 freestyle meet records. Leading the way for most of the meet was Debbie Forinash who captured the 15-18 girl’s High Point Award. Amy Danchik, Sarah Wells, Megan McNamara, Courtney Patterson, Sara Haney, Christina Hoover, and Clare Williams also contributed to the 15-18 girl’s Age Group Championship. The following swimmers also contributed to the Mustangs strong finish - Caroline Jennings, Candace Blackman, Jennifer Blackman, Warren Renick, Lauren Roth, Andrew Hansen, Eric Gusa, Brian Stephens, Jennifer Penley, Nicole Keller, Diana Larson, Kristen Masters, Hayley Hatfield, Jessica Shaw, Charlie Morris and Jeff Girard.

At The Short Course Junior Championships in Orlando, FL the Mustangs continued their success in the pool as they came away with a 22^nd place finish. The swimmers competing in Orlando for the Mustangs were: Candace Blackman, Jennifer Blackman, Debbie Forinash, Sara Haney, Courtney Patterson, Jeff Girard, Eric Gusa, Andrew Hansen, Charlie Morris, Brian Stephens, and Warren Renick.

The Mustangs ended the season by sending eight athletes to compete at the Phillips 66 National Championships in Seattle, WA. Martina Moravcova led the way for the Mustangs by posting three individual victories and winning the Kuphuth Award for being the top scorer of the meet. Courtney Patterson, Katie McClelland, Martina Moravcova, and Naoko Imoto also teamed up to bring home a championship crown in the Women’s 400 Medley Relay. Also representing the Mustangs were Pat O’Keeffe, Ed Wagner, Mohamed El Madani and Brian Stephens.