Mustang Monthly

August 2005

 

Raising Great Kids

10 Tips for Parents

From United Healthcare

 

"Kids don't come with an instruction book”

"Parenting - the toughest job you'll ever love.”

 

These clichés about being a parent are true. Raising children can be rewarding, but also extremely challenging. Here are 10 tips to help you bring up happy, healthy children:

 

  1. Seek knowledge. Learn about childhood development, from infancy through the teen-age years. Understanding how your child grows and learns at different ages will help guide your expectations and reactions. Sources of information include other parents, books, classes and parenting groups.
  2. Set limits. Children of every age feel more secure when they know what's expected of them. Gentle discipline and guidance will help your child grow into a responsible adult.
  3. Spend time with your children. Read, play and sing with them. Listen to them. Answer their questions. Get to know your children as unique individuals.
  4. Expand your children's horizons. Exposing your children to new ideas, people and places will help them grow into well-rounded adults. Encourage curiosity. Join your children in exploring new worlds through books, museums, hobbies, theater, sports or whatever sparks their interest.
  5. Encourage your children. Be supportive of their interests and activities. Find out what they enjoy and feed their ambitions.
  6. Show affection. Make sure your children know that you love them unconditionally. Repeatedly tell them and-just as importantly-show them how much you care. Love your children for who they are, not what they look like or can achieve.
  7. Be a role model. "Do as I say, not as I do" doesn't work. Children learn how to think and behave by watching and listening to you. Live by the values you want to instill.
  8. Protect their health. Make sure your children have regular preventive medical and dental checkups. Feed them nutritious food and encourage them to exercise and be active. Teach them appropriate safety measures for any situations they may face.
  9. Take care of yourself. You'll be a happier, better parent if you nurture your own needs in addition to your child's. Make time for yourself. And, don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
  10. Savor what you have. The years pass by quickly and soon your children will be setting off into the world on their own-as the strong, independent adults you've helped shape. Take the time to cherish your children as they grow.

 

FALL SCHEDULE

 

Practices will resume at ALL pools on Tuesday, September 6th (Loos will be open).  The following schedule will remain in effect until further notice:

Loos:
N - 5:00 - 7:30 (M - F)
G - 5:30 - 7:30 (M - F)
S - 6:00 - 7:30 (M - F)
BI - 5:30 - 6:30 (M - F)
BII - 6:30 -7:30 (M - F)

HP:
G - 4:30 - 6:30 (M - TH), 4:30 - 6:00 (F)
SII - 4:30 - 6:00 (M - F)       
SI - 6:45 - 8:15 (M - TH), 4:30 - 6:00 (F)
B - 6:00 - 7:00 (M - F)
Pre-competition - individually scheduled WITH coach

CFB:
Red and Blue - 4:30 -5:30 (M - TH) 

Championship Meet Highlights

 

For the upper level swimmers, Austin became a familiar place as it played host to three championship meets on consecutive weekends in July.  The Senior Circuit Championships was first, followed by the Texas Age Group Swimming Championships (TAGS), then finally the United States Speedo Sectional Championships. 

 

The biggest highlights from each of those meets were:

 

Senior Circuit Champs – Matt Thompson beat Aaron Pearsol in the prelims of the 100 back (Aaron is the world record holder and defending Olympic champion!)

TAGS – Our 13-14 boys won their age group and posted numerous top sixteen national reportable times, individually as well as on relays.  The 10 and under boys also turned in some top sixteen times on relays.

Sectionals – To show our team’s depth, our women placed their A, B, C, and D relays in the top sixteen in the 400 medley relay.  Pretty impressive!

The following are details from those meets. 

 

Texas Senior Circuit Championships

July 14-17, 2005 – Austin, Texas

Dallas Mustangs finish 2nd in team standings (top ten listed below)

Individual Champions – Candace Blackman (200 free)

Individual Point Scorers – Leane Darling, Jennifer Blackman, Candace Blackman, Codie Hansen, Katie Roberts, Tiffany Sammis, Meredith Monroe, Spin Beck, Molly Bollen, Camillo Becerra, Justin Stephenson, Eric Gusa, JD White, Matt Thompson, Jonathon Berrettini, Brooks Haller and Josh Cohen.

Relay Champions – Women’s 400 free relay (Jennifer Blackman, Leane Darling, Codie Hansen, Candace Blackman)

Women’s 400 medley relay (Meredith Monroe, Spin Beck, Molly Bollen, Candace Blackman)

Men’s 400 free relay (Camillo Becerra, JD White, Justin Stephenson, and Eric Gusa)

Men’s 400 medley relay (Matt Thompson, Brooks Haller, Camillo Becerra, Justin Stephenson)

 

Final Team Standings (top 10)

1 Longhorn Aquatics 1,760.5

2 Dallas Mustangs 817.5

3 Arden Hills 786

4 Cy-Fair 570

5 City of Plano 427

6 Aggie 335

7 Ft Worth Area 294

8 Texas Gold 201

9 Alamo Area 110

10 Katy Aquatics 101

 

Texas Age Group Swimming Championships (TAGS)

July 20-24, 2005 – Austin, Texas

Dallas Mustangs finish 7th in team standings and our 13-14 boys won their age group

Individual Champions – Caleb Veazey (400, 800, and 1500 Frees), Andrew Tran (200 Fly and 200 IM)

Individual Point Scorers – Des Godfrey, Eric Futscher, Caleb Veazey, Scott Weeks, Andrew Tran

Relay Champions - 13-14 boys 200, 400 & 800 free relays (Andrew Tran, Caleb Veazey, Scott Weeks, and Nicholas Saliba)

Scoring Relays – 11-12 girls 200 & 400 free relays and 200 & 400 medley relays (Julia Cuaderes, Kendall Williams, Des Godfrey, Cassidy Beckwitt)

10 & under boys 200 & 400 free relays and 200 medley relay (Eric Futscher, Jake Watters, Harrison Tran, Luke Blaylock)

13-14 boys 200 & 400 medley relays (Jack Beckwitt, Andrew Tran, Caleb Veazey, and Scott Weeks)

 

Final team standings (top 10)

1 The Woodlands Swim Team 778

2 Longhorn Aquatics 570

3 Blue Tide Aquatics 459.5

4 First Colony Swim Team 262

5 City of Plano Swimmers 257

5 Cy-Fair Swim Club 257

7 Dallas Mustangs 233

8 Texas Gold Swimming 177

9 Lone Star Aquatic Club 154.5

10 Aquastar 132

 

Speedo Sectional Championships

July 27-30, 2005 – Austin, Texas

Dallas Mustangs finish 2nd in team standings (top ten listed below)

Individual Champions – Matt Thompson (100 & 200 Back), Codie Hansen (200 Free), Kannon Betzen (100 Breast), Spin Beck (200 IM)

Relay Champions – Women’s 400 Medley (Meredith Monroe, Kannon Betzen, Steph Futscher, Codie Hansen)

Individual Point Scorers:  Codie Hansen, Alyssa Landino, Clint Hallum, Caleb Veazey, Lauren Roth, Meredith Monroe, Caroline Barnett, Matt Thompson, Eric Gusa, Steph Futscher, Lamar Weeks, Spin Beck, Kannon Betzen, Amanda Benson, Byron Carlisle, Max Murphy, Justin Stephenson, Meredith Grubb and Grace Kittle.

 

Final team standings (top 10)

1 Longhorn Aquatics 865.5

2 Dallas Mustangs 716

3 Blue Tide Aquatics 478

4 Cy-Fair Swim Club 404

5 Katy Aquatics 392.5

6 The Woodlands Swim Team 388.5

7 Alamo Area Aquatic 384

8 Texas Gold Swimming 322

9 Crawfish Aquatics 308

10 New Wave Aquatics 203

 

The big meets came in clusters this summer, as far as where they took place.  After spending three straight weekends in Austin, the Mustangs were off to California for two of the biggest meets of the summer.  The United States National Championships and the United States Junior Championships were both held in Irvine, California.  Our swimmers represented the Mustangs proudly as they competed against the top swimmers in the country.  For many of the following swimmers, it was their first taste of competing on a national level.  They learned that they belong at that level and can compete with anyone, anywhere.

 

United States National Championships

August 3-7, 2005 – Irvine, California

Dallas Mustangs Women’s team finishes 11th in the country

Participants – Candace Blackman, Jennifer Blackman, Leanne Darling, Katie Roberts, Molly Bollen, Spin Beck, Meredith Monroe, Matt Thompson, JD White, Jonathon Berrettini, Brooks Haller

Individual Scorers – Candace Blackman (200 free)

Scoring Relays – Women’s 400 and 800 free relays (Katie Roberts, Candace Blackman, Jennifer Blackman, Leane Darling); Women’s 400 medley relay (Meredith Monroe, Spin Beck, Molly Bollen, Candace Blackman)

United States Junior National Championships

August 9-13, 2005 – Irvine, California

Dallas Mustangs finish 8th in the country

Participants – Spin Beck, Molly Bollen Meredith Monroe, Alyssa Landino, Kannon Betzen, Lauren Roth, Maddie Steiner, Matt Thompson, Clint Hallum, Brooks Haller and Max Murphy

Individual Scorers – Clint Hallum, Matt Thompson, Spin Beck, Molly Bollen

Scoring Relays – Women’s 200 medley relay (Meredith Monroe, Spin Beck, Molly Bollen, and Alyssa Landino)

Women’s 400 medley relay (Meredith Monroe, Kannon Betzen, Molly Bollen, Alyssa Landino)

Women’s 200 free relay (Molly Bollen, Lauren Roth, Maddie Steiner, and Alyssa Landino)

Women’s 400 and 800 free relays (Lauren Roth, Alyssa Landino, Maddie Steiner, and Meredith Monroe)

Men’s 200 & 400 medley relays (Matt Thompson, Brooks Haller, Max Murphy, and Clint Hallum)

 “A” Championships

July 7-10, 2005 – Southlake Natatorium

Individual Champions - Kendall Williams, Hannah Ferrin, Catia Weickgenant, Lauren Roth, Maddie Steiner, Kannon Betzen, Steph Futscher, Jack Beckwitt, Andrew Tran, Clint Hallum,

Individual Scorers – Elizabeth Crowling, Emma Gruber, Kendall Williams, Des Godfrey, Cassidy Beckwitt, Julia Cuaderes, Megan Ernst, Hannah Ferrin, Kelsey Craggett, Catia Weickgenant, Leah Jones, Jordan Newman, Keegan Watters, Lauren Roth, Leslie Clampett, Maddie Steiner, Erin Smith, Meredith Grubb, Kannon Betzen, Steph Futscher, Amanda Benson, Mel Futscher, Caroline Barnett, Alexandra Jennings, Grace Kittle, Stephanie Martin, Beth Geis, Luke Blaylock, Liam Veazey, Caleb Veazey, Nicholas Saliba, Scott Weeks, Jack Beckwitt, Clint Hallum, John Bannon, Burke Wiggins, Tim French, Colin Carpenter,

Final team standings (top 10)

1 City of Plano Swimmers 874. 50

2 Dallas Mustangs 553. 50

3 North Texas Nadadores 538. 50

4 City of Richardson Swim Team 476

5 Grapevine-Colleyville 346. 50

6 Dallas Elite Aquatics DEA-NT 297

7 Lakeside Aquatic Club 205

8 Mid-Cities Arlington Swimming 197

9 Metroplex Aquatics 192

10 Keller Swim Team 190

 

“BB” Championships

July 15-17, 2005 Oakpoint Rec Center – Plano

Individual Champions - Steven Nichols

Individual Scorers – Callie Scheffler, Audrey Gruber, Alyssa Rusch, Sydney Patterson, Tanner Harris, Anna Beth Gruber, Ann Weeks, Lisa Van Amburgh, Sarah Blue, Allison Whitehead, Meagan Keesee, Matney Rolfe, Will McNamara, Patrick Crowling, Jack Ken, Steven Nichols, Skylar Clark-Fernandez, Andrew Harvey

Scoring Relays – 10 & under girls 200 free relay (Natalie Rathjen, Callie Scheffler, Audrey Gruber, Alyssa Rusch)

13-14 girls 200 free relay (Rosy Rios, Sarah Blue, Stephanie Grote, and Jean Coyle)

Women’s 200 medley relay (Allison Whitehead, Meagan Keesee, Megan Reardon, Lisa Van Amburgh)

Women’s 200 medley relay (Sarah Blue, Jean Coyle, Matney Rolfe, Stephanie Grote)

Final team standings (top 10)

1 City of Plano Swimmers 929

2 Keller Swim Team 570

3 Metroplex Aquatics 466

4 North Texas Nadadores 447

5 Frisco Aquatics 304. 50

6 Mid-Cities Arlington Swimming 287. 50

7 Dallas Mustangs 252. 50

8 Fort Worth Area Swim Team 238

9 Academy of Texas Aquatic Champ 218. 50

10 Lakeside Aquatic Club 190

 

“B/C” Championships

July 22-24, 2005 – Grapevine Aquatic Center

Individual Champions - Tiffany Futscher, Annelyse Tullier, Emily Kelsoe, Laura Rathjen, Alyssa Rusch, Ivan Gan,

Individual Scorers – Tiffany Futscher, Bianca Bowring, Annelyse Tullier, Lucy Stuart, Emily Kelsoe, Sarah Jones, Laura Rathjen, Christina Bowman, Christy Purnadi, Alyssa Rusch, Kendall Ernst, Susan Duncan, Leia Unger, Catherine Ward, Adam Rathjen, Alex Tcheng, Alberto Bambach, Ivan Gan, Timothy Simenc, Luke Westmoreland, Jonathan Gray

Scoring Relays – 8 & under girls 200 free relay (Tiffany Futscher, Bianca Bowring, Annelyse Tullier, Hannah Reifsnyder)

10 & under girls 200 medley relay (Maggie Boreham, Laura Rathjen, Sarah Jones, Emily Kelsoe)

11-12 girls 200 free relay (Susan Duncan, Sara Granger, Leia Unger, and Catherine Ward)

10 & under boys 200 free relay (Max Zotos, Alberto Bambach, Ivan Gan, Timothy Simenc)

Final team standings (top 10)

1 City of Plano Swimmers 1,203

2 Metroplex Aquatics 556

3 North Texas Nadadores 541. 50

4 Dallas Mustangs 523

5 Keller Swim Team 511

6 Lakeside Aquatic Club 486

7 Frisco Aquatics 439

8 Dallas Elite Aquatics 369. 50

9 Fort Worth Area Swim Team 334. 50

10 Mid-Cities Arlington Swimming 328

 

All of the swimmers listed above, as well as those swimmers who also competed, can be proud of the efforts they gave at the championship meets and the work leading up to those meets this past season.  Regardless of the outcome, the journey is always worthwhile.  Congratulation Mustangs on a job well done!

We Need Your Help!

The Dallas Mustangs will host the 18th Annual Haunted Hat "B/C" meet at Loos pool on Saturday and Sunday, October 22 and 23. There will be three sessions over two days, so there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer and earn Mustang Bucks. Volunteers are needed for awards, hospitality, clerk of course, runners, timing systems operators, set up, and tear down. Please help us out by volunteering for the meet.  Volunteers will be awarded Mustang Bucks to be applied towards your swimmer's dues.  Please consult your policy manual for our Mustang Bucks policy.

You may volunteer by signing up on the sheets posted at either Loos Pool or at Highland Park Pool. You may also volunteer by contacting our Meet Director, Jim Cuaderes, and letting him know you want to volunteer. You can contact Jim at jcuaderes@littler.com (work e-mail); quadlawyer@sbcglobal.net (home e-mail); 214- 880-8113 (work phone) or 214-340-1938 (home phone). Please sign up and help us make this meet a success.

You can also assist by donating food, drinks, or other items for hospitality. Donations of items are greatly appreciated.

 

SOCIAL NEWS

 

The annual Dallas Mustang Swim Team Picnic is scheduled for Sunday, September 25th @ Caruth Park (west of Lovers and Hillcrest across from the school) from 4-6 p.m.

 

This is the first social of the 2005-06 season. Sonny Bryans will be catering delicious barbeque and dessert. The cost is $7.50 per person and reservations must be made in advance as no reservations will be accepted at the picnic.

 

Flyers will be distributed to all families via the annual swim team USA/DM packets which you received in the mail. Make sure you fill out your registration form and make your check payable to Dallas Mustangs. Please mail your picnic reservation and check to the following address:

 

Maryann Martin

6215 Danbury Ln

Dallas, TX. 75214

 

Reservations must be received by September 20th to ensure enough food for all. See ya'll Sept. 25th

  

Silver II – What is it?  How do I qualify for it?

 

A couple of years ago, we added another group at HP and named it Silver II.  It consisted primarily of those Silver Group swimmers who had competed at TAGS in individual events and could handle less “wall-time” and a bit more intensity.  It also allowed us to have more room in our late Silver group, giving us a more manageable group size during the winter season at HP.

 

The Silver II group meets Monday thru Friday at 4:30 PM at HP.  Since the Gold Group at this location already uses most of the pool during this time period, entrance into the Silver II group has been limited.  Please understand that admission into this group is by invitation only, by the Head Age Group Coach, Doug Moyse. It is based on performance and not on the convenience of scheduling. Any questions should be directed to Doug Moyse.

 

Buddy Family Program

 

The purpose of the buddy program is to help our new families with their transition to the Mustangs. These families may be first time year-round swimmers or transfers from other teams, and our goal is to make this transition as smooth as possible.  Under this program, our volunteers will be assigned to several new families.  If you choose to volunteer, your responsibilities would be to contact your swimmers, introduce them to other swimmers, parents or coaches, answer any questions they may have, help them fill out swim meet forms, explain what to expect from their first meet, what equipment they may need, etc.  If you are interested in volunteering or if you have any questions about the program, please contact Amy Weeks at 972-491-3571 or lsa.weeks@verizon.net.

  

Team Email Communication - Important!

 

In the next few months, there is probably going to be a lot of information coming your way; scheduling changes, information on the annual intrasquad meet, various social events, meet information, parent meetings, etc. The way in which this information is distributed is primarily through email, our team phone line and then of course, by word of mouth. Usually, that word of mouth is not via your swimmer…

When you are completing your swimmers’ registration packets this year (both new and returning swimmers) please list the email account that you wish to receive notices at. I will be using only the information provided to me by the Registration Chairman to contact you (which you in turn have given her). Also, if you change your contact information in any way during the year, please let us know. A new member address book is distributed in the fall and we would like to have accurate contact information in it.

 

Questions? Please contact Donna Watters at vp@dmswim.com or at 214-890-0227.

 

Former Mustang Ranked #1 U.S. Pentathlete

 

Dennis Bowsher, age 21, a former Dallas Mustang swimmer, was recently ranked #1 among American men by USA Pentathlon.  He recently competed in the Pentathlon World Championships in Warsaw, Poland. Dennis will soon be inducted into the US Army, where he will be part of the World Class Athlete Program.  We wish him good luck in his quest to make the Olympic team. Way to go, Dennis!

 DM Tuition Policy Reminder

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. Tuition amounts are established based on the 12-month budget and divided into monthly or quarterly amounts to provide reasonable payment options for our Dallas Mustang families.  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 quarterly: September, December, March, and June, or monthly.  Tuition paid monthly includes a $5.00 per month processing fee.  (If tuition for the quarter is not paid by the due date, monthly payment has automatically been selected.)

 

·         Tuition is due from September through August.  (If you swim in July, you are responsible for August tuition.)

·         Tuition is due on the 1st of each month/quarter.

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

·         There will be a $10.00 per month tuition discount for the second and subsequent swimmers in the same family.  The fourth swimmer is free, but all swimmers must pay the annual registration fee.

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

·         Statements are only mailed quarterly. If you have chosen to pay monthly, it is your responsibility to remember to mail or drop off tuition by the first of each month that we do not send statements.

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

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

·         Please indicate in the memo portion of all checks what the payment is for (i.e. Dues – swimmer’s name, meet account, supplies, etc.).

·         If there is a problem with your billing, please contact the treasurer.

·         Should circumstances prevent full payment of your tuition, please contact the president.  Scholarships and alternate payment plans will be addressed on a case by case basis.  (Please Note: Lack of communication is not an option!)

·         Should you choose to leave the team – it is your responsibility to contact the treasurer or registration chairman.  (Informing the coach does not fulfill this responsibility!)

·         If you choose to leave the team for the summer, you must go through the tryout process in the fall. You may not return to workouts until you have attended the tryout, completed paperwork and paid your fees.  You are not automatically guaranteed a spot on the team. If your group is full, your name will be placed on the waiting list.  Any tuition/fee balances that were not paid when you left the team must be paid prior to re-joining the team. 

·         If you choose to leave the team at any point during the year, you MAY NOT represent the Dallas Mustangs at any swim meet or event that occurs after the date you have left the team. Should you choose to participate in a swim meet after you have left the team, you must register for the meet and swim as unattached (Team = UN).  

·         Tuition may be sent with the swimmer to the pool, or mailed to the Treasurer:

 

DM Treasurer – Shannon Rusch

603 Hood Dr.

Coppell, Texas 75019