AGE GROUP SWIMMERS OF THE MONTH

Swimming World and Junior Swimmer, Jan 2004

Kevin Behrens

Age 11, Munster Swim Club, Munster, Indiana

Kevin Behrens of the Munster Swim Club recently completed an outstanding 10-and-under career in Indiana Swimming. At the Indiana Age Group Long Course State Championships, Kevin won all five of his events with five NAG Top 16 times: 50 meter back, 35.27; 100 back, 1:15.53; 50 fly, 33.38; 100 fly, 1:14.12; and 200 IM, 2:44.06. He also swam on Munster's two championship relays: the 200 medley (2:31.25) and 200 free (2:12.91). Kevin was awarded the high-point trophy for his age group.

Two weeks later, at the Central Zone Championships in Indianapolis, Kevin again won the 10-and-under boys high-point award. He placed first in five events (50 free, 30.08; 50 back, 34.83; 100 back, 1:15.19; 50 fly, 32.86; and 200 IM, 2:43.29) and came in second in the 100 free (1:06.72). John Krick, Team Indiana's head coach and Kevin's coach at Munster, presented him with the trophy.

Kevin first qualified for Indiana's state meet as a 7-year-old. During the next three years, he won 14 individual state titles (including eight in backstroke) and swam on nine state championship relays.

In addition to swimming, Kevin is an avid reader and loves playing football and "Kick the Can" with the Indian Path Athletic Club. He was a member of the Munster Mustangs fourth-grade AAU basketball team, and this winter will play fifth-grade basketball for St. Thomas Moore School.

Kate Ziegler started her swimming career at age 6 on the Great Falls Rapids swim team. Year-round swimming came a couple of years later, and she experienced the usual ups and downs of age group swimming. Kate qualified for Zones as a 10-year-old in the 50 and 100 meter free and 50 meter fly, and again as a 12-year-old in the 50 meter fly.

Kate started the 2002-03 short course season with some outstanding performances. She placed sixth in the 400 short course meters free (4:14.20) and fourth in the 800 free (8:37.99) at the World Cup meet in Long Island in November 2002. Unfortunately, soon afterward, she broke her left foot and a toe on her right foot with severe ligament damage in both.

In mid-June, at only the second meet after Kate's cast was removed-and her last as a 13-14 swimmer-she posted personal best long course times of 4:24.24 in the 400 meter free, 9:04.56 in the 800 free and 17:10.36 in the 1500 free.

So far in her brief career as a 15-year-old, Kate has broken a total of nine PVS records in both short and long course. She also has Olympic Trials cuts in the 400 free (4:18.33) and 1500 free (16:33.29).

Kate was selected for the U.S. National Junior Team that competed in Australia this month, and was recently named the 2002-03 Potomac Valley Swimming Outstanding Athlete for both the 13-14 and 15-16 girls.

Kate Ziegler

Age 15, The Fish, Great Falls, Virginia

Candidates for "Age Group Swimmers of the Month" must compete within a nationally recognized age group. Please send a personality sketch and a color photograph or slide (a face shot, such as a school picture) of each nominee. Be sure to include name, address and phone number of person submitting the candidate. You can request a Swimming World Age Group Swimmer of the Month Profile form, which can be used as a guide to writing the nomination. The more information we receive, the more complete the story can be.

Send all information to Swimming World, Age Group Swimmers of the Month, P.O. Box 20337, Sedona, AZ 86341. If you want the picture returned, please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.

TYR Sport sends each Age Group Swimmer of the Month a package containing swimsuit, goggles and a T-shirt for the swimmer's coach.