READY room, The

Swimming World and Junior Swimmer, Nov 2004

CALIFORNIA: Natalie Coughlin was honored Oct. 27 by the City of Vallejo and the Greater Vallejo Recreation District. Natalie, who won five medals at the Olympics in Athens earlier this year, began her swimming career at Cunningham Pool in Vallejo. The dinner and ceremony was also a fund-raising effort to keep the Cunningham Pool open year-round.

OHIO: Thomas Inwood, who was a TYR Age Group Swimmer of the Month in June, continued his winning ways this summer. In July, he earned the high-point trophy for 13-14 boys at the Lake Erie District Championships. He won all eight of his individual events and anchored the winning 400 meter free and medley relays. Thomas set meet records in the 200 free (2:02.41), 400 free (4:22.31), 800 free (8:54.54) and 200 IM (2:19.74). He also won the 1500 free (17:21.39), 100 breast (1:15.80), 200 breast (2:44.77) and 400 IM (4:57.02). He finished his long course season by winning the high-point trophy at the Central Zones, Aug. 6-10, in Miami, Ohio. He won the 400 free (4:16.68), 800 free (8:53.82), 1500 free (16:48.71) and the 400 IM (4:53.30), as well as the open water competition in his age group.

SOUTH CAROLINA: In its first year of existence, Team Carolina (TC) won the team championship at this year's South Carolina Long Course State Championships at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. With 1,314 points, TC beat out Y-Spartaquatics (1,087) and Greenville (903). Claire Busby (13-14 girls) tied for high-point champion in her age group, while teammate Maquala O'Brien finished third. Mack Montgomery was first in 13-14 boys, and Steven Luckie placed third in senior boys. TC individual event champions were Allie Voss (13-14 girls 100 breast), Caroline McHugh (senior girls 200 free), Nick Mann (13-14 boys 200 breast), Hart Montgomery (senior boys 100 free) and Justin Kata (senior boys 100-200 breast).

The high school swimming championship season got off to an early start when South Carolina held its 3A and 4A competitions, Oct. 9, at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Riverside took the girls 3A crown with 619 points. J.L. Mann was second (396.5), and Carolina Forest was third (301.5). In boys 3A competition, J.L. Mann was first (513), followed by Riverside (451) and Academic Magnet (282). Austen Carter set the only state marks of the meet with her wins in the 50 yard free (23.79) and 200 free (1:48.96). Hilton Head was tops in the girls 4A race with 431 points to Fort Mill's 354 and Mauldin's 338.5. Summerville was first in the boys 4A standings, with Wando (344) second, followed by Fort Mill (257).

TEXAS: The 2004 Gulf State Swimposium was held Sept. 25 at the University of Houston. Separate clinics were held for 12-and-under swimmers in the morning and 13-and-overs in the afternoon. A total of 212 swimmers were registered for the two clinics. Colleen Lanné, 2004 Olympian, was the clinician. Colleen was a member of the U.S. 400 meter freestyle relay team that won a silver medal in Athens. Colleen talked to the swimmers about her experiences at the Olympics and her swimming career. She also passed around her Olympic medal for all to see. In addition, she conducted a stroke and technique clinic for the swimmers.

The 2003-04 Gulf Swimming awards banquet was held the following evening (Sept. 26) at the Omni Hotel Westside in Houston. Awards were presented to First Colony's Bill Bailey (Age Group Coach of the Year), The Woodlands' Tim Bauer (Senior Coach of the Year), Blue Tide Aquatics' Emily Fletcher (Pauline Phillips Award), Kathryn Bloodworth (ConocoPhillips Outstanding Service Award) and the Houston Chronide's M.K. Bower (Swim Journalistic Achievement of the Year Award). Olympian Josh Davis served as the guest speaker.

We want to share the latest news you have about outstanding swimmers on your team or your team's latest accomplishments. Send your letter, press release or team newsletter to Swimming World, P.O. Box 20337, Sedona, AZ 86341; fax 928-284-2477; or by e-mail to editorial @SwirnInfoWire.com. Photos welcome!

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.