Swimmers' Success Reaps Rewards and Honors in 2010

McNeil High School Swimming & Diving showed tremendous improvement and success during the 2009-2010 season. Below is a list of only some of the great accomplishments and recognitions these fine swimmers earned this season...

State Swim Meet

Ian Bishop - 5th in the 100 Breaststroke and 6th in the 200 Individual Medley
Alexis Widacki - 11th in the 100 Freestyle and 12th in the 50 Freestyle
Zach Gunn - 4th in the 100 Breastroke
Girls 200 Freestyle Relay - 10th in State
Girls Team finished 19th at State
Boys Team finished 30th at State

New Team Records(12 OF THEM!!!)

GIRLS
50 Freestyle - Alexis Widacki 24.28
100 Freestyle - Alexis Widacki 52.50
200 Freestyle - Rachel Hobbins 1:54.74
500 Freestyle - Rachel Hobbins 5:00.72
200 Individual Medley - Samantha Strohmeyer 2:11.71
200 Medley Relay - K. Morgan, R. Hobbins, K. Seibert, L. Tran - 1:53.49
200 Freestyle Relay - K. Morgan, A. Benck, K. Seibert, A. Widacki - 1:38.21
400 Freestyle Relay - K. Morgan, R. Hobbins, A. Benck, A. Widacki - 3:34.36


BOYS
200 Individual Medley - Ian Bishop - 1:52.11
100 Breaststroke - Zach Gunn - 56.76
400 Freestyle Relay - B. Wiese, T. Lapinski, B. Hammock, I. Bishop - 3:15.52
Boys 1 Meter Diving - Cody Cummings - 289.75

All American Awards
Ian Bishop - 200 Individual Medley AND 100 Breaststroke (both automatic)
Zach Gunn - 100 Breastroke (automatic)
Rachel Hobbins - 500 Freestyle (consideration)
Katie Morgan - 100 Backstroke (consideration)
200 Freestyle Relay (consideration)
400 Freestyle Relay (consideration)
Lea Schmeisser - 1 Meter Diving (consideration)

Not bad for 6 months of hard work! Congratulations to all of the mighty Mavericks for a great season.

Swimmer earns All State Choir honors!!!

Sophomore, David Barnes made 4th chair in the Mixed Choir at the 2009-2010 Texas All State Choir Competition. Congratulations David!!!

Swimmers Qualify for STATE 2010!!!

The following swimmers have qualified to swim in the 2010 UIL Texas State Swim Meet. This meet features the event champion from the eight regions of Texas as well as the next fastest eight times in that event. More or less, this is the sweet sixteen of high school swimming. Congratulations to these kids and their accomplishments.

200 Individual Medley - Ian Bishop, SR
50 Freestyle - Alexis Widacki, SR
100 Freestyle - Alexis Widacki, SR
100 Breaststroke - Ian Bishop, SR
100 Breaststroke - Zach Gunn, SO
Girls 200 Freestyle Relay - Katie Morgan, Annika Benck, Kirby Seibert, Alexis Widacki

Best of Luck at STATE!!!

Mavericks Show WELL at Region Meet!!!

After solid performances in a tough district meet, the Mighty Mavericks set their sites on Houston, Texas, which happened to be the next stop on the road to the Texas State Swim Meet. The Maverick performances showed that we definitely belong among the most talented swimming in the state, and possibly the country. It was quite the spectacle. The accolades and life-long memories might be too many to count, but here are a couple of the high notes.

• Out of 32 teams competing in Region IV-5A our girls and boys finished 5th and 8th respectively. Both are not only big improvements from last year, but school records for region place finishes in 5A competition.
• All relays advanced past Friday into Saturday competition as well as 16 Individual swims/dives
• 4 Relays and 9 Individual swims made it to the"A" Final on Saturday's competition which means they are eligible to be called up to the Texas State Swim Meet on Feb. 24th and 25th.
• McNeil has one automatic state qualifier with Ian Bishop WINNING the 100 breaststroke at the Regional Meet.
• 9 new team records were set this weekend!!!
• 50 Freestyle - Alexis Widacki - 24.28
• 100 Freestyle - Alexis Widacki - 52.50
• 200 Freestyle - Rachel Hobbins - 1:54.74
• 500 Freestyle - Rachel Hobbins - 500.72 (10 year old record)
• 100 Breaststroke - Ian Bishop - 56.97
• 200 Individual Medley - 1:54.11
• 200 Free Relay - Morgan, Benck, Seibert, Widacki - 1:38.44
• 400 Free Relay - Morgan, Hobbins, Benck, Widacki - 3:34.36
• 400 Free Relay - Wiese, Lapinski, Hammock, Bishop - 3:15.52

All in all, what a weekend!!! We will find out who advances to state once all of the other regions conclude their competitions. I am so proud of my mighty Mavs. Our season has been a gloriously successful one. So much so, that it is being extended another two weeks to the Texas State Swim Meet. Best of luck to all those eligible for call-ups. Congratulations to everyone on their amazing success.

Foss

P.S. - Final results can be accessed from the team schedule

Junior National Success!!!

Four McNeil swimmers travel to Columbus, Ohio to compete in the 2009 Speedo Short Course Junior National Swim Meet. I. Bishop, Z. Gunn, K. Morgan and R. Hobbins represented McNeil High School fabulously with some of the following swimming accomplishments...

I. Bishop
3rd in 100 breaststroke with 55.91
4th in 4 x 100 medley relay with 45.99 on anchor leg
8th in 200 breaststroke with 2:04.38
9th in 4 x 50 medley relay with 21.07 on anchor leg
28th in 200 IM with 1:52.56

Z. Gunn
4th in 4 x 100 medley relay with 56.76 on breast leg
5th in 200 breaststroke with 2:01.
6th in 100 breaststroke with 56.99
9th in 4 x 50 medley relay with 26.32 on breaststroke leg

K. Morgan
anchored 4 x 100 medley relay with 53.46
anchored 4 x 50 medley relay with 24.73

R. Hobbins
led 4 x 200 free relay with 1:55.06

Congratulations to those swimmers! They have worked extremely hard and deserve any and all success that comes their way. Way to go Mavs!!!

Houston TISCA Success!!!

Mavs,

What a great weekend! Not only did we demonstrate great swimming, but the McNeil Mavericks were fabulously represented in every category by 32 of the finest student-athletes that I have ever coached in my 10 years at McNeil HS. On at least two occasions I had coaches from the Houston and Dallas area go out of there way to find me and express there admiration and congratulations for the attitudes and performances of the McNeil HS athletes. I already knew that we were ready to compete with the best that the state of Texas has to offer, but to hear it from other coaches of perenial swimming powerhouses absolutely confirmed the feelings I have for our great team. Congratulations to everyone for their desevered success this weekend. Here are a couple of the high notes from this weekend...

- 22 out of 43 entered swims advance to finals(OVER HALF!!)

- 32 individual swims were personal bests for this year

- 22 individual swims were lifetime personal bests

- FIVE NEW SCHOOL RECORDS WERE SET!!!

1. Rachel Hobbins - 200 free - 1:56.58

2. Sammi Strohmeyer - 200 IM - 2:11.71

3. Ian Bishop - 200 IM - 1:56.22

4. Alexis Widacki - 50 free - 24.63

5. Alexis Widacki - 100 free - 54.27

Basically, we did exactly what we set out to do. We culminated a great fall by peaking precisely when we needed to. We have great kids on this team that are truly becoming amazing competitors. This exactly what we needed to motivate ourselves to push hard in our upcoming winter training. The hard work IS paying off. Whoever is willing to work the hardest CAN achieve their lofty goals. I am proud of everyone that has chosen to be committed to this team. Can't wait to see you tomorrow morning. Again, congratulations to you all.

Foss

Ropes Course 2009-2010

Another successful team building experience to start off the year!

Congratulations to all those that conquered your fear of heights and braved the dreaded "swing". It was truly awesome to see everyone working together to accomplish simple as well as difficult tasks. Working as a team to design what we think are the most important qualities of being a Maverick, is an experience that I am sure we will relive and revisit many times throughout our year. I thank you all for your stellar effort and dedication. See you in the pool on Monday. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.