By Todd Hveem
Chronicle correspondent
Over the next three weeks, the Kingwood boys and girls swim teams will be looking to make their final year in Region III-5A a memorable one.
The Mustangs, who won the Class 5A state title in 2009, will be out to defend their state crown on Feb. 26-27, while the Lady Mustangs, who finished third at state a year ago, will try and duplicate the feat.
Kingwood coach Russell Duin believes it can be done.
“The boys really believe it in their heads that it can happen,” Duin said. “They have come up with a good plan. It looks like a good plan on paper. But they have to execute and do it in the water.”
And the girls?
“The girls were third last year and they were ecstatic,” Duin said. “They set a state record in the 200 medley relay.
“We lost some big ones off that team, but I think we raised a few eyebrows at the TISCA meet. The girls came out of the meet thinking we might have a chance to get this done. Plano is still solid. And the San Antonio schools are tough. But if we can get our relays out and multiple qualifiers, we should be right there in the top three.”
The Mustangs and Lady Mustangs, who both won district and regional titles in 2009, will try and qualify as many swimmers to state as they can at the Region V meet on Saturday at the University of Houston.
“Regionals are very important to get the kids out (to the state meet),” Duin said. “It is that time of year where the kids are starting to get very excited. They are ready for the fun time.”
All that fun begins at the University of Houston pool, where the Mustangs and Lady Mustangs have had success in the past.
“It is traditionally a very fast pool,” Duin said. “We have always had a ton of luck coming out of UH.”
This season, an extra heat has been added to the regional meet. The winner of each event plus the next eight fastest times from the eight regional meets will advance to state.
“This year, there will be a championship heat and a consolation heat (at regionals),” Duin said. “The top eight fastest times must come from the championship heat.”
The Mustangs are led by Matt Barber, Ryan Glander, Joseph Bergmeister, Steve Ciliske, Jordan Jones, Will Oswald, Ryan Glander, Mitch Glander and Patrick Pash.
The Lady Mustangs’ hopes lie with Jillian Vitarius, Michelle Gean, Sydney Conroy, Jamie Friderichs, Katheryn Nolen, Lisa Swank, Malaney Peete and Lauren and Amanda Day.
“After the regional meet, we will try and get everybody a good rest,” Duin said. “We have two weeks in between the two meets. That should give us plenty of time to get ready.”