Page 10/The Battalion/Friday, November 2, 1984
Photo by DEAN SAITO
Texas A&M swimmer Karen Sullivan does ration for the Aggies’ season opener this
practice laps in Wofford Cain pool in prepa- weekend at the SWC Relay meet in Lubbock.
Nash makes a splash
By TAMARA BELL
Sports Writer
As head coach of the Texas A&M
Men’s and Women’s Swimming
teams, Mel Nash encourages a fam
ily atmosphere. Sort of an aquatic
Brady Bunch.
“One of our strengths as a com
bined swimming program is the way
we work together as a large family,”
Nash said. “In our workouts, the
men aren’t as coarse and the women
are less complaining. The teams
compliment each other by bringing
out the strengths of each swimmer
and squelching the weaknesses.”
Even though the Aggie men’s
team is considered a young squad,
according to 1983 statistics, the team
should finish fourth in the South
west Conference this year.
“In the six years I’ve coached at
A&M, this is the youngest team
we’ve had,” Nash said. “Out of eigh
teen members, eight are freshmen.
The talent is there. It’s just a ques
tion of how long it will take for that
talent to manifest in the water.
“This season is a learning experi
ence from both standpoints because,
while I’m learning what each athlete
is capable of, the swimmers are
learning the ‘Aggie method.’”
The Aggie women’s team is exac
tly the opposite.
“The women have a lot of experi
ence coming back,” Nash said. “We
expect to do well with five seniors re
turning and our All-American relay
team of Melanie Schmauch, Susan
Marks, Eileen Doull and Jody Tan-
Swimming Coach Mel Nash
ner coming back from last year.”
In past swim seasons, the men’s
low finish within the SWC hindered,
rather than helped, when it came
time to recruit. However, Nash be
lieves this season is an exception to
that past rule.
“Traditionally, if a swimmer from
Texas is any good, he will either ap
ply to SMU |Or Texas because of
their outstanding swim programs,”
Nash said. “Ironically, once we leave
the state, it’s easy to sign talented
athletes because A&M is considered
a strong swim team nationally. In
five years we’ve rebuilt the program
ai>d prospective recruits from
around the country realize the Ag
gies’ potential.”
While strength changes are prom
inent in the men’s program, the
women retain strong freestyle swim
mers, Nash said.
“The women’s team is known for
its strong freestyle stroke,” he said.
“The men’s program will emphasize
the butterfly stroke because of its ex
ecutors — Chris O’Neil and John
Heldenfels. Both teams have a better
balance and depth than in past sea
sons. We’re three-deep in every
stroke and I’ve never been able to
say that.”
The Aggies’ 1984-85 conference
campaign begins with the SWC Re
lays in Lubbock November 2. A&M’s
first home meet is scheduled for No
vember 10 against SMU, ranked one
of the top four teams in the nation. "
One of Nash’s goals for his A&M
swimmers is to improve the athlete
with each meet.
“Not only do I want the team to
improve with each swimming meet,
but I want to improve as a coach be
cause each event is a learning experi
ence for both the coach and the team
and I want to be the best coach I can
be. That just takes trial and error.
“When I see the team pull to
gether at a meet, encouraging each
other through the individual as well
as the relay events, I know that I’ve
accomplished another one of my
goals.”
Compare
Experience
and Positions
III Dan Kubiak
Joe Barton
Legislative
Experience:
14 Years
7 terms, Texas House of
Representatives; Chair
man, Public Education
and Higher Education
Committees. One of Texas
Montly’s “Ten Best Legis
lators”.
None
Endorsed by Primary
Election Opponents:
Endorsed by both of his
primary opponents, Hugh
Parmer and Rip Van
Winkle.
All three primary oppon
ents - Max Hoyt, Bob Har
ris, and Pat Friedrichs -
refused to endorse
Barton.
Low Interest
Student Loans:
FOR
AGAINST
History of Working
for TAMU:
As Chairman of the House
Education Committee, he
worked with Appropria
tion Chairman Bill Presnal
(D. Brazos County) to
help A&M grow from 9,000
students to over 30,000.
Dan served on the Higher
Education Committee and
appropriated monies to
further the high standards
of TAMU.
None
Independence:
Will evaluate each indi
vidual issue and will vote
in the interest of the dis
trict, the state and the
Vows “100% support” of
his national party plat
form.
“Dan Kubiak will take the special Texas wisdom with him
when he goes to Washington. ’’
>anW^ 1 *
Kubia
A Texas Democrat for Congress
Paid for by Aggies for Kubiak.
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