Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 1998)
21, The Battalion Sports [f^iursday‘January 22, 1998 pep t rati perk; for::’ Jumping into Fresh Water Teshman Kelly Bolton in the fast lane to stardom M\ ^2 M i ST" 10 % - ; " / Ii«l MIKE FUENTES/The Battalion |man Kelly Bolton is opening eyes around the country. By Katie Mish Staff writer When Kelly Bolton gets into the pool, she already has an idea of exactly who her biggest competition is—herself. Bolton, a freshman psychology major from Houston Nimitz High School, competes in the 50-meter freestyle, 100 freestyle and 100 fly for the Texas A&M Swim Team, a team that has consistently been a contender in the last few years. Bolton started swimming at age nine and began year- round competing at the age of 13. She did not always know that she wanted to be a competitive swimmer. “I started swimming at first because a friend did that lived across the street,” she said. Bolton said she credits a coach she had in the early years of her competition, Coach Eddy, with getting her started in the competitive realm of swimming. It was this coach who started the training that brought her to the point where she is now. Bolton said her father also was a big influence on her swimming. Her dad was a full-scholarship athlete, and she wanted to follow in his footsteps. “I wanted to be just like him,” Bolton said. As far as team role models go, Bolton looks to a Texas A&M swimmer from the past, Julie Bates, who, though now gradu ated, still trains with the team. “Julie’s really fast,” Bolton said. “She’s good motivation for me.” Bolton said she came to Texas A&M for some of the same reasons many students choose this university. She had an old er sister at Texas A&M, and she really liked the traditions. But it was not just the atmosphere that brought her to Aggieland. “I was really impressed with the team and coaches here,” Bolton said. Bolton sees a lot of differences between this team and oth ers she has been on. She said the Texas A&M Swim Team has provided more supportive environment than those in the past, and she and her teammates are a tight-knit group, in and out of the water. “Since I’ve been here, the team has been amazing,” she said. “In the middle of a hard set, people completely out of breath will stop and say ‘good job.’ I’ve never had that before.” The training schedule Bolton and the swim team follows is tough and time-consuming. They do weights weekly, prac tice for a few hours each weekday and practice on Saturday mornings as well. This is about as normal of a week as the swim team gets. “A normal week? What’s normal?” Bolton said. Bolton’s teammate, sophomore Tracy Evans, said Bolton definitely has contributed to the team. “She is very powerful,” Evans said. “If I was swimming against her, I’d think she was very intimidating.” Monica Stroman, another teammate of Bolton’s, said that the freshman is in control when she swims. “She’s so composed before she races,” Stroman said, “She’s so focused.” Stroman said after Bolton swims, even if she feels she has not had a good swim, Bolton will not lose her composure. “She internalizes to make herself a better swimmer,” Stroman said. Bolton is just starting her swimming career at Texas A&M, and her contributions to the team are just beginning. She is one to watch. Swan a champion both in the pool and the classroom By Robert Hollier Staff writer Dedication, focus and determination e qualities athletes must possess to stand r it among their peers. Benjamin Swan, a ashman on the Texas A&M Men’s Swim- ing Team, certainly has stood out so far U is season. I' 1 ‘I was impressed with him from the start. He was a perfect match for what we needed in our program. MEL NASH MEN'S SWIMMING COACH Originally from Oregon, Swan has been dimming since he was six-years old. From s first competition at the age of seven to icoming a four-time state champion and i to competing at Texas A&M, Swan has mtinued to improve and impress. Mel Nash, head coach for the men’s /imming team, said Swan caught his eye e first time he saw him compete. “I was impressed with him from the start,” Nash said. “He was a perfect match for what we needed in our program. Plus he is a pretty doggone fast swimmer.” Sophomore Devin Howard, a teammate of Swan’s, said he agreed. “He is one of the most focused people on the team,” Howard said. “He is always the first one in the pool. He’s so competitive.” Not only is Swan a tremendously com petitive athlete, but he has also excelled as a student. As an engineering major, one of his goals was to have a 3.0 GPR at the end of his first semester. He made a 4.0 instead. Swan said he owes most of his success to his family’s influence and support. “They set great examples for me. They told me I could achieve anything I wanted to achieve,” he said. Swan also said he owes a lot to his coach. “He (Nash) has helped me in every way possible,” Swan said. “He pointed out tech nique problems I didn’t know I had.” When asked which event he enjoyed competing in the most, Swan said he fa vored the 200-meter individual medley. “Even though I don’t think I’ve had my best effort in the 200 yet, it’s still my best and favorite event,” Swan said. AJ W*' I - ’■* **t#*2” Freshman Benjamin Swan has impressed in the As a four-time state champion for South Albany High School in Oregon, Swan was a highly sought-after recruit. Swan said he chose to come to Texas A&M because of the friendly people and the great atmosphere. Even though he felt overwhelmed at first, Swan said he has adjusted well to the MIKE FUENTES/The Battalion water as well as in the classroom this year. new environment. However, one of the things he misses most about Oregon is the mountains. “I really enjoy mountain biking and hunting as my other hobbies,” he said. With three more years of competition ahead for him, Swan has a tremendous chance to become one of A&M’s best. Rockets fall to Nets in overtime EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Houston Rockets were dis tracted, dismayed and on edge. Sur prisingly, they still managed to play a competitive game. On a day of swirling trade rumors involving a proposed deal that would sent Damon Stoudamire to the Rockets, the New Jersey Nets made matters worse for Houston as Jayson Williams had 25 points and 19 rebounds Wednesday night in a 117-112 overtime victory. “It was like a morgue in here tonight,” Charles Barkley said. “It’s been a crazy day for the team, the team is kind of in shock. It’s a tough situation right now. One of the most difficult situations I’ve ever had to play in.” He said it was something that could not be put aside. “They are miserable,” Kevin Willis said of the team. “I hate to see that because I give my all, Tm very dedicated, I’m a fighter and a team player and I enjoy this group of guys. Hopefully I’ll continue to.” The overtime loss brought a dis appointing finish to a day most of the Rockets would rather forget. < Rumors ran rampant that the Rockets were ready to pull the trig ger on a trade that would have sent Willis, Mario Elie and another player — Matt Maloney, Brent Price or Emanuel Davis — to the Raptors for Stoudamire, Walt Williams and Zan Tabak. “No question it was very diffi cult to come out and play,” Mal oney said. “This has been a long day for a lot of us, there has been a lot of anticipation.” Duncan, Purdue lead Spurs to win SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Will Per due tied his career-high with 19 points and had 14 rebounds, leading the San Antonio Spurs past the At lanta Hawks 90-76Wednesday night. The Spurs scored on their first five possessions for a 10-0 lead. Tim Duncan had 23 points and David Robinson 12 as San Antonio won for the 18th time in 21 games. Eldridge Recasner had 16 points for the Hawks, who shot only 35.1 percent. Steve Smith added 13 points, but shot 4-for-12.Duncan scored 11 points in the first quar ter as the Spurs took a 27-12 lead. Atlanta hit on only 11 of 37 shots in the first half and trailed 50-30 at the break. Getting his first start of the sea son, Perdue scored seven points in the third quarter and helped San Antonio take a 76-46 lead. The Hawks went on a 22-4 run to start the fourth period and closed to 80-68 with 4:07 to play on a basket by Anthony Miller. ,S PHI BETA LAMBDA PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS FRATERNITY RUSH SPRING 1998 O an. 26 informational - 8 PM-10 PM U MSC 206 in. 28 Bowling Social - 7 PM-9 PM MSC Basement ((fcn. 31 Square Dance - 5:30 PM-8 PM Still Creek Boys Ranch Feb. 2 * Speaker - 7:30 PM-9 PM Wehner 118 Feb. 4 Billiard Social - 7 PM-9 PM Yesterday’s * Professional attire required Don’t Walk WELCOME BACK CO-OP STUDENTS! cW l /f n °r Tues., Jan. 27 6:30-7:30 PM 209 Koldus (Career Center) All Co-op Students are Invited to Attend Texas A&M Office of Cooperative Education ■ 209 Koldus ■ 845-7725 i ctiaf 7"LJni\s&rsity Dri\/& bn visit our web sit& http://www.howdyags.eom SCIENCE WED Jan 28 THU Jan 29 CHEM 4-6 CH CH |l07 PM 1,2 3 RHYS 6-8 CH CH 202 PM 24, 25A 25B CHEM 8-10 CH CH |l02 PM 15A 15B PHYS 10 PM- CH CH 208 MID 23 24 BUSINESS MON Jan 26 TUE Jan 27 ACCT 8-11 FSA FSA 230 PM PRAC PROB PRAC PROB ACC1 f 230 -- Come either day!! WED THU Jan 28 Jan 29 FINC 8-10 CH CH 341 PM 2 3 For the following classes check the website: CHEM 101, RHYS 201, and RHYS 218 THURSDAY, JAN. 22 nd LADIES ONLY ALL MALE REVUE DOORS OPEN AT 7PM • SHOW 8 - 10PM MUST BE 18 YRS. OR OLDER AT 10PM THE DOORS OPEN FOR THE MEN HAPPY HOUR 10 - CLOSE • $2.50 DRAFT BEER TICKETS TO TONIGHT’S EVENT AVAILABLE ONLY AT THE HALL, STARTING AT 7PM FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 822-2222