In Katy Taylor’s second swim meet of the season, the Mustangs hosted Stratford Thursday evening. It was the Spartans’ first dual meet after their annual Green vs. Gold meet last week. With 24 events on the Meet Program, the competition began.

The girls started the competition in the 200 Yard Medley Relay. Stratford’s team of Jakarta Ayers, Lilly Marrow, Kara Parker, and Katherine MacLean worked well together, taking first place. Stratford’s Hunter Bayley, Marlon Bishop, Michael Bishop, and Andrew Weikel swam the relay in 1:40.72, fast enough for first place.

Stratford kept the first places coming. In the girls and boys 200 Yard Freestyle, Alex Prather swam a 2:25.34, MacLean swam a 2:03.24, John Hollywood swam a 2:12.33, and Kasey Bishop swam a 1:58.84.

The 200 Yard IM almost went to Stratford again as Casey Barton (2:44.43), Marrow (2:11.66), Patrick Reilly (2:27.53) all took first place for the Spartans. But Jonathon Ho swam a 2:08.00 for the Mustangs, giving them their first win of the night.

The girls of Stratford won the 50 Yard Freestyle with Becca Crider and Lauren McCleary, who swam a 26.03. And the boys of Taylor won with Zach Percoski swimming a 24.40 and Ryan Rucker swimming a 23.31.

Annie Tendall (1:16.74) and MacLean (1:04.11) took first for Stratford in the 100 Yard Butterfly. Matt Furman (1:05.72) and Michael Bishop (54.09) swam fast enough for Stratford for first place.

The 100 Yard Freestyle was won by Taylor’s Kelly Yu at 1:05.09, Taylor’s Christine Regone, Taylor’s Brad Roberson at 54.17 and Stratford’s Bayley at 48.42.

Caroline Eustice swam a 5:21.13 for Stratford in the 500 Yard Freestyle. Jake Blegen swam a 5:25.25 for Taylor in the same event, both fast enough for first.

Stratford won the girls and boys 200 Yard Freestyle Relay. In 1:44.67, Jenny Dye, McCleary, Parker, and Eustice swam as a team for the win. Weikel, Michael Bishop, Rob Chuchla, and Bayley swam a 1:29.39 for the win.

The 100 Yard Backstroke was won by Stratford’s Crider (1:18.10), Stratford’s Marrow, Stratford’s Bayley (53.66), and Taylor.

In the girls 100 Yard Breaststroke, Prather swam a 1:20.12 and Dye swam a 1:17.22, both for Stratford. For the boys, Stratford’s Reilly swam a 1:17.26 and Michael Bishop swam a 1:01.93. All four swimmers took first place.

Finishing out the night was the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay. The women of Stratford, MacLean, McCleary, Eustice, and Marrow swam a 3:47.28. The men of Taylor, Ho, Jimmy Rodriguez, Paul Welge, and Durgesh Das swam a 3:27.82.

“I’m pretty happy with how they’re swimming despite how tired they are. This time of year they are doing the base work it takes to have a good end of the season. So this is really the low point, energy wise, through the season. So I’m pretty happy with the speed they’re able to generate even though they’re this tired. So far that’s been pretty satisfying,” said Taylor’s head coach Rick Barker.

Up next for Taylor, and other Katy ISD swimmers, is a clinic hosted by Olympic Gold Medalist Ian Crocker.

“It’s not very often that an Olympic gold medalist comes through town. Even if they don’t learn anything, just the inspiration of being around somebody that is the best in the world at what they do. Kids need moments like that to inspire them. I do imagine they will learn something,” said Barker.

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