Sydney Lofquist Brings Possible NCAA Qualifying as a Freshman to USC (SwimSwam.com) Sydney Lofquist of the Mason Manta Rays near Cincinnati, Ohio has verbally committed to the USC Trojans. Lofquist excels in many different events, but generally speaking is a classic “tough event” swimmer. The events in which she was at least Winter Nationals cuts are: 500 free – 4:42.28 1000 free – 9:56.05 1650 free – 16:44.67 200 fly – 1:59.44 200 IM – 2:00.13 400 IM – 4:10.90 USC has had a few All-American type swimmers in the...

Power of Sports Nutrition GROUPS INVITED: Senior 1, Senior 2, & High Performance Swimmers AND Parents (another nutrition talk for the other groups is coming!) WHEN: TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1 from 6:00-7:00 PM WHERE: MASON HIGH SCHOOL COMMONS (JUST OUTSIDE THE POOL DECK) COST: FREE Sports Nutrition can enhance performance up to 15%! Learn the top tips to maximize your efforts! SPEAKER: Dawn Weatherwax-Fall RD, CSSD, LD, ATC, CSCS Dawn Weatherwax-Fall is a Registered/Licensed Dietitian with a specialty in Sports Nutrition and Founder of Sports Nutrition 2Go. She is also...

Qualifying time standards for the 2016 Olympic Trials were announced Thursday, September 18, at 2 p.m. EDT, via a live webcast from the United States Aquatic Sports Convention in Jacksonville, Florida. It can be viewed via usaswimming.org/trials. Zoe Thatcher and Sydney Lofquist both earned an opportunity to compete for a spot on Team USA based on performances from this past summer. Manta Ray alum Dani Barbiea (University of Missouri) will also join Thatcher and Lofquist at the meet. http://www.usaswimming.org/_Rainbow/Documents/45272d69-b6df-4896-9d0c-8b703312df2d/TrialsQualifyingTimes.pdf USA Swimming, in collaboration with the United States Olympic Committee and...

Dear Fellow Manta Rays, Chris and Donna Lebling are proud owners of FRESH COAT of West Chester and Mason!! FRESH COAT is focused on “raising the bar” on professionalism in the Painting Industry. As a result, FRESH COAT Painting has become the largest and most respected painting company in North America. FRESH COAT is always looking for new opportunities to give something back to our community and we are proud to contribute and support the Manta Rays in this way. It’s quick and easy to raise funds for the Mason...

Congratulations to Manta Rays Sydney Lofquist and Justin Hove for earning USA Swimming Scholastic All-American Honors for the 2013-2014 academic year. To earn this honor swimmers must meet the following requirements set forth by USA Swimming. • GPA Requirement – minimum 3.5 GPA for the current academic year. o The Scholastic All America committee members will calculate the GPA based on SAA methods. o Honors, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate courses will earn one extra Grade Point. o Grades for academic subjects only are calculated – history/social studies, English, mathematics,...

NEW PARENT MEETING: THURSDAY (TIME CHANGE 7:30-8:30 @ SENIOR CENTER) After the spirit wear and team gear sale tomorrow (4:30-7:15 pm TV Lounge Area), new parents are encouraged to send at least one parent to a new parent meeting. The meeting will be in the Senior Center close Kids Korner at the community center from 7:30-8:30 p.m. This meeting will cover many of the team policies and procedures as well as instructions on how to use the web site. For a summary of the topics that will be covered can...

Dear Manta Rays, Welcome to the new swim season! Tuesday, 9/16, we have a couple of changes to the swim practice schedule due to a home water polo match. 9/16 - High Performance/Senior 1/Imagination 1/Challenge 1 will have normal practice times Senior 2: 4:15-6 pm dryland only /Challenge 2 will be dryland only practices during the times coach Katie already emailed out. Thank you for understanding. We try to cancel as few practices as possible throughout the year. Coach Ken

Manta Rays, The 2014-15 swim season is getting ready to begin. Remember that workouts for High Performance and Senior 2 begin Monday, September 8. All other groups will begin the week of September 15. Please make sure that all swimmers have athletic shoes, shorts/sweatpants, and t-shirt for dryland. GO RAYS!

The Mason Community Center will once again be the site for the Jose Cerda Swim Clinic. The date is October 26, 2014. Registration is open - please click on the link for more information and to register for this special event. Jose Cerda Swim Clinic Information

Mason Manta Rays Championship Wrap-up July 11-13 the 14 and under Manta Rays kicked off the long course Championship season by sending over 130 swimmers to the 2014 South Regional Championships at Keating. The RAYS finished the meet with 444 best times. Manta Rays finishing in the Top 3 were: Magen Kelley (100 BR 2nd, 200 BR 3rd), Luis Carrillo (100 BR 3rd), Levi Shooner (50 BR 1st, 100 BR 1st, 200 IM 2nd, 200 FR 1st), Mia Lee (100 FR 2nd, 100 BK 2nd), Nicky Diangelo (100 FR 2nd,...