Freeport, Illinois — Today is the last day for 11 year old Myah Mathews and 10 year old Jada Veer at the girls 2018 Long Course Summer State Championship in Pleasant Prairie.
Myah Mathews just seeded in prelims for 15th place in the 100 Butterfly with a 4 second time drop. She will swim it again this evening, with Jada cheering her in from the sidelines. That will close out State, and then they head home to rest up for this coming week.
August 2nd through the 5th, both girls compete at the Central Zone 14 & Under Age Group Championship Meet in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The girls will be coached and swimming under Team Illinois, against state teams from Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, and Oklahoma. Both girls are swimming butterfly strokes of course, and their events will be finalized at the close of State today.
As a side note, we’re told these two ladies are the best of friends and call each other sisters. Everyone else calls Myah and Jada Coach Mikes “ducklings”, as they are said to follow him wherever he goes in deck, carrying his clipboard and generally helping him out.
“They have been coach by Mike for 3 to 4 years, and all of this success is in part due to him, Katie Unger told us. “Team FAST has the best coach ever”, she added.
“The last time FAST had a state champion was Mike himself. He swam for FAST many a years ago, so it was very fitting he was the one the place the medal on Jada’s neck yesterday.”
FAST has been around for over 50 years. Unger says Mike’s Mom Diane Regan swam for 15 years and then coached for another 20+ years. Mike himself swam for 15 years, and has coached for past 5 years she told us.
“He is DEARLY cherished, and maybe one day he will lead these girls to coach the team as well.”
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