Crown Jewels of the Water

Caitlin Cavert, Booker T. Washington High School Caitlin Cavert is coming off a pair of individual titles as a senior at Booker T. Washington. Cavert captured top honors in both the 200 and 400 freestyle events at the Green Country Conference Championship. Cavert got her start at swimming at a very young age and has never looked back. It was her older brother, Matt, or as she likes to call him, "Big Fish", who first got her involved in the sport she now excels. And she plans on continuing her career in the water on the collegiate level at either the University of Arkansas or Henderson State University. "I learned to swim when I was two (thank you Coach Sellers!) and have loved to compete ever since," Cavert said. "I started swimming in high school my junior year after almost a three-year break and started competitive (USA Swimming) back up this year." Cavet's goals going into the state swim meet, which started on the third weekend of February, were to place in the top six in the 100 freestyle and finish in the top three in the 100 breaststroke. She already owns the Booker T. Washington Pool records in the 100 and 200 freestyle events, which she broke this year. But Cavert has been a top-notch competitor in every event. She has qualified in all individual events and all three relay events. Cavert has recorded 16 first-place finishes, two second-place finishes and finished third place twice during her senior year. "I've had great coaches that have really pushed me," she said. "Also, my love for competition really drives me to do my best." Sidebar What TV show can you not go without? I don't watch much TV, I could probably go without every show. What is your top choice of food prior to a swim meet? Annie's Sour Cream and Onion Bunnies. They're like goldfish, only they're all natural. What superstition do you have before getting into the water? I have to massage my arms before a race, right arm first then the left. Who would be your dream date? This question is going to get me into trouble. What was your favorite toy or stuffed animal as a child? I had this stuffed lamb that I called Lamby. Who is your favorite musical group or artist? I like any kind of music I can dance and sing to. What is your favorite thing to read? I like murder mystery or romance. Who is your favorite professional swimmer or athlete? I don't really have one. What is your preferred subject in school? Physiology/Anatomy and Spanish 5 Rachel Bailey, Union High School To get involved in swimming was a natural choice for Rachel Bailey. The junior started swim lessons at the age of three, competed in her first park and recreational meet at age five, and has since never looked back. She would begin competitive swimming at age eight, and currently she holds school records in two events at Union. "I participated in many different sports and each time my parents asked me to pick which one I wanted to compete in and I kept picking swimming," Bailey said. Bailey recorded a school-best time of 1:10.51 in short-course meters for the 100 butterfly, and finished with a 1:01.12 in yards. Her school records for the backstroke are 1:10.66 (meters) and 1:02.40 (yards). She is also part of two record-breaking relay events. Bailey has also made an impact at previous state meets during her freshman and sophomore years. She finished fourth in both the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly as a freshman. During her sophomore season, Bailey came in third place in the 100 backstroke and registered a fourth-place finish in the 100 butterfly. She hoped to improve on those finishes at this year's state meet. "I want to set new personal bests in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke," she said. Bailey insists that she enjoys the medley relay event where can compete with her teammates. "Swimming the medley relay at state as a freshman with my friends, that I've swam with for a very long time, is something I will never forget," she said. Sidebar What TV show can you not go without? House and America's Next Top Model What is your top choice of food prior to a swim meet? Greek Pasta Salad and Sushi What was your favorite toy or stuffed animal as a child? Barbie Who is your favorite musical group or artist? Queen and The Beatles What is your favorite thing to read? The Chosen by Chaim Potok Who is your favorite professional swimmer or athlete? Jenny Thompson What is your preferred subject in school? Anatomy/Physciology Whitley Taylor, Jenks High School Jenks has as much tradition as any school in the state when it comes to swimming, having won four state championships in the last six years and eight overall. Whitley Taylor is another individual who fits right in with a long list of past Jenks' standouts. She is the top performer on this side of the state and entered this year's state meet with one more go-around against Edmond Memorial's Samantha Woodward, who currently holds five state records. Although Taylor has placed individual goals for herself, she has put a bigger demand on more team-oriented goals heading into this year's state meet. "I would like to win an individual title and post my best times, but my first goal would be for the girls' team to win a state championship," she said. Taylor has been nothing short of spectacular throughout her high school career at Jenks. She is an All-American in the 50 freestyle event, after recording a time of 0:23.91 as a junior. She finished third in the same event as a freshman, and was second during her sophomore year. Her personal best in the 100 butterfly is a 0:58.37, an event she finished second in during both her sophomore and junior years. Taylor, who will continue her swimming career at Emory University (Atlanta) next year, is also a standout in the classroom where she posts a 4.0 GPA. She says that being involved with a top-notch program like Jenks has made her become what she has. "I don't know if I really have an advantage over the other swimmers except for the fact that I am involved in a great program with lots of tradition," she said. "My favorite memory is winning state my freshman year. It was fun to carry on the tradition that past swimmers set." Sidebar What TV show can you not go without? Grey's Anatomy What is your top choice of food prior to a swim meet? Pasta What superstition do you have before getting into the water? Listening to music. Who would be your dream date? Gary Hall Jr. What was your favorite toy or stuffed animal as a child? I had a blanket that I took everywhere. Who is your favorite musical group or artist? Rascal Flatts What is your favorite thing to read? Grapes of Wrath Who is your favorite professional swimmer or athlete? I don't really have one. What is your preferred subject in school? Math/Science Kristi Augustine, Bixby High School Chosen as Mazzio's Female Athlete of the Month for March, Kristi Augustine of Bixby High School was recently selected as Bixby's Outstanding New Swimmer. Augustine, who is captain of the girls' varsity swim team, received Tulsa All-Metro honors as a junior. Although she was involved in swimming at a younger age when she competed for the YMCA Barracudas and the Tiger Sharks, Augustine didn't start swimming on the high school level until her junior year, something she regrets. "I didn't sign up for the Spartan swim team until my junior year, which is something I should have done way back in middle school," she said. But it didn't take long for Augustine to make a name for herself as she landed a spot at the state meet in her first year and even received a medal for her accomplishments. She says that it is the vigorous workouts that has helped her develop so rapidly. "It's probably all of the insane 9,000 meter practices that my wonderful coach (Stacy) Villucci has given that has helped me," Augustine said. Augustine went into this year's state meet with high hopes for her team and herself. "I want to help the team score as many points as possible," she said. "And I want to strive to place in the top eight in each event that I'm swimming in at state." Augustine, who is ranked near the top in the state in the 100 freestyle and in three relay events, has qualified for the state meet in the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay events. Sidebar What TV show can you not go without? Grey's Anatomy What is your top choice of food prior to a swim meet? Subway, turkey on wheat sandwich. Who would be your dream date? Johnny Depp What was your favorite toy or stuffed animal as a child? My doggie, Patches! He was a stuffed animal puppet and I still have him after seventeen years! Who is your favorite musical group or artist? Oh, Led Zeppelin! What is your favorite thing to read? I don't read much books, but every now and then I will pick up a mag. Who is your favorite professional swimmer or athlete? Michael Phelps, a.k.a. "Superman" What is your preferred subject in school? Math, yup I'm a nerd.