HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: A daughter's tale

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By Samantha Fults, East Buchanan freshman

WINTHROP - Mindy Fults is an astounding person.

She once held a record at Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids in the 100-yard breaststroke for 15 years. It was one of the oldest records at Jefferson, broken in 2003.

In the year 1988, Fults was in her senior year at Jefferson. She had been swimming year-round for a few years so she was in very good shape. Her PE teachers often commented that when she was running it looked like she would much rather be in the pool.

She almost set the record during her sophomore season the, as expected, broke the record in the fall of 1988 with a time of 1 minute, 12 seconds.

Fifteen years later in 2003, Fults got an email noting a freshman would probably break her record at the first home swim meet. She thought it would be fun to see the record fall, so she packed up her family of five and took them to the meet. Fults said the memories were overwhelming as she walked into the pool area - all the smells, sights and sounds.

She was excited to see her former swim coach had come to the meet, too.

When it came time for the varsity 100-yard breaststroke, she watched freshman Ashley Mangrich shatter her record by almost four seconds. The meet was delayed so Mangerich could take down the record. It also was announced that the former record holder was watching.

Fults, my mother, went down to the side of the pool to congratulate Mangrich on her accomplishment and was informed Mangrich was born the year Fults set the record.

It definitely made the former record holder feel old, but also proud of holding her record for so long.