Dolphin-Lasers well represented at the Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame Banquet

ASI SWIMMING HALL OF FAME  BANQUET      

The Dolphin-Lasers were well represented this year at the Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame. This year two outstanding people were inducted into the Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame,

Mary Dawn Blair and Neka Mabry

Mary Dawn Blair

Mary Dawn Blair has dedicated the past 30 years to Arkansas

swimming. For those 30 years, there was hardly a swim meet in Little

Rock in which she did not serve a role. Most meets, she was the official

head of Colorado Timing systems but would also serve roles as meet

director, hospitality coordinator, and awards coordinator. Mary Dawn

was not only involved on the team level but also active in Arkansas

Swimming as the awards chair, top 16 chair, and acting as a board

member for many years. Mary Dawn was also know for running Paul

Blair & Associates, the swim merchandising retail business, that served

swimmers throughout the region for over 15 years. For the past

decade, she has been the head coach for the Mount Saint Mary

Academy Belles, winning the state title in the 2006-2007 school year

and being named Arkansas High School Coach of the Year. Perhaps

most notably, Mary Dawn was known as the motherly figure for

swimmers across the nation. Whether it was zone qualifiers throughout

the state that she chaperoned, one of the numerous high school and

collegiate athletes who lived with the Blair family throughout the years,

or the many state swimming families who simply enjoyed her home

cooked meals, Mary Dawn left a loving and caring impact on all swim

families who had the pleasure to meet her.

Neka Lynette Mabry

Neka Mabry began swimming at the age of ten as a Little Rock

Laser Swim Team member in 1992. Under the direction of Coach Tay

Stratton, she became the 11-12 year old ASI Swimmer of the Year in

1995 after setting Top 16 and LSC records in the 50 meter and 50 yard

freestyle. She also set State and LSC records in the 50 yard

backstroke, 100 yard freestyle, 100 yard breaststroke, and 50 yard

freestyle. Shortly after, Neka achieved the second fastest time in the

nation as a 14 year old in the 50 yard freestyle.

Neka’s swim records as a LRAC Laser team member continued

throughout high school. She was recognized as the ASI

1996 Swimmer of the Year, ASI 1997 Female Swimmer of the Year,

ASI 1997 Swimmer of the Year, ASI 1998 Swimmer of the Year, ASI

1999 Swimmer of the Year, ASI 2000 15-18 Female Swimmer of the

Year and ASI 2000 Female Swimmer of the Year. In 1997 Neka

achieved both State and LSC records in the 50 yard freestyle, 100 yard

backstroke and 200 yard IM. She was a member of the 1997 200 yard

freestyle relay which set a State record and the 200 yard medley relay

that set an LSC record. The following year, Neka posted Top 16 times

in the 50 yard and 50 meter freestyle, as well as in 1998. Top 16 times

in the 50 yard, 100 yard free, 100 yard back, 200 yard IM, 100 yard

breast, and 100 yard fly were achieved in 1999. She swam as a

Central High School Tiger and also set Arkansas State High School

Records in the 50 yard freestyle, 100 yard freestyle, 100 yard

backstroke and 200 yard IM. Neka was selected to attend the

1997 and 1998 Speedo/USS National Select Camp at the Olympic

Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1998 and 1999, she

qualified for both Junior and Senior National Championships. Neka was

the Speedo Southeast Junior Championship High Point Award winner in

1999. She also qualified for the 2000 US Olympic Team Trials held in

Indianapolis, IN.

As one of the most heavily recruited high school swimmers from

Arkansas, Neka choose to attend the University of Georgia and became a

Lady Bulldog under Head Coach Jack Bauerle in the summer of 2000.

During her a freshman year, Neka contributed to the 2001 NCAA

National Championship team by competing in two individual events and

swimming on the 200 yard and 400 yard freestyle relays. The 200 yard

relay team gave the Lady Bulldogs their slimmest margin of victory for

the NCAA Championship title and Neka was a member of the relay. She

was also the 2001 SEC 100 yard backstroke Champion. Neka achieved

numerous successes as a college swimmer. She was a Letterman winner

2001-2004, an All SEC Swim Team member in 2001, and All American

2001-2004. Neka swam as a member of numerous championship

winning and record setting relay teams. NCAA, American, US Open and

SEC records were achieved by the relay teams throughout her collegiate

career. Neka was also a member of the relay team in 2004 which set a

World Record in the 200 short course meter freestyle relay. She

achieved SEC Top Ten times in the 100 yard backstroke, 200 yard

backstroke, 200 yard IM, 50 yard freestyle, and 100 yard freestyle.

Neka graduated from the University of Georgia in 2005 with a

degree in Fashion Merchandising and is currently working as a personal

stylist for Nordstrom.

Alsothe following Dolphin- Lasers were recognized as the

Arkansas Swimmers of the year

Short Course 2008-2009

10 & U Jordan Sweet

11-12 Shelby Burleson

13-14 Jessie Garrison

10 & U Thomas Heye

13-14 Ravi Sun

Long Course 2009

10 & U Jordan Sweet

11-12 Shelby Burleson

13-14 Jessie Garrison

10 & U Thomas Heye

11-12 Blair Bish

13-14 Ravi Sun

Short Course 2009-2010

11-12   Jordan Sweet

13-14   Jessie Garrison

11-12   Blair Bish

13-14   Blake McCauley

15-18   Eric Zheng

Besides Swimmer of the year the following Dolphin-Lasers were recognized for their outstanding results in Distant Swimming:

Tim Barnett for the                    Age Group Heil Mile Award

Jessie Garrison for the Age Group Heil Mile Award

Chris Jacobsen for the Senior Division Heil Mile Award

Two of our adults won the following awards:

Jeff Bish as the             Connoco Phillips Volunteer of the Year Award

And Tay Stratton as the             Arkansas Coach of the Year Award

One of the highest recognitions of the night went to:

Jessie Garrison: as the Overall Arkansas Female Swimmer of the Year

Congratulations to our two inductees and all our athletes for all of their great accomplishments.