Most teams find their players at try-outs; the Panthers came together as a result of a personal phone call from a recruiter! Stephen Swift called all the homeschool boys he knew and asked if they would like to play basketball. Almost every boy he called was interested; we never even thought about having try-outs -- everyone who wanted to play was just on the team! And surprisingly enough, there was plenty of talent.
Aaron & Adam Patten came from New Braunfels to play on the team. Aaron is now a senior at SWT and is majoring in computer information systems. Adam is in his third year at West Point and runs track. When he completes his training at West Point, he will have a degree in engineering. His major is human regional geography.
Joshua Blake attended ACC for a while and is now working at Nike.He hopes to enter the Coast Guard soon.
Justin & Trevor McDermott came from Canyon to join the team. Justin is currently attending Howard Payne University where he is a senior. A business major, he has played basketball for HPU for the last four years. When he graduates this year, he plans to go to law school.Trevor spent his senior year in high school at Hill Country Christian School, where he joined Stephen Swift playing ball for the Rams. After graduating, he spent one year at HPU. He is currently working in New Braunfels and hopes to attend flight school soon.
Stephen Thatcher was a guest player on the Panthers on a several occasions. Stephen attended
Midland College for two years where he also played soccer. He is currently living in Kingsbury, and he is employed at Best Buy in Austin. Stephen hopes to attend UT or SWT to finish his degree in system management information.
Craig & Brian Dees moved to Washington where they currently live and work. Bubba Haluzan
still lives in the area and owns a lawn care business.
Stephen Swift lives in Kingsbury. He's "gone country" -- he hauls hay, does
ranch work for a retired rancher, and has plans to marry in June.
When Mona Dees and Alice Blake started the girl's team, the girls wanted their own team name; they chose "Spirit" because they envisioned the team being full of spirit & and; enthusiasm.
After two years, they voted to change the name to Panthers to have unity among the teams. Four of the original players had been watching and supporting Panther basketball from the very beginning because they had brothers playing: Stephanie Dees, Michal McDermott, Kristin Patten, and Aubrey Swift. Stephanie & Aubrey actually played with the boy's team on occasion.
Of the ten original members of the girl's basketball team,
only 2 of them stayed with the team until they graduated. These two were Kristin Patten and Aubrey Swift. Kristin graduated in 2001 and is attending SWT, majoring in voice performance. Aubrey graduated in 2000, spent 6 months on the mission field in Kenya, and is currently working full time while attending ACC. She has plans to attend LCU in the fall of 2002.
Stephanie Dees moved to Washington and is currently attending college there. Stephanie, always a good athlete, made the varsity volleyball team as an entering freshman.
Jenny Rector still lives in San Marcos and is attending SWT.Michal McDermott is playing ball for FEAST in San Antonio.
