Fifteen members of the Ventura County Masters swim team competed against nearly 2,000 of the best swimmers in the nation at the 2008 United States Masters National Short Course Swimming Championships in Austin, Texas.

Competing in the University of Texas' indoor natatorium where numerous NCAA championships and the 1988 Olympic Trials have been held, VCM won nine individual national titles and brought home 58 total medals (awarded to top-10 finishers in each event).

The meet was one of the fastest on record with more than 130 national standards being lowered during the four-day meet.

Jim McConica added to his Hall of Fame résumé with three titles in the men's 55-59 division: 200 backstroke (2 minutes, 12.49 seconds), 500 freestyle (5:07.16) and 1,650 freestyle (17:33.55).

Mike Shaffer won two events in the men's 40-44 age group: 200 butterfly (1:54.01) and 1,650 freestyle (16:24.23). Larry Raffaelli stroked to two gold medals in the 200 backstroke (2:39.27) and 1,650 freestyle (21:14.63) in the men's 65-69 division.

Picking up their first USMS national titles were Leslie Hardt in the women's 55-59 age group: 200 backstroke (2:47.93) and Nadean Hudson in the women's 40-44 division: 200 breast stroke (2:35.92). Hudson's first national title came after a 20-plus year break from her elite-level competitive swimming days as an age grouper with Buenaventura Swim Club.

Four VCM swimmers picked up six silver medals with two going to Lee Anne Ghimenti in the women's 35-39 division: 500 freestyle (5:37.64) and 1,650 freestyle (19:26.51); two to Leslie Hardt: 50 and 100 backstrokes (33.42 and 1:14.50); and one to McConica: 200 freestyle (1:54.58) and one to Raffaelli: 50 backstroke (32.07). Earning bronze medals were McConica: 400 individual medley (4:48.10); Raffaelli: 100 backstroke (1:11.25); Hubie Kerns in the men's 55-59 age group: 50 breast stroke (30.04); and the men's 55 and older: 200 medley relay of McConica, Kerns, John Derr and Glenn Gruber.

Numerous other top swims were turned in by VCM swimmers including the following:

- Stacey Warmuth (women's 50-54) — six top 10 swims; 50 butterfly (29.92), 50 backstroke (:31.22), 200 IM (2:28.77).

- Martin Armstrong (men's 35-39) — 100 butterfly (56.92), 100 IM (:58.55).

- Chris Cooper (men's 40-44) — 100 and 200 breast stroke (1:03.78; 2:21.86), 100 IM (59.85).

- Kurtis Baron (men's 40-44) — 50 and 100 breast stroke (29.75; 1:04.86), 1,000 freestyle (11:07.51).

- Steve Wantz (men's 45-49) — 100 and 200 freestyle (53.45; 1:59.67), 100 butterfly (1:01.95).

- Michael Blatt (men's 50-54) — 100 and 200 freestyle (50.59; 1:54.29), 100 breast stroke (1:07.48).

- Glenn Gruber (men's 55-59) — 100/200/500 freestyle (55.80; 2:06.03; 5:47.48).

- John Derr (men's 55-59) — 100 and 200 breast stroke (1:08.98; 2:33.50), 100 butterfly (1:01.44).

- Hubie Kerns (men's 55-59) — 100 and 200 breast stroke (1:08.02; 2:32.28), 100 IM (1:02.81).

- Nadean Hudson (women's 40-44) — five top 5 swims; 100 breast stroke (1:11.73), 100/200/400 IMs (1:05.17; 2:23.47; 5:06.30).

- Mike Shaffer (men's 40-44) — five top 10 swims; 100 butterfly (51.51), 200 freestyle (1:47.06), 400 IM (4:21.20).

VCM scored 349 points to place 19th out of 197 teams. VCM swimmers train at the Ventura Aquatic Center under the direction of Jason York.