FAST was formed in 1989 when the Fort Worth Water Works (FWWW) merged with the Tarrant County Aquatics Team (TCAT) which started as the Fort Worth Swim Club (FWSC). FWSC was formed in 1975 when Ft. Worth parents appealed to Richard Quick of the Dallas Swim Club to help start a team in Ft Worth. The clubs incorporated in October 1976 as the Dallas-Ft. Worth Swim Team.

But in May 1977 they dissolved and the FWSC began to compete independently. The team produced five TAGS champions, 28 state record holders, one Southwestern Swimming record holder, one AAU national finalist, and six swimmers in the national Top 25. In 1978, the team placed fourth at TAGS short course, set one state record, and produced two AAU Senior National qualifiers. The team placed ninth at the TAGS long course championship and produced several AAU Senior and Junior National qualifiers. In 1980, the team was again ninth at TAGS, produced three swimmers in the national Top 25 and had two Junior National Olympic qualifiers.

In 1980, TCAT held a celebrity relay. Bill Kelly was the master of ceremonies and Woody Woods the starter. Sponsors for the event included Jack Williams Chevrolet, Charlie Hillard Ford, Pulliam Pools, Johnny Rutherford Inc., Linda and Bill Strassburger, and Boswell Flowers.

In 1981, FWWW was formed. The team had seven national zone qualifiers and placed 13th at TAGS. Alan Lake was a two-time Junior Olympic champion and still holds the 100-meter butterfly record. Todd Witherington was a TAGS long course high point scorer. In 1988, the team sent five swimmers to Junior Nationals and placed 26th overall.

At TAGS, TCAT had been selected "most spirited team" and placed 3rd, 5th, and 8th. In April 1984, they finished in 8th place at Junior Nationals. Jeanne Doolan turned in a first place finish and the team was selected as "most spirited". At Senior Nationals, Jeanne placed sixth. In 1984, TCAT had 170 swimmers and swam at TWC, TCJC/Northwest Campus, UTA, and Sprauge.

When FAST was formed, the club moved to our current home pool (Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center). Since its inception, FAST has produced a seventh place finish at the Texas Age Group Swimming (TAGS) Championships and a sixth place finish at the Texas Senior Circuit Championships. FAST swimmers have competed in Junior Nationals and Alan Lake raced in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Trials (100 fly).

FAST changed its name to "Fort Worth Area Swim Team" from "Fort Worth / Arlington Swim Team" in May, 1996. The name change was to more accurately reflect the FAST membership and to also denote a stronger tie to the Fort Worth I.S.D. (owners and operators of our home pool).

In 2000, FAST brought home a 9th place banner from Short-Course TAGS for the first time in many years. FAST swimmers competed in short- and long-course Junior Nationals. 12-year-old Dana Vollmer qualified for the Spring Senior Nationals and the Olympic Trials in the 100 Butterfly, breaking several National Age Group, Texas State, and North Texas LSC records.

During 2001, FAST produced a 6th place finish at the Texas Senior Circuit Championships (USA Swimming Sectionals) meet. Dana Vollmer qualified in the 100 Butterfly and our women qualified a 400 Free Relay for both spring and summer Senior Nationals. Dana Kizer qualified in the 50 Free for the summer Senior Nationals. Five of our swimmers were selected for the Southern Zones Age Group championships North Texas team. Dana finished 3rd in the 100 Fly at Senior Nationals and was selected to represent the United States at the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia. Dana Vollmer broke the National Age Group Record in the 13-14 Girls 100 Fly at Kerr-McGee. By the end of the year, FAST team records had been broken 174 times, with North Texas LSC records broken 18 times and Texas State records bettered 5 times.

Our team continued to improve in 2002. At the summer National Championships we had two individual qualifiers (Dana Vollmer, Amanda Blevins) and qualified "A" and "B" Women's 400 Free Relay, 800 Free Relay and 400 Medley Relay teams. Dana Vollmer was selected for the 2003 Pan-Am Games national team. Ron Cowen represented Bermuda at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Five FAST swimmers represented North Texas at the Southern Zones Age Group Championships.

At the 2003 Pan-Am Games, Dana Vollmer set 3 Pan-Am Games records and won 3 gold medals. Ron Cowen was named to Bermuda's Pan-Am and World Championship teams.

2004 saw FAST's Dana Vollmer qualify for the USA Olympic Team to go to Athens, Greece in the individual 200 meter Freestyle and the 4x200 meter Free Relay. She made the team with her first-place finish at the Olympic Trials in the 200 Free. Dana qualified for Trials in 6 events and also had a 5th place finish in the 100 meter Fly. She is FAST's first Olympian. At Athens, Dana improved her best times to finish 6th in the 200 meter Freestyle and was part of the Women's 4x200-meter Free Relay which shattered a 17-year-old World Record en route to an Olympic Gold Medal.

See our FAST Document Archives for our Team Records.