ABOUT STEVE

Steve Prentice, a record-breaker with a mean backstroke, became one of the Southwest Conference’s most accomplished swimmers to ever dive into the sport.

The Pasadena native grew up down the street from Strawberry Park where he and his family spent many days enjoying an occasional dip in the pool. Little did he realize, these leisurely swims would one day manifest into a love of the sport. By freshman year at South Houston High School, Steve began swimming under the direction of coaching legend Lanny Landtroop where he earned high school All-American as a four-year letter and he was named Outstanding Swimmer in District 27-4A as a senior. Some of his brightest moments included winning the 100-yard backstroke and the 200-meter at the district meet. He eventually qualified for the state meet and finished third in the backstroke.

Steve continued making a splash in the sport of swimming while attending Texas A&M University.

The 6’ 2”, 192 lbs college standout was a “diamond in the rough” recruit for the Aggies, who had normally signed swimmers from California and other parts of the country known for elite high school programs. Under the helm of legendary college swimming coach Melvin “Pat” Patterson, Steve made waves immediately after joining the team in 1971, setting school records in the 100 backstroke (54.4), the 200 backstroke (1:59.2) and the 200 individual medley (2:01.3). He qualified for the NCAA meet in both backstroke events, in addition to qualifying for the Pan American Games trials in the 100 backstroke

Steve, who had barely gotten his feet wet in collegiate competitive swimming, had already broken his own school records in the 100 backstroke (53.8) and the 200 backstroke (1:58.6). He contributed to the 400 medley relay and 800 free relay teams that also set school records. Steve finished second at the Southwest Conference Swimming meet in four events, setting the stage for bigger things his final two years of college.

By the time he became an upperclassman at A&M, he was not just reaching for his goals, he was reaching for the SWC crown.

In 1973, Steve would go on to win the 100 backstroke at the Southwest Conference Swimming meet, finishing second in the 200 backstroke, breaking his own record in the process (1:58.2). He also broke his own record in the 200 IM (2:01.2) and contributed to a relay team that set a new school record. His senior year at A&M, he had captured the Southwest Conference title in both backstroke events.