Marlins host home meet

MEEKER | The Meeker Marlins hosted their first swim dual that the current team members have ever participated in. The Craig Sharks traveled south and it was a mixture of the older USA Swim Club and the Meeker Youth Swimming from Meeker. The kids were heated together and coach Jamie Bumgardner  said, “The older kids really inspired the younger kids to swim hard; Meeker youth swimmers came such a long way.”

Meeker Youth swimmers Lukas Coryell and Zeek Gianinetti participated in their first meet of the year, each earning ribbons. In the 25 butterfly Tucker Chinn from USA and Trent Sanders from Meeker Youth had their first opportunity to swim against each other in competition this year, pushing each other faster.

“The kids liked the relays the best,” said Bumgardner. “We didn’t have enough swimmers at any other meets for them to have one.” The 200 Individual Medley relay had the boys swimming against the girls and it was neck-in-neck until the end and they finished just one second apart.

Fletcher Chinn, 4, from the USA team, was the youngest participant at the meet from across all the teams. “He made the kids on the USA team more aware of how much they are looked up to by the younger kids,” Bumgardner said.

Judd Harvey, Hailey Knowles, and Addie Knowles earned all firsts in their home pool and cut times.

“Swimming is teaching these kids how to stay healthy and fit throughout their lives, but I think the most important thing is having fun so they continue to use and pass this skill on,” Bumgardner said.

The USA swim team has one final meet the weekend of Aug. 3. The summer swim club championships are a three-day meet and will be hosted by Ouray, Colorado.

By Tiffany Jehorek | Special to the Herald Times