Bay County Relays: Young swimmers get first taste of pool

PANAMA CITY BEACH — A relaxed atmosphere at the Aquatic Center at Frank Brown Park was nothing but serious for some young swimmers.

The first meet of the season was held there on Thursday, with 16 events, including some mixed-gender relays. Mosley’s teams won the boys, girls and overall titles, which was expected. Many veteran swimmers took the meet in stride, but for a many more it was their first time in the pool in an organized event.

“This meet’s not serious, but the swimmers are in the pool and the races have meaning because they are going against each other,” Mosley coach Sue Cottrill said. “In this kind of meet you just want to see them get in the pool and evaluate.”

Cottrill said coaches can see minor details in competition that they can’t see in practice. Though it was for fun, there wasn’t a laid-back approach until the final relay.

“You see things in their strokes when the adrenaline is there,” Cottrill said. “And it’s easier because instead of 60 kids in the pool you only have up to eight.”

Mosley has the largest team among county schools. But the three others also have first-time swimmers who, for lack of a better term, needed to get their feet wet.

“The first meet opens their eyes a little to what high school swimming is about,” Arnold coach Michael McMullan said. “A lot of these kids have swam with clubs and stuff, but you never know until they jump into the water.”

McMullan said the meet is a good start for his seven freshmen, which includes four girls.

“I told them this is just like missing a practice,” McMullan said. “So go out there and see what you can do.”

Bay coach Sarah Guillot agreed, saying her advice to the swimmers, young and old, is to simply finish the race.

“This is huge for a beginner in the pool, there’s not so much pressure,” Guillot said. “You just want them to get to the wall and not get disqualified.”

Even with less pressure, Guillot noted some of her youthful swimmers were nervous before competing. She said that kind of excitement will fade in time.

Rutherford coach Jennifer Morgan said it was nice to see all of her swimmers excited, especially the inexperienced athletes. She said no matter what was on the line, the goal was to win and that sets the stage for the start of a long season.

“The biggest thing they get out of it is the competition, the fire gets lit,” Morgan said. “And by having fun they still gain valuable experience.”

Morgan said the meet served as a chance to get used to lining up on the blocks in a competitive situation, where judges were meticulous on the rules.

“Meets give you a good breadth of stuff,” Morgan said. “You get used to the meet processes, your teammates, getting on the blocks and that’s the best thing about a meet like this.”

The county teams reconvene at the Aquatic Center on Thursday for the Bay County Pentathlon.