6/3/2009 6:00:00 AM
New Dolphins thrown right in
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SHAWN BYRNE/Miner
Brady Cowin ,9, of the Kingman Dolphins swims the butterfly portion of the 200-meter individual medley Friday at Centennial Park. The Dolphins kicked off the summer season with the annual Blue and White Meet. |
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KINGMAN - It was about christening the newest members of the Kingman Dolphins Swim Team Friday at Centennial Park in the annual Blue and White Meet, as 24 newcomers combined with 37 returnees to begin the Dolphins summer season.
"It was exciting and everyone had fun," Dolphins' coach Beth Mathe said. "The new parents jumped in to help, and it was great to have everyone get along and participate."
Several of the new swimmers stood out for the Dolphins, including Sophia Depner, 10, and Victoria Depner, 10. "They seem to be taking off really well," Mathe said. "We've already moved them over from the new swimmer lanes. They are really getting it."
Joey Powell, 9, and Tyler Powell, 11, did well in their first meet in Mathe's eyes. Overall, Mathe was left impressed with all the new swimmers on the team.
"They are all doing really well," Mathe said. "For all of them to jump in and swim 50 meters was a big shock to them. We hadn't done that yet."
Jacob Geesey, 9, is another newcomer to the Dolphins and he swam the 50 freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke in his first meet.
"I was nervous," Jacob said. "It was my first meet racing in front of all these people."
Jacob said he's looking forward to improving as the summer progresses. "By my second or third time, I'll be better then I am now," Jacob said. "I want to learn more and be a better swimmer."
Bryce Jones, 12, returned to the Dolphins after taking a two-year break from swimming. Bryce said she missed being a part of the team and had a lot of fun while relearning some things she had forgotten like getting off the block quickly.
"And not missing an event," Bryce said. "I've already made that mistake, but they waited for me."
Mathe said Bryce is just one second off of a state qualifying time in the 50 freestyle, three seconds off in the 50 butterfly and two seconds off of the 50 breaststroke despite being out for a while.
"Bryce's times are right where they need to be," Mathe said. "She's got some possibilities of being a state qualifier and having not swum in a while makes that a good thing."
The Dolphins will spit into two squads as Mathe takes the veterans to Flagstaff Saturday and Sunday for the Beat the Heat Invitational. Garrett Newberry, 9, is the only newcomer scheduled to swim in Flagstaff.
"Garrett's had a couple of decent swims, so he's going to give it a try," Mathe said.
Coach Michael Perrine will take the newcomers to Bullhead City for a head-to-head meet against Bullhead.
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