PICKENS — The Pickens County YMCA Piranhas Swim Team “churned up the waters” recently by winning a home swim meet against four other Upstate YMCAs.
“Our Pickens Piranhas Swim Team is one big family,” said Lindsay McKever, swim team assistant coach. “Parents and swimmers are all involved in the swim meet and have lots of fun.”
Rachel Rahn, a student at Anderson University who still swims for the Piranhas, also helped coach the team at the home meet.
Pickens put 37 swimmers in the pool at the meet, and almost all swimmers improved times. Some of the biggest improvements were: Will Blakely, Katelynn Phelps, Mia Yousey and Rebekah Ramey all took time off their 200 freestyle, 16.96 seconds, 5.61 seconds, 5.80 and 9.07 seconds respectively; Nathan and Sophia Shuttleworth took time off their 100 freestyle, 6.65 and 12.69 seconds respectively.
Also taking time off in the 100 free were Tala Moore with 5.89 seconds and Blake Nix with 8.33 seconds. Lily Hyder cut 7.63 seconds off her 50 backstroke, and Hailey McKever cut 7.22 seconds off her 25 butterfly. The biggest time drop of the meet was captured by Heidi McKever, who cut 22.24 seconds off her 100 freestyle.
Pickens welcomed two new swimmers at its home meet: Nathan Watson, 16, who earned 21 points for the team, and Seth Watson, 11, who earned 4 team points. The Pickens swim meet was held June 9 and included teams from Greenwood, Newberry, Cherokee and Rock Hill YMCAs.
The Pickens County YMCA Piranhas, which practice Monday-Friday in the afternoon, accept new swimmers all season long, no matter the level of their swimming ability.
Interested swimmers may try a week for free, and beginner swimmers are welcomed. For more information, call the YMCA of Easley, Pickens & Powdersville at (864) 878-3436 or visit www.pcymca.net/swimteam.php.
The Pickens County YMCA Swim Team is a member of the Carolina YMCA Swim League (CYSL).
The purpose of CYSL competitive swimming is to provide young boys and girls an opportunity to participate in competitive swimming in a Christian environment, under conditions that will foster skillful aquatic ability, good fellowship, team loyalty, a finer appreciation of swimming for its own sake and not just for winning; and sportsmanship on the part of swimmers and spectators.
