As expected, we won the meet on the strength of our boys who scored 901.5 of our 1664 points.  Our girls took 3rd with 762.5 points behind a very strong PAC girls team and a growing Wilkesboro (Aquatechs) team.  It was the boys, however, who overwhelmed the competition with 901.5 points to 2nd place Aquatechs’ 597.5 points.  Below are the full team scores.

Combined Team Scores -

1. Watauga Swim Team 1664

2. AquaTechs 1469.5

3. North Piedmont Aquatic Club 1431.5

4. Swim Lenoir 805

Women - Team Rankings -

1. North Piedmont Aquatic Club 1316.5

2. AquaTechs 872

3. Watauga Swim Team 762.5

4. Swim Lenoir 535

Men - Team Rankings -

1. Watauga Swim Team 901.5

2. AquaTechs 597.5

3. Swim Lenoir 270

4. North Piedmont Aquatic Club 115

Individual results are posted at our pool but here are a few highlights.  We had 4 swimmers who had 3 first place finishes each, scoring 60 points apiece.  They were Jesse Chasteen, Reed Conner, Barrett Conner and Anne Taylor.  Other first place finishers were Alan Arnholt (1), Marcus Funston, (2), Laurel Lesesne (2), Hannah Marlett (1), Elijah Temple (2), Kimberly Vines (1) and Justin Zumbo (1). 

Our relays were especially dominant with 8 first places and a 2nd place.  In the area of “improvement needed” we had 3 relays which were disqualified.

Our “Biggest Loser Award” for the meet goes to Roby Lesesne who lost 40.05 seconds in only 2 events.   He dropped 29.57 seconds in his 50 fly and 10.48 seconds in his 50 breast.   Worthy of honorable mention was Reed Conner who lost 37.94 seconds in three events highlighted by a 25.47 second drop in the 100 IM.   Way to go boys.  Keep up the good work.

PARKS AND REC PUBLIC COMMENT MEETINGS

Watauga Parks and Rec, owners and operators of our pool facility, have announced that they will be holding a series of 3 meeting for public input which will be used as they develop the county parks and rec master plan for 2020.  This would be a good opportunity for swim team voices to be heard.  I encourage you to attend one of the meetings and voice your desire to see a new, improved swimming complex. 

My opinion is that a new pool is needed (supposedly there is a footprint for a pool at the new high school) and that it should be built with the intent of hosting swim meets.  The argument the county needs to hear is that a facility capable of hosting a meet would be an economic boon to the high country.  There are 30 plus teams representing over 7,000 swimmers in North Carolina who would love to bring their lodging, dining and shopping dollars to the mountains for a swim meet.  As you know, our current facility is inadequate for a meet due to insufficient depth for diving and insufficient deck space among other shortcomings. 

I urge you to attend one of the following meetings:

December 2 -               Valle Crucis Elementary School Cafeteria     7pm

December 14 -             Parkway Elementary School Gym                  7pm

December 17 -             Hardin Park Elementary School Gym                        7pm

REGISTRATION DEADLINE

Finally, don’t forget that we would like to have all the registration renewals in by Monday, Nov. 30th.  Bring those forms and your check for $62 (per swimmer) payable to WST to Coach Richard at the pool.