This week was the annual city high schools swim championships held at the D.A. Turner YMCA. It's the only swim meet that we cover for the season. Swimming gets overshadowed by other inter-scholastic sports in Columbus, Ga. In fact, the championship meet is the only in-town meet of the season. And it is usually dominated by Columbus High and Northside High. Hardaway High and Shaw High also have teams.
But this year the Carver High Tigers fielded a team of three boys and five girls. Not seasoned swimmers - but serious competitors. Serious about finishing their races and supporting each other and improving their personal best times.
Shanice Baker, a junior, struggled through her 50-yard freestyle heat. Her feet touched bottom once, but she finished - all smiles. She didn't know her time, and said that she didn't care. (1:35.95)
Announcements came over the school intercom to recruit students for the new team. "I never in a million years thought I'd be on the swim team," Tony Daley said. "I just went out there .. and I started swimming. It's kind of cool to be known as the first Carver swim team."
Carver is known for its football and basketball programs, having produced several NFL players over the years. But Tony says that now that the gridiron guys realize how hard these new swimmers work, there is respect. Other students call him "fish boy" as he walks the hallways -- as a compliment. "They're saying I'm fast."
Asked what he would do if Jarvis Jones got in the water? "I'd whoop Jarvis Jones in the pool right now," Tony said laughing. (Jones, a defensive linebacker for the Tigers, is headed to USC to play for the Trojans.)
Congratulations to Tony, Marvin, Shanice, Jaleesa Perry, Emilio Holloway, Rachel Quitugua and Charnele Jones. You've won big.
To new challenges, Robin
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