Broadneck Summer Swim Preview

Temperatures have soared, pools have opened and summer swim teams have geared up for their new season.

Saturday marks the beginning of the 2011 Greater Annapolis Swim League season with five of the 20 teams located on the Broadneck Peninsula. The league grew by two teams to 20 this year and for the first time is divided among four divisions.

And while swimmers are already in the pools practicing and working hard to improve their strokes and times, it is the fun and camaraderie that are remembered most season to season.

“We figure to do well again depending on who we swim this year,” said Ulmstead Ducks coach Colleen Winans. “But what the kids remember is the fun they have and not the win-loss record from year to year. Across the board, this area has lots of kids who enjoy swimming.”

Each of the area teams has a good mix of year-round club swimmers, athletes who excel in other sports and those who simply enjoy the summer swim team atmosphere. Teams include swimmers from age six through 18 years old.

“One of the best parts of the team is the support we get from parents to make sure the kids have the best experience possible,” said Katherine Woods, team manager for the Cape St. Claire Dolphins. “We are proud to have a program for year-round swimmers as well as novice athletes.”

This summer each team will swim against the other four teams in its division as well as one bye-week to meet against a team in another division. One of the most exciting local bye-week meets will be the Ulmstead swimmers against Bay Hills in a friendly rivalry which dates back to when both teams were top performers in the East Severna Park League.

“Our kids are particularly excited for the Bay Hills meet,” Winans said. “We are ready with a Quack Attack!”

The season culminates with bronze, silver and gold championship league-wide meets. Each swimmer swims in one of these meets depending on times achieved in the regular season.

But first, the season opens with the Chesapeake division’s Indian Hills Water Llamas facing last year’s top ranked team, Hillsmere.

“We are a small neighborhood team in a tough division this year, but we will do our best,” said Indian Hills coach Sandy Avery. “Our team's strength is that we work hard on mechanics and strokes and lowering our times. It is great that we got in the pool earlier this season because of the warm temperatures.”

Also in the top division is the Bay Hills Barracudas team, which dives into the season against Davidsonville. Both Ulmstead and Cape St. Claire are in the Severn division and begin the season facing off against each other. The Harting Farm Hammerheads team swims in the third, or Magothy division, and opens the season against Mayo.

Editor's Note:  For clubs interested in posting swim meet scores/times, you can post your own announcement on Patch. Send me an email when it is up, and I will feature it in the top section of the homepage.