Bolivar Commercial/Andy Collier
(From left) Tori Waldbeiser, Mary Margaret Weeks, Bailey McGarrh, Will Baugh, Josh Waldbeiser, Carl Failing and Hallee Pinkerton are just a few of the swimmers that will represent the Delta Aquatic Club in the Mississippi Long Course State Swimming Championships starting Thursday. DAC will have approximately 30 swimmers competing in the meet.
The team will host the Mississippi Long Course Swimming Championship Meet starting Thursday and ending Sunday. DAC will have approximately 30 swimmers competing in this year’s event. All total, there will be close to 400 swimmers from the state that will be vying for a state title. DAC finished fifth at the state meet last season.
DAC head coach Dan’l Murray said the team is looking forward to competing at state.
“All of the Delta Ducks know when the rest of the teams come to Cleveland, they have to protect their house,” Murray said. “They really get up and the excitement of being able to swim in front of their friends and family really brings along some strong competition.”
DAC has always had swimmers show improvement and turn in strong individual performances at state.
Murray said his swimmers have continued to show progress, and he expects some quality swims at state.
“This season, we’ve had a lot of swimmers that have gotten their first state times,” Murray said. “We’ve had a lot of swimmers that have been competing in the state level picking up more events in other strokes. Also, we have a few that will be competing for the top spot in some of their age groups.”
Murray said the club has a strong mix of young swimmers and older swimmers.
“We’ve got some 12 and unders that are on the verge of having a really good breakout season, and they’re capping it off at the state meet,” Murray said. “A lot of the 13 year-old swimmers are some of our veteran athletes in the program, and they’re looking to step up and have a great state championship meet.”
DAC has never won a state championship but have finished in the top five consistently.
Murray said the talent of the swimmers that compete for DAC allows the team to stay in the hunt.
“The one thing DAC always brings is the fact we have quality athletes,” Murray said. “We build everything around making sure that each athlete is there to compete to the best of their abilities. Regardless of the numbers, we’ve got a strong team that is going to come and represent the Delta.”