Contributed by Karen Miller
The Sharks of the Lake Monticello Swim Team (LMST) were back in action for the first home opening swim meet of the season.
On June 13 the Sharks participated in an unscored meet against the Fluvanna Aquatics Sports Team (FAST). The Sharks had a strong showing and did extremely well during the meet. “We had a handful of gold times achieved already in the first meet. It was a great way to start the season!” said Head Coach Carly Csapo.
The meet kicked off with three 100-meter freestyle relays, where the Sharks took first place in each race. Events three through 10 followed, which were 100-meter individual medleys (IMs) where swimmers swim four laps of the 25-meter pool in four different strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. LMST took first place in six out of those eight events.
The team also competed in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly, swimming various 25-, 50- and 100-meter races. Swimmers closed out the meet with eight 200-meter freestyle relays, in which each relay team has four members swim a 50-meter freestyle each. The LMST relay teams took first place in all eight events.
This was the first time for many of the swimmers to experience swimming in a competitive meet and the coaching staff praised their diligence, dedication, and sportsmanship throughout the night. “I can’t wait to watch the swimmers continue to improve over the next six weeks,” Csapo said.
In addition to the 147 swimmers LMST has registered on the team this season, it also takes approximately 60 parent volunteers to run a home swim meet. These parent volunteers did a great job helping the meet run smoothly and made it fun for all the swimmers on both teams.
The LMST Shark families and coaches are looking forward to an exciting season schedule, which included a meet against City of Charlottesville Swordfish on Wednesday (June 20). LMST swims away again at Farmington Country Club June 27, followed by a home meet July 2, an away meet at Key West Club July 11, and the Sharks close out the season July 18 with a home meet against Glenmore Country Club.
