More than 250 swimmers took to the Tinsley Park pool Monday evening for a Chattanooga Area Swim League meet between Cleveland’s two summer swim teams and when it was all over the host Cleveland Aqua Tigers handed the Mosby Park Waterdogs their first defeat of the season.
Both teams are now 2-1 on the season after the Aqua Tigers came from behind for a 393-346 win last evening. CAT will travel to Ooltewah Thursday looking for revenge against the unbeaten Tidal Wave (3-0). The Water Dogs have a bye before traveling to Red Bank on Monday.
“You know it’s a good night when almost 200 kids get together to swim in Cleveland, but it’s a great night when over 250 swimmers compete,” declared CAT’s Amy Foley. “This summer, the two crosstown rivals have a combined roster of 300 swimmers from the ages of 5 to 18. Each team has approximately 150 swimmers this summer at different skill levels.”
“The best part was seeing the developmental/exhibition swimmers making great strides in their stroke development on both teams tonight, when just weeks ago, they could barely make it across the pool,” she added. “Summer swim meets could not happen without over 35 parent volunteers running the meet. CAT is most appreciative of these parents stepping up to make this all happen.”
CAT president Mike Borst gazed out over the vast sea of swimmers, parents and grandparents braving the evening heat with tents and camp chairs surrounding the pool deck and declared, "This is fantastic."
The score went back and forth with the Water Dogs pulling ahead after the breaststroke events, but the Aqua Tigers dug deep after a pep talk by coaches Eric Frazier and Matt Huff during the break, and in the end rallied to get the win.
For CAT, high point winners with 19 were Jacob McDaniel, Logan Stutzman, Megan Mitchell and Jason Chung.
Senior Bri Foley helped out with 18 points, while Meredith Borst added 17. Alexia Jackson collected 16 points in the victory, followed by Erin Stutzman and Ben Cooper with 15.
Swimming with 14 points for the Aqua Tigers was Nelson Chung, and Matthew Maddox had a baker’s dozen. Grayson Payne garnered 12 points in the meet, with 10 points apiece coming from Lauren Stutzman and Lauren Borst.
