Seahawk Swimmers Excel in 1st Meet

BERLIN- In its first ever meet as an officially sanctioned program, the Stephen Decatur High School varsity swim team had mixed results this week with the girls' team defeating Easton, 54-40, and the boys' team falling to the Warriors, 57-28.

Decatur began the program last year on a trial basis as a club team after students at the school expressed an interest in competing as a swim team. The Seahawks competed in a handful of dual meets last winter with other schools on the Eastern Shore and in lower Delaware that offer the sport, and success in those inaugural meets and an increased interest in the program at the Berlin school led Decatur to add swimming as a sanctioned varsity sport this year.

Under the direction of girls' varsity coach Gwen Trice and boys' varsity coach Rick Cawthern, the young programs are already making a splash with its first official meet as a sanctioned program with a successful meet against Easton on the road on Tuesday. The girls' varsity team won six out of 11 events to top the Warriors, 54-40.

Highlighting the first-ever meet for the Seahawks was a win in the 200-meter medley with Taylor Blazer, Katie Hansen, Catelin Geiser and Brianna Carroll. In addition, Sarah Meadows turned in a strong performance in the 100-meter butterfly, while Geiser excelled in the 100-meter freestyle.

On the boys' side, the Seahawks fell to Easton as a team, 57-28, but the loss did little to tarnish what was a great first meet for Decatur. Jake Blazer won the 200-meter individual medley, while Austin Deppe took the 100-meter butterfly. All in all, there are 24 swimmers on the girls' varsity team in this inaugural season, while seven boys are competing on the boys' varsity team.

Of course, Decatur does not have an indoor pool, so the Seahawks are training and will hold their home meets at the YMCA in Pocomoke. The Seahawks have 12 meets on their schedule this season, not including possible regional and state meets. Teams on the schedule this year include public and private schools on the Eastern Shore and Delaware.