Athens Bulldog Swim Club Hosts First Meets

Athens Bulldog Swim Club (ABSC) dove into the 2012-13 short course season this past weekend with bookend swim meets at Ramsey Center. 

Friday night the Bulldogs divided into intra-squad red and black teams for some spirited, friendly competition, while Sunday morning Dekalb Aquatics visited for the season’s first dual meet.

“I was really pleased with both meets this weekend, especially after only a month of training,” said Lead Developmental Coach Kevin Taylor.

Taylor oversees the Super Pups, Pups, Gups, and the ABSC’s newest group, the Underdogs, meant to introduce beginning swimmers to the sport. Underdogs practice at the Athens YWCO with the Gups, while the other portions of the team practice at Ramsey Center.

ABSC currently draws from an eight-county region, with some families undertaking up to an hour commute in order for their children to swim under the team’s highly qualified coaches.

The Underdogs added approximately 35 new swimmers to the team this season. ABSC also increased enrollment by approximately 10 in the Gups and 15 in Ramsey-based groups, making a burgeoning total of 175 athletes in the water.

“It’s not uncommon for numbers to go up in Olympic years,” said Head ABSC Coach Harvey Humphries, “but I don’t think in all my years I’ve had so much talent in all our groups.  Jonathan [Foggin, Head Age Group Coach], Kevin and myself feel we couldn’t have a better attitude out of the kids this season.  They are working hard and racing hard.”

While many swimmers placed high in their events or dropped significant time from last season, one young man started off the season with a major accomplishment. Nick Mauldin set a team record Sunday in the boys’ 10-under 200-yard breaststroke (3:22.69).

Humphries added that the fast times turned in by swimmers at the end of the meets, when fatigue normally starts to set in, served as a strong indicator of even better things to come this season.

ABSC will host another dual meet Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. and a tri-meet Oct. 21 at 8 a.m.

Those interested in more information about ABSC can visit the team web site here.