Swim Meet Brings Thousands to Collingswood

The Suburban Swim Association of South Jersey (SSASJ) tapped  this weekend to host a two-day championship meet, marking the event's first time in Collingswood.

"We've hosted our championships at all different swim clubs in the region, and it's our first time in Collingswood," said Championship Meet organizer Susan Waters. "We just thought it would be a great place for the event."

Saturday's competition featured swimmers ages 12 and under, and began at 9 a.m., lasting through the afternoon. Day two will be held Sunday, with swimmers ages 13 and above competing.

"(Saturday), we're expecting about a thousand people—swimmers and families—to show up," said Waters of day one. "And another thousand tomorrow (Sunday)."

Saturday's meet featured 15 teams in total competing in total—five teams in three separate divisions—and saw swimmers from as nearby as Collingswood and Haddon Township, to competitors from as far as Vineland and Elmer. 

Event officials said Collingswood swimmers accounted for about 30 of Saturday's competitors, and another 30 borough residents are scheduled to compete Sunday. 

"The two fastest swimmers from each team get to come compete here," said organizer Joe Waters. "There are five heats in each event, and the fastest swimmer is named the heat winner of each event. Winners are given ribbons."

Broken into boys' and girls' heats, Saturday's events included swim-style categories like freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke. 

Saturday saw a total of 39 separate events.

And although the event was a competition, spectators and swimmers alike agreed that the spirit of Saturday's meet should be light-hearted and fun.

"I'm visiting (Collingswood) from Chandler, AZ, to see my grandkids. My granddaughter, Lucy Paules, is competing today," said Barbara Paules. "I hope she does well and has fun. That's the most important thing. They're kids, and they're supposed to do their best but have fun doing it."

Among Lucy's races, she placed third in the 25-meter butterfly with a time of 18.76 seconds.

And 18-year-old borough resident Ron Dunn—who will be competing in Sunday's swim meet—had the same advice as Paules for Saturday's young swimmers.

"We all should just want to do well. I'm not a year-round swimmer, and a lot of these kids competing are. So it's cool even to compete against athletes that dedicated," said Dunn. "As far as advice for (Saturday's) swimmers, I'd tell them not to worry so much about winning. Just try to get your personal best time, and have fun with it." 

A list of swimmers who took home ribbons Saturday can be viewed as a PDF document, attached to this story's photo gallery.