Published: October 20, 2008 09:21 pm            

Splish-splash time at Dalton, NW

Dalton swim coach Charles Todd will put a young but fast team in the pool this season and believes the Catamounts can potentially crack the top 10 at the state meet.

The Cats and Lady Cats, along with Northwest Whitfield, began swim practice Monday.

“I’m expecting good things from our team this year,” Todd said. “We only lost a couple of seniors from last year and we have good talent coming back. And there is true speed coming in with our freshmen.”

Todd said the Lady Cats will be a solid team, but doesn’t have the depth that their male counterparts can put in the pool.

“We’ve got more depth on the boys team than we’ve had in most years,” Todd said. “We’re going to be young but pretty fast. I would expect our boys to be in the top 10 in the state out of 200-plus teams.”

Todd has put together a rugged schedule to prep the Cats, one that includes Chattanooga Baylor, Woodland, Woodward Academy, Sequoyah and Chattanooga Notre Dame.

“Baylor is one of the fastest teams in the country,” Todd said. “Those other teams are strong, but we won’t back down from any of them. We’re either going to compete or take it on the chin.”

The Cats will be led by several strong swimmers, including Zack Broome, Harris News, Easton Frankenberger, Chris Woods, Austin Mobley among the veterans. Promising freshmen include Omar Farag, Stephen Jones, Brandt Tharpe, Wil Cushman and Alex Adams.

While the Lady Cats will be without graduated Pryce Scarborough, who placed fifth in the 100-yard backstroke at the Georgia High School Association state swim meet in February, they’ll rely heavily on Joana Rosales, Maddie Scarborough, Pryce’s sister, Tyler Todd, the coach’s daughter, Maranda Storey and Rebecca Davis.

Rosales, Maddie Scarborough and Maranda Storey teamed with Pryce Scarborough on the 200 medley relay team that finished 16th at state. Rosales was 16th in the 200 freestyle.

“I’m really excited about the boys and girls chances this year,” said Todd, who also coaches the Dalton Middle School swim team.

Dalton High opens the season on Nov. 17 with a home meet against Cartersville. Marietta was scheduled to compete that night, but backed out because of concerns over gas prices, Todd said.

At Northwest, Belinda Moisan is returning the nucleus from last year’s inaugural season.

“We finished last season with 23 swimmers and we presently have 35 signed up,” Moisan said. “It’s a good nucleus. It’s the best we can have because it’s just our second year.”

The team is practicing this season at Dalton State College’s pool, but all meets will be on the road, starting at Adaisville on Nov. 11. The DSC pool is not designed for conducting meets, Moisan said.

“We have a very enthusiastic group and we’ve had a good response to the team this year,” Moisan said.

Returning male swimmers are Matt Bailey, Ward Harmon, Cody Plott, David Sanchez, Leighton Steadman and Jorden Wade. For the girls, Chandler Baer is back and so are Sydnee Bowman, Caroline Cannon, Chelsea Christiansen, Maci Horne, Ashley Miles and Monica Souther.

        

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