Coral Reefs win Class A title

By Christian Malone

July 13, 2007 02:48 am

— VALDOSTA — Stone Creek’s swim team remains Class A’s best.
Stone Creek’s swim team, the Coral Reefs, won their second straight GRPA District 3 championship last Saturday in Tifton.
The Coral Reefs won the Class A district title despite having fewer swimmers than the second-place Columbus Hurricanes. The Valdosta YMCA team was third, followed by the Columbus Tiger Sharks.
“I’m excited,” Coral Reefs head coach Laura Carter said. “This is our second year in a row winning the district. I am so proud of all of these kids.”
The Coral Reefs have been around less than two years, but have already won several meets, two district championships and have over 40 swimmers participating regularly.
Most of the swimmers who competed for the Coral Reefs at district qualified for the state meet in Augusta later this month. Shannon Eby, Brandy Eby, Sullivan Pollard, Chaker Fares, Nadine Fares, Courtney Prichard, Kaleb Prichard, and Halsey Prichard will swim for the Coral Reefs at state.
“I’m proud of all of the swimmers that qualified for state. We’re looking forward to going to Augusta, and hopefully we’ll do our best,” Carter said.
Carter is thrilled with how far the program has come in such a short time.
“The kids have done very well,” she said. “We’re blessed with some natural talent. It’s a good group of kids. They’re a dedicated group, too. You have to be if you want to get better.
But while the team has done well in meets, the program is not just about winning. The coaches are just as proud of many of the less-experienced swimmers, who have progressed immensely since joining the program.
“Seeing them better their personal times and their technique, and seeing them happy and enjoying swimming is a big deal,” Carter said. “It’s important that they enjoy doing this.
“They’ve learned a lot. We don’t have many kids getting disqualified, and if one does get disqualified, they know why. They know when they messed up. That means as much to me as anything.”
Carter is also praised the help of her two assistant coaches, Ashley Prichard and Shannon Eby.
“I couldn’t do this without them,” Carter said. “Because I also work full-time, I have to rely on Ashley and Shannon to do a lot for me. I’ve got good people helping me. The other coaches, the parents, Stone Creek, they’ve all been a big help.”
Carter, who swam for Colquitt County High School, hopes to one day see swimming added at the local high schools, and at Valdosta State, her alma mater. She has been working to get a club team started at VSU.
The team holds practices on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and on Friday evenings before meets.
While the team is based at Stone Creek, it is not just comprised of residents of that community. Any swimmer from the ages of 6-18 is welcome to compete for the team, and the Coral Reefs have swimmers from all over Lowndes County. For information on the Coral Reefs, e-mail Coach Carter at lc2184@hotmail.com.

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