By MICHAEL BOYLAN

Sports Editor

The Starr's Mill swim team played host to Greenbriar and Fayette County on Saturday and Coach Cathy McMullen has some mixed feelings. Greenbriar's girls took first place in the meet with 125 points, while the Panthers took second place with 96 points and Fayette County finished in third place with 69 points. That score is misleading however, several of the Fayette County girls who swim year round were at another meet. Starr's Mill's girls relay team won the 200 and 400 meter free relay. "There were a lot of close races," Coach McMullen said. "We outtouched Fayette County several times." Sarah Olander dropped 10 seconds off of her time in the 100 meter freestyle. "There were a lot of kids who did not practice due to illness last week," explained Coach McMullen. "The fact that a lot of kids dropped times and the girls took second place shows that the team is coming along."

There is no doubt the team is developing but the boys races ended in disappointment. Fayette County's boys won the meet with an overall score of 104. Greenbriar finished in second place with a score of 82 and Starr's Mill finished in third with a score of 74. The disappointing part is that two Panthers missed the backstroke event and therefore did not score any points for their team. There were some bright spots for Starr's Mill's boys though. Michael Powers continues to improve rapidly in his first year of swimming competitively. He dropped his times in both the 500 meter freestyle and the 100 meter freestyle, by 18 seconds and four seconds respectively.

Will Hardison, team captain, is trying to qualify for the state meet. He shaved some time off of his time in the 50 meter freestyle on Saturday. Brian Bancroft, another talented Panther swimmer, injured his hip during the meet and was slowed considerably. Stacy Spoller and Krista Ulrich both dropped some time as well. For Starr's Mill, beating their personal bests is what is important this season. "We're not blazing any trails right now," Coach McMullen said. "But we are developing real well and hanging in there." Starr's Mill hosts a powerful Marietta squad at the Kedron Aquatic Center this Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

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