Spliting hairs these days at Woodward? Starr's Mill is going to make the whole region a little harder for Woodward I think...... didn't they beat you guys in football this year too? Soccer, wrestling, track, golf, tennis and LaCrosse should all be exciting with McIntosh, Whitewater, and Starr's mill all in your region now. Should be some good competition for you now!

Mr or Ms. Enigma,

The story as written was inaccurate and I simply corrected the facts.

I coached the first swimming team in this county, coached swimming at Sandy Creek HS for 10 years, founded the County Swimming Championship, and chair the annual county swimming awards. I also know many of the fine swimmers at Starr's Mill and have the greatest respect for them as swimmers and people. I am an ardent supporter of swimming in Fayette County, but that ardor does not blind me to the facts.

This is not about private versus public schools. Swimming is a very honest sport - the clock does not play favorties as to which school you swim for. In swimming you cannot in any way affect the performance of your competitor, you must put forth your best effort in each race. As I am fond of saying to my swimmers, "worry about the person swimming in your lane."

Swimming is a family in which we compete against each other hard in the pool, then are the best of friends on the pool deck. Together we celebrate our wins and acknowledge our defeats as a way of growing as people. I take pride in the atheltic accomplishments of both the Starr's Mill and Woodward swimmers. I would hope you could do the same.

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks." I really don't require a lesson in the technical aspects of the sport nor your interpretation of the culture of swimming having been a swimmer both in high school and at the Air Force Academy myself.

As for the clock playing favorites- is there a sport where it does? I must have missed that one!?

All of this to say - you gave a very long and rambling response to a comment that was meant to inform all (who care) that Starr's Mill, the "largest private school in south Atlanta" according to past comments in the AJC, is now in the same region as Woodward and these two will become rivals in MANY sports..... swimming included.

I am sure every time Starr's Mill wins, be it a blowout in Football, or a swim meet, someone will be there to add a comment that clarifies why the did, and how they did, and to what degree they did. But thank you for making sure no one gives more credit to our local public school, Starr's Mill, than they deserve!

You may not wish to assume that you are the only person of knowledge in swimming here in Fayette County. I know several state and national record holders both here and in the immediate area - coach.

Boy's Meet: Woodward 157 - Starr's Mill 101
Girl's Meet: Starr's Mill 147 - Woodward 129

Please get it right next time Mr. Sports Editor.

I will attempt to clarify my original comments, by reposting them with the exception of ONE sentence, in hopes that my message not get lost by those fixated on just the swimming comment alone:

Starr's Mill is going to make the whole region a little harder for Woodward I think...... didn't they beat you guys in football this year too? Soccer, wrestling, track, golf, tennis and LaCrosse should all be exciting with McIntosh, Whitewater, and Starr's mill all in your region now. Should be some good competition for you now!

Again, I think for the first time in a long time Woodward will have to step up to another level if they wish to win region in a multitude of sports - swimming included!

The good news is - "... a rising tide raises all ships" (John F. Kennedy).

We don't have regions in swimming. The State Meet is done in a championship format with qualifying times for each event.

I do belive that this is the year for the Starr's Mill girls to make a push against Westminster and Marist at the State Championship. I would project a possible 3rd place finish for the Starr's Mill girls at state, no lower than top 5. It will be fun to watch.

Enigma is correct. Now that Starr's Mill is 4A classification, and the same area and region as Woodward again, Woodward is going to have to earn everything they get - for a change.

I feel almost certain that the state soccer champion will come out of this region with Whitewater, McIntosh, Starr's Mill, and Woodward all in the hunt.

By the way boxwing, you are very anal for a retired fellow...maybe you need a more relaxing hobby. Are you related to dollaraday??