WAYNE – The first of two home swim meets are scheduled for this weekend at the Wayne Community Activity Center swimming pool
After having their original home meet cancelled earlier in the season, the Wayne Swim Team is at home on Saturday, July 7. The Community Activity Center is located at 901 W 7th Street.
Swim meet competition will get underway at 9 a.m. with warm-ups taking place from 8:10 – 8:50 a.m. and last throughout the afternoon. The Wayne Community Activity Center will be opening at 4 p.m. following the meet with public swim lasting from 4 – 9 p.m.
James Bowlin is in his first year as the head swim team coach for Wayne. Bowlin is pursuing his master’s degree in sport management at Wayne State College and was also a volunteer assistant cross country/track & field coach for WSC this past season.
He has been around swimming, but started as a runner.
“My background is mostly cross county/track & field,” said Bowlin. “So, when I got the opportunity here I was like yeah hey this actually sounds like it’d be fun. I’m looking into a career for coaching, so it’s been a cool experience.”
Assistant coaches with Bowlin are Hannah Leddy (led-dee) and Emmalee Scheibe.
The Wayne Swim Team started with practices in early June and have competed in a handful of meets two weeks after beginning the season. The first original home meet was scheduled for late June, but cancelled due to weather.
Teams such as Wisner, Dodge, West Point, North Bend, Hartington and Blair will join Wayne this weekend.
Age categories for boys and girls include 8 & Under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and 15-18 years of age. Roughly 90 kids make up the Wayne Swim Team.
Bowlin added what competition will be taking place.
“We got our normal individual events which are going to be your freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly.” Bowlin added. “Then there is one more individual event it’s the IM (individual medley), which is a combination of all four strokes.”
Swimmers will also participate in the medley relay and free relay.
The Wayne Swim Team is currently scheduled to be off next weekend with the Chicken Show approaching. Their next competition will be on Wednesday, July 18 in North Bend and closing out the year with Conference on Saturday, July 21 back in Wayne.
