DI Flying Fish dive into promising new season

It’s been somewhat of an unusual season weather-wise for the Daniel Island Flying Fish swim team. Coach Rose Van Metre has had to cancel four practices.

“It’s just not because of storms,” she said. “One day, it was 58 degrees and later in the week, it was 63. That’s pretty cold to have little kids in the pool. Cancelling practice because of cold weather is a little weird.”

But things are warming up for the Flying Fish, who will wrap up the season when the 50th Annual Coastal Carolina Aquatic Association’s City Meet is contested on July 13. The Flying Fish had meets this week against Snee Farm and Hobcaw and then compete against Longpoint and James Island in preparation for the big finale.

There are about 240 swimmers on the team and 65-75 will compete in the City Meet.

Some of the Flying Fish will go for the gold medals while others learn the fundamentals the remainder of the season.

“What we’re trying to work on is making sure all our swimmers are legal, that their strokes are legal,” Van Metre said. “Other things we’re working on is technique, making sure they turn well and finish well. For many, it’s mainly more technique and starts.”

Last year’s City Meet was disrupted by two delays that lasted a combined five hours with heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. The first occurred on opening night and the second came on Sunday, pushing the finale’s starting time back three hours. Snee Farm scored 3,004.5 points to win the three-day meet. Coosaw Creek was second with 2,801 points and Daniel Island was third with 2,397.5. The Flying Fish finished third out of 19 teams in an event that showcased more than 1,000 swimmers.

Van Metre predicted those three teams would challenge for the crown again this year.

The highlight of the season so far just might be the victory over Coosaw Creek. It marked the first time the Flying Fish beat Coosaw in a dual meet.

“It was a great meet between two evenly matched teams,” Van Metre said.

Van Metre said the team might not have a lot of top-shelf talent, but it has depth.

“I don’t know how many first-, second- or third-place finishers we will have,” she said of her team’s status entering the City Meet. “But we should have two or three swimmers in the top 10.”

Van Metre praised her staff of assistants. They include Hilliary Thompson, Laura Ann Dixon and Alex Gray. A couple of former Flying Fish are helping out this season, including Logan Kraft, Olivia Kinsinger and Regan Van Metre, the coach’s daughter.

Kinsinger is a rising sophomore at Texas Tech and the younger Van Metre is a rising senior at Clemson.

Daniel Island Publishing

225 Seven Farms Drive
Unit 108
Daniel Island, SC 29492 

Office Number: 843-856-1999
Fax Number: 843-856-8555

 

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