Team spirit rules at Saturday morning swim meet
By: David Sherfinski
Examiner Staff Writer
June 25, 2009
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(WILLIAM CLAYTON/FOR THE EXAMINER)
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The cheers rang out Saturday morning at the Hallowell pool in Olney: “Who’s No. 1? Marlins!” “Who’s going to win? Marlins!”
Even in the rain, the parking lot was packed with cars before 9 a.m., including quintessentially suburban minivans and sport utility vehicles.
Encouraging messages decorated many of the cars. “Swim fast Chloe and Kyle!” was painted on the back of a black Chevy Tahoe. A white “Mill Creek Towne Marlins” flag was stuck to the back passenger-side window of a silver Chevy Equinox, which also had “Marlins rule” painted in blue on one side and “Rock on” painted in red on the other.
Mill Creek Towne edged perennial A Division rival Hallowell by 10 points at the first meet of the Montgomery County Swim League’s 2009 season, which came down to the final relays.
“Getting a win over our rivals like that is really neat,” said Mill Creek coach Dave Kraft. A lot of us know them.”
For a dreary Saturday morning, the atmosphere was downright electric.
Though it was the visiting team, Mill Creek signs hung in one corner of the pool area in a nod to Austin Powers. “Danger is our middle name,” read one. “Marlins are groovy baby,” read another, which also featured blue and red flower patterns.
Some parts of the pool almost looked like an off-track betting site. Parents and onlookers clutched schedules and read them furiously, checking off races and keeping a careful watch so they would know when their children would be racing.
Instead of nursing beer or whiskey, though, one woman clutched a McCafe from McDonald’s in her right hand. It was, after all, a Saturday morning in Montgomery County.
