WATER CHAMP:
Haley Moebes performs the backstroke.

The Anderson Aquagators youth swim team won their third straight NVAL Championship in the seasonal division.

The meet, which has been held for 25 years, is the culmination of a summer of hard work and dedication for youth swimmers.

A total of 650 swimmers hit the water to compete at Shasta College. The competitors, along with their friends and family, literally turned the campus into a swimmers’ festival. The campus lawn was filled with shade tents, lawn chairs, towels, food, water and even a silent auction.

The swimmers worked hard all year, and pushed especially hard to beat their best swim times at the championship.

“We prepare our swimmers to swim their fastest at this meet. Of the 64 swimmers that went from our team, almost everybody lowered time in more than one race,” coach Marc Soares said.

Soares has been coaching the Aquagators for six years. The coach said he can’t help but get close with the Aquagators, who he watches grow and improve throughout the summer, and sometimes throughout the years.

“I really coach for all the kids who I love, and I’m like a proud big brother when I watch them race so hard and cheer for each other,” the coach said.

“These kids are really close to each other, and they all learn together through failures and successes, and by being good sports, learning to enjoy working hard and getting more focused,” Soares said.

The swimmers dedication paid off at the seasonal meet.

The Aquagators took first with 1,384 points. Red Bluff came in second with 1,142 points.

The Anderson swimmers who won trophies by placing in the top five are Carson Lowry and Bryce Peterson in the 6 and under; Ridge Peterson (first), Eric James and Travis Serna in the 9-10; Taylor Moebes and Taylor Serna in the 13-14; Ashley Moebes, Chris James and Matt Bohlin in the 15-16; and Michael Chalfant, Destry Serna, Dylan Owen and Gabe Deckert in the 17-18 age group.