Eleven Stingrays win individual championships at state meet

The Douglas-Coffee County recreation department swim team captured their third state championship in the last five years this past weekend in Tifton. The Stingrays bested 28 teams from all over the state at the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association two-day state meet. The ‘Rays amassed 656 points to Oconee County’s 474. Calhoun County swim team finished third.

“We took a record high 85 swimmers to state from our district meet and the numbers worked in our favor,” stated Stingray coach Annesley Vickers. The team totaled 11 state championships -- six individual and five relay events.

Winning state championships on Friday for the 10 and under age group were the female 9-10 medley relay team consisting of Arabelle Roberts, Lilly Deas, Ella Benton, and Anna Lee O’Steen. Noah Morris won his third consecutive 25 breaststroke title in the individual event.

On Saturday, the team dominated the 15-18 age group. Individually, Garret Holton won three top podium spots, taking the 50 freestyle, 50 butterfly and 100 IM events. Emory Moorman won his third state 50 breaststroke title and Taylor Justice also finished first in the 50 breast.

Both 15-18 boys relay teams took state crowns. The medley team of Duece Ferris, Moorman, Holton and Will Vickers finished first, while the freestyle relay team of Holton, Moorman, Vickers and Luke McCarty took top honors. The female 15-18 medley team consisting of Justice, Lindsey Morris, Haleigh Lee, and Maddie Booth also won a state championship.

The team also had their first mixed relay state champions this year. The 11-12 year old group of Zean Preston, Daniel Gowan, Gracie Morgan and Xmeshia Walker took first the freestyle relay event.

Congratulations to all 91 Stingray summer league swimmers, parents and to coaches C.M. Jenkins, Ansley Vickers, Greg Lee, and Jim Minchew.