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This summer, as all Texans know, will bring the heat but one team in town will be beating the heat in competitive fashion.
The Columbus CATfish (aka the Columbus Aquatic Team) will be embarking on yet another season of competitive youth swimming this summer.
The team was formed by Buddy and Charlene Anderson in the 1980s and it is still going strong to this day. The team has several different age groups with the youngest being four years old and the oldest being 18 years old, so all are welcome to sign up, try out and participate.
According to their website swimmers will improve their technique in all four competitive strokes, freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. On top of that they are offering a great opportunity for kids to get out of the house, be active and be a part of a team during the summer.
The team competes with teams from the surrounding area like La Grange, Schulenburg, El Campo and the most recent addition to the league, Rockdale, and compete in the Smallest Aquatic League in Texas or SALT. Their first will be in Columbus where they will hold a mock meet. It will be held at the Columbus City Pool on May 31 at 8 a.m.
The mock meet will serve as an opportunity for the kids on the team to get a base time in their respective races. This is done so the kids get a little bit of a feel for how meets will go as well as give the kids something they can look at and see just how much they have improved as a swimmer at the end of the season.
One of the swimmers on the team, Lilly Flores, who has been on the team for five years said swimming may seem just like a fun recreational activity. But swimming is actually a very challenging and competitive sport. “Some people don’t think swimming is a sport, but I would like to see them swim 200 meters or do an individual medley all while holding their breath and not stopping, it is hard. But, so is any sport,” Flores said.
Swimming is also great exercise as it is an activity that works every muscle in the body, including the lungs.
“I love to swim and beat my previous times, it is a full body workout, and who doesn’t love to swim,” Flores said.
While there is plenty to be excited about with the upcoming season for the Columbus Aquatic Team. But, on top of all the excitement and the benefits they offer to the kids in the community they also will host a pool party according to their website to celebrate the end of the season, but they do not have a set date yet.
So, come out and support the Columbus CATfish this season and join them in an effort to beat the heat.
