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Mesquite swimming teams ready to go for district meets
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
The five Mesquite ISD swimming teams will face their biggest challenge of the year when they compete at their respective district meets on Friday and Saturday at the Rockwall ISD Natatorium.
Because the MISD teams do not have the same numbers as some of their district opponents, the chances of a team title are unlikely.
Mesquite, North Mesquite and Horn have to contend with defending district champion Tyler Lee, as well as newcomers Rockwall and Rockwall-Heath.
But while the odds might be stacked against them in the team competition, they are not backing down from the challenge.
"There are going to be a lot of very strong teams, but we can't worry about that," MISD swimming head coach Kristi Pottorff said. "We want to try to get as many kids through to regionals as we can."
The MISD team's situtaion is a unique one, as they all work out together. The rosters of each team vary, from five swimmers on the West Mesquite team up to 13 for North Mesquite and 27 for Horn.
But despite representing different schools, the group has come together during workouts at Town East Pool.
Each athlete dons a black uniform until earning their respective school colors, but even after reaching that achievement, they all spur each other on to pursue their goals.
"They work together for some goals we set, such as dropping an hour off our total times from the beginning of the year to the end," Pottorff said. "There is some city rivalry there, but they really do a great job of coming together and being supportive of one another."
The top six finishers in each event at the district meet will move on to the regional competition. Among the best bets for the MISD swimmers are Horn junior Hayden Arnold, North Mesquite sophomore Jeremy Nichols and North Mesquite freshman Alexandra Gerner.
Pottorff said that group helps provide a benchmark for the other swimmers to aspire to reach, pushing each other in practice.
Pottorff, who swam herself in high school, is in her fifth year as the head coach of the MISD teams. It has not been an easy road, but she said participation has improved in recent years and she envisions that trend to continue.
The group has been most effective attracting new members through word of mouth from current members and they have also been able to attend collegiate meets at SMU to see what the sport is like at the next level.
But while it might be an unconventional mix, the foundation for what they are trying to accomplish is no different than any other team in any other sport.
"We rely on our seniors to pull the group together and help the younger kids and they do a good job of doing that," Pottorff said. "They come out and work hard, they help each other to get better and they listen to what we are trying to tell them, which is what you can ask of them. They are a good group."
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