Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C./ERR -- The Parris Island Masters Swim Team set 11 new individual state records as they swam past 23 other teams Nov. 2-3, to take first place at the 2002 Dixie Zone and South Carolina State Short Course Meters Masters Swimming Championship in Anderson, S.C.
Leading the way was Martha Davis as she set seven new state records in the 200-meter free with a time of 3 minutes and 58.29 seconds, the 50 backstroke with a time of 52.24, the 100 backstroke in 2:18.38, the 50 butterfly with a time of 58.09, the 100 butterfly in 2:18.38, the 100 individual medley in 2:01.67 and the 200 individual medley in 4:23.94.
?What makes it easier is the whole team cheering the swimmers on,? said Davis. ?When you look over into the other lane and you see someone coming up, the cheering helps you push harder to win.?
Also setting new state records were JoAnn Chapman, swimming the 200 butterfly in 4:26.16, the 200 individual medley in 4:04.69 and the 400 medley in 8:34:96, and Pete Palmer, swimming the 1,500 free in 27:40.23.
The meet was one of three major competitions the team faces each year and coach Richard Fetters credits the team?s success to the large size of the team and the hard work put into practices.
?The large number of swimmers we have makes it easy to cover the age groups and score more points,? said Fetters, a retired Michigan State University swim coach. ?Our team is very good and practices hard. We have the pool for one hour, three times a week, which can make workouts challenging, but I put a lot of time into planning each workout and, so far, we?ve been successful.?
With a score of 2,451 points, the Parris Island swimmers easily out swam the competition this year, topping the second place team by 1,384 points and winning the Dixie Zone meet for the 11th time.
Most of the 46-member team, comprised of active duty military, dependents and local civilians, placed in at least one event.
?The team is just wonderful to be a part of,? said Davis. ?We?re so lucky to have a professional swim coach and such a wonderful facility on Parris Island, and it shows when we go and do so well at meets.?