Sports

Babylon's Youngest Swimmers Compete

Girls and boys ages 4 through 11 swam in a fun and competitive meet at the Babylon Village pool.

Swimming is more than just summer time fun for some young Babylon residents and is the training ground for village pool lifeguards.

All that and more was obvious at the annual Babylon Village swim meet last weekend at the village's bayfront public pool. Families came to cheer on the swimmers, from 4-and 5-year-olds who raced with lifeguards and kickboards, to 10-and 11-year-olds who displayed enviable form.

All the athletes were cheered on, and some friendly competition and a couple of photo finishes added to the excitement. Some of the ambitious younger swimmers, a few as young as 6 years old, chose to swim on their own, foregoing the help of the kickboard and gamely making their way across the shallow end of the pool.

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The older competitors swam in the lap lanes, and it was obvious years of swimming lessons had paid off. Toni Marie Silverman was there to watch her 11-year-old daughter Alexia compete.

"She's really fast. She beats the lifeguards when they practice," Silverman laughed. Alexia did indeed easily take the first spot, but all of the participants seemed just happy to be there, and content to do their personal best.

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Mayor Ralph Scordino and Trustee Anthony Davida were on hand to congratulate the swimmers. Lifeguard and meet announcer Matt McLean provided a steady stream of comedic relief, asking spectators trivia questions between heats and after the final swimmers exited the pool, calling for an impromptu family relay showdown.

The oldest swimmers, who have completed all the swimming levels offered at the pool, can opt next year to take junior lifeguard and instructor courses, on their way to becoming the next crop of Babylon Village Pool lifeguards and swim instructors.


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