LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — An early start to summer break has benefitted the Laurel County Barracudas, as they beat the Somerset-Pulaski-YMCA (SPY) swim team Thursday by more than 200 points.

The SPY Sharks fell to the Barracudas, 788 to 551. It was the Barracudas first meet of the season.

“They did an awesome job. We’re very pleased,” said Gina Deaton, team president.  

Deaton and Coach Amy Stenger credited the win to an older, more experienced team this year, and, in general, more time to practice.

“Our swimmers are aging up, moving into older categories,” Stenger said. “We have a good group that started young and they just keep going.  It was also helpful that we didn’t have very many snow days this (school) year, so we started practicing early.”

Several times this summer, the Laurel County team has traveled to Barbourville to practice in the new Stivers Aquatic and Wellness Center.

“It’s a nice facility and fairly inexpensive to use,” Stenger said.  “But we need one here.

Even though Laurel County is home to two swim teams — the Barracudas and the Crooked Creek Crocs — the county does not have an indoor aquatic center, which would allow for year-round practice.

“We certainly have the interest, and certainly have the talent, to be successful. It’s just a matter of getting a facility here,” Stenger continued.

Getting off to a good start Thursday, the Barracudas lapped the Sharks 1.51 to 2.39 minutes in the first race of the day —  the mixed under 7, 100-yard freestyle relay.

“We were also ahead on the breaststroke and we had very few DQs (disqualifications),” Stenger said.  “It doesn’t matter how fast you go if you don’t do it legally.”

As a coach, Stenger takes great pride that the team’s oldest to youngest members know the proper way to execute each swimming style. 

“The technique is the most important thing to me,” she said.  “If they do it wrong, they could hurt themselves, they could have shoulder problems, especially with the butterfly, and that could carry on into their whole lives.”

Laurel County swim team coaches also include Suzanne Cupp, Sarah Wilder and Johnna Sizemore.

The team roster includes more than 90 youth ages 3 to 18. 

In the 11- to 12-year-old individual categories, Mattie Hopper and Bryan Killian earned a combined total of 68 points for Laurel County. Hooper placed first in all five heats which she competed.  Together, Hooper, Killian, along with teammates Sydney McWhorter and Johnny May, earned seven more points for the team by placing first in the mixed 11-12, 200-yard freestyle relay.

In the 15- to 16-year-old category, Noah White earned 33 points individually.  In both the boys’ 100-yard freestyle and the boys’ 50-yard backstroke, White shaved approximately six seconds off his best time.

Some of the swimmers advanced into heats above their age category, including Jonah Black, 8. Black “swam up” into a 17-18 year heat in order to gain points for his team. He placed third in the boys’ 17-18, 50-yard freestyle, earning four points.  He also placed first in his age category, boys’ 7-8, for the 25-yard backstroke.

The Barracudas are one of four teams in the Lake Cumberland Swim Association, which also includes Knox County, SPY and Russell Springs. The Barracudas do not compete with the Crooked Creek Crocs because they are in a different league.

The Barracudas’ next home meet vs. Russell Springs will be held at the London Country Club on Thursday, July 19.  They meet the Piranhas Monday, July 9 in Knox County.



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