The pool deck at Two Harbors was loud again on August 24 as athletes from swim and dive, soccer, volleyball, cross country, cheer, and football packed into the bleachers for the annual Fall Sports Kickoff Pool Relays. It’s become one of the most spirited preseason traditions in town, and this year’s crowd made sure the energy lived up to its reputation.
Head swim coach Heather Mayfield said the turnout made the night feel bigger than ever, stating, “We had almost every team participate this year which is awesome!”
“What a night,” she wrote after the event, adding a thank-you to every team that showed up and helped turn the relays into a full-community event. She also credited the football program for teaming up with swimming to feed the students, noting that “forty pizzas fed these hungry athletes.”
The relays themselves delivered the usual mix of chaos and fun. Kids churned through raft races, pool-noodle sprints, t-shirt relays, and the doggie paddle event that has become one of the evening’s staples. The cannonball contest closed things out, drawing cheers from the deck as athletes tried to out-splash one another.
“The smiles and joy from the kids was the best, cannonball contest is always the highlight!” said Mayfield.
She also said the energy was “unmatched,” a reminder of why the tradition keeps growing. She called it a night filled with Agate pride and thanked the community for showing up again.
“Love this tradition and love this community,” she said, adding a final message for every athlete heading into fall. “Good luck to all our athletes this season — keep having fun and bringing the noise.”
The season starts soon, but for one night, the pool belonged to every sport in town, all of them kicking off fall together.
