Two Harbors High School was packed with family, friends, and fans on the morning of January 6th. The Hoops Club was having their first practice of the new year in the gym. The young budding basketball players were dribbling through drills, memorizing moves, and learning layups.
Just down the hall, which was full of kids with goggles on their heads, towels in their hands, and smiles on their faces, the pool was chock-full of swimmers warming up to get ready to compete in a meet.
That Saturday, the Two Harbors Swim and Dive Team hosted their first YMCA swim meet at the high school. 155 athletes, ages 5-19, from Grand Marais, Two Harbors, Duluth, and Superior attended with their families.
The event marked another important first. “This was the first time since the school was built that boys have officially raced in our pool. That was rather special for all of the teams participating,” said Heather Mayfield, coach of the Two Harbors swim team.
The location proved to be ideal. The coaches of the visiting teams advised it was the most attended meet for all of their teams this season.
The 4th-6th grade Two Harbors swimmers were allowed to swim as an exhibition during the meet. It was their first time competing in a meet. “They have raced during some of our practices but never in a situation like this,” Coach Mayfield said. “They all swam extremely well, and we are very excited to have these girls join our high school team in the future.”
She thanked the current and past swimmers and parents who helped to volunteer at the meet. “Without our amazing swimming community past and present, we would have never been able to host such a great event.”
With the success of the first YMCA meet in Two Harbors, Coach Mayfield reported that they have agreed to host the meet annually, bringing an opportunity for many more firsts in the Two Harbors High School pool.
