Warming up… Team members warm up. The team met to share words of encouragement before the start. (Pragya Amin) Kick off… The 200 medley relay team prepares for the start. Fairhope placed 1st in the first event of the season. (Pragya Amin) Families support… Tatum Shepard holds a poster to cheer on her brother, Caden Shepard. Shepherds’ family cheered for him as he beat his personal record. (Pragya Amin) Feeling the pressure… Lydia Brown swims butterfly in the 100 yard butterfly race. Brown also swam anchor in the 200 yard medley relay. “It’s a lot of pressure being the last one because you have to finish strong but when I see all the other girls in my team finish strong, it inspires me to do the same,” Brown said. (Pragya Amin) Gliding through… Senior Ciara Darr glides through the water as she reaches the end of her freestyle event. She encouraged her teammates, making them feel less nervous. “For everyone to improve and just have fun [is the goal],” Darr said. (Pragya Amin)Strong anchor… Clair Wang takes the lead in the 200 freestyle relay event close to the finish. Wang stretched to prepare, as she is an anchor and must finish strong. (Pragya Amin) Freestyle… Kelsey Brockner swims her last lap of freestyle in her individual event. Brockner placed 2nd in her heat. (Pragya Amin) Flying through… Junior Katelyn Grant swims butterfly. She beat her personal record of 26:28. “My favorite event is the 50 freestyle, and my personal best is 26:28 seconds,” Grant said. “My goal for this season is to make the state for an individual event, specifically the 50 freestyle.” (Pragya Amin) Almost there… Junior Aiden Craddock races in the 100 yard backstroke event. The Pirates will compete in meet two of the season Thursday, Oct. 2. (Pragya Amin)
