Andalusia Stingrays coaches Gavin Donaldson and Carrie Browning are excited to get the summer competitive season going today in Troy.

The Stingrays will face Eufaula, Dothan and Troy in a quad meet at Troy’s Sports Complex, where swimmers will dive into an outdoor pool.

It’s early in the season and the water will still be cool, which will yield to some faster times, Donaldson, the 11-and-up coach said.

“Troy’s pool is a fast pool,” he said. “There are good times that can be turned out of that, especially with the water still on the cooler side. It’s a nice facility. It’s conducive to produce some good times.”

Two days ago, the Stingrays competed in their intersquad meet. This is the first time the Andalusia team has had an intersquad meet and the first meet of the season so close together.

Donaldson said he is looking to see how the swimmers respond after a quick turn around from one meet to another.

“It’ was just the only way we could fit it in this year,” Donaldson said. “With Memorial Day where it was, we had to have something they can show for and not get out of the pool and be exhausted.”

Browning said she’s looking for her older kids to show their experience today at the meet.

“I’m hoping to see some fast times from some of the kids who have been here a few years,” Browning said. “We have some kids who have swam with us for three years. We should have a good relay again.”

The last four to five practices for both group of swimmers have been concentrated on building endurance.

The 9 to 10 year olds have swam for 3,000 yards, while the 11 and ups have swam for 16,500 yards, or 9.3 miles.

“I’ve been impressed with the last five practices,” Donaldson said. “I’ve seen significant improvement out of the new faces, which is going to be an added value to the overall success of the team this year.

“We’ll know more where we need to go after these two meets for preparation for our meet we’re going to have here June 8,” he said.