The Andalusia Stingrays swim team had their first home swim meet of the season with Troy last night at Cooper Pool. Final results were not available when Star-News went to press.

“We have a lot of swimmers returning from last year,” Andalusia coach Gavin Donaldson said. “Right now, we feel good about where we are at.”

Donaldson said that the Stingrays have really being going hard at practice.

“We are looking at 20,000 yards a week right now,” Donaldson said. “We want to raise that over the next few weeks, and then we will slow it down when we get closer to district. The biggest thing we have to do is focus on the little things like refining our strokes.”

The Stingrays have three returning senior girls that Donaldson said really help out the team a tremendous amount.

“Cali Filmer, Mary Beth Baker and Emma Younce are three of strongest swimmers returning,” Donaldson said. “Emma has placed first in state the past two years in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle, and the other two have both finished the in the top six in their respective events.”

Donaldson said he also has some younger swimmers that will make an impact.

“There are other younger swimmers that are just starting high school that are very good swimmers,” Donaldson said. “They will really help us fill in spots on relay teams.”

Donaldson said that the Stingrays have pretty well rounded team this year.

“With the swimmers we have this year, I think we pretty much have all the events covered,” Donaldson said. “We can hold our own in any of the six events, on the female side at least. We are a little short this year on the male side. We have only have four this year on the advanced team and they range from 11 to 16. Our females, though, I would match up with anyone at the area and district level.”

Donaldson said the main goal is to get back to being No. 1 and No. 2 with Dothan.

“Eufuala took us out of that goal last year, but that was a numbers thing,” Donaldson said.