Another season is underway for the Franklin Amateur Swim Team.
For nearly the past two decades, the F.A.S.T. Fins have dominated the Mountain Swim League, claiming 18 straight titles and 14 straight unbeaten seasons. At the Macon County Rec Park June 8, Dwain and Dina Picou’s squad hosted the Jackson County Swim Team, routing the Dolphins in their first of five home meets this regular season.
In the 8 & under age group, Avery Dockery earned multiple event wins for F.A.S.T., claiming the boys 25-yard backstroke with a time of 26.73 and the boys 50-yard freestyle in 1:03.22. Bailey Dockery led the way for F.A.S.T.’s 8 & under girls with a win in the 25-yard backstroke (27.83).
In the 9-10 age group, two F.A.S.T. girls earned multiple event wins, with Abeline Maddrey taking home the 100-yard individual medley (2:04.16) and 100-yard freestyle (1:53.16), and Leila Pinkston winning the 50-yard breaststroke (55.62) and 50-yard butterfly (1:09.11).
In the 11-12 age group, Lana Walker earned three event wins for the Fins, claiming the 100 IM (1:25.74), 100 freestyle (1:17.05) and 50 butterfly (40.32). Bri Dezarn also won the 50 freestyle (35.55) and 50 backstroke (41.10).
In the 13-14 age group, Jackson Word led the way for the F.A.S.T. boys, taking home the 50 freestyle (27.05), 100 freestyle (1:01.98) and 100 breaststroke (1:23.44). On the girls side, Colby Tyler was a force in the long-distance races, winning the 200 IM (2:56.62) and 100 freestyle (1:07.77).
In the oldest age group, Franklin High School standout Zoi Walker impressed, claiming the girls 15-18 50 freestyle (27.36), 200 IM (2:44.81) and 100 butterfly (1:21.87).
Walker’s former Panther teammate Luke Borgmann turned in the performance of the night, earning gold and breaking F.A.S.T. records in the boys 15-18 50 freestyle and 100-yard butterfly. By completing the 50 free in just 22.72 seconds, Borgmann broke the previous team record of 23.23, also set in a meet versus Jackson County by Seth Gurney in 2019. Borgmann’s 100 fly was perhaps even more impressive, clocking in at 54.33 to break a more than 30-year-old record of 55.50, set by Darryn Norton back in 1992. While the team does not have an updated list of Mountain Swim League records, coaches believed the time was among MSL’s fastest-ever.
Borgmann also owns the current FHS record in the event. He returns to the team after his freshman year swimming for Piedmont University in Demorest, Georgia.
In team scoring, F.A.S.T. dominated the much-smaller JCST, winning the boys events 472-94 and the girls events 487-85. Overall, the Fins outscored the Dolphins 959-179.
Following their first meet of the summer, Borgmann and his F.A.S.T. Fin teammates have the rest of the season to improve their times, working toward the MSL Championship Meet July 15 and the MSL All-Star Meet July 22. Some swimmers even asked coaches Thursday night about qualifying times for the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics, in which a combined MSL team dominated by F.A.S.T. placed 10th last summer versus larger and more well-equipped teams from across the country. This year’s event takes place in Des Moines, Iowa, July 27-30.
With nearly 150 swimmers on the roster, roughly 10 more than last year, F.A.S.T. is the odds-on favorite to win their 19th-straight MSL title next month. They will continue their campaign at home June 15 versus the Cherokee County Aquatic Club.