At the 37th Doris Coady Rutherford County Swimming Championship Meet on January 17 there was a familiar theme, the Oakland Patriots carried home the most hardware.

Since it's inception in 1989, the Rutherford County Swimming Championships have ben domiated by Oakland. Except for Smyrna's seven year run (2004-2010), the team title trophy has been awarded to the Patriots every year. Over time the Meet has grown drastically in size as the original four team number has grown to include kids from ten different schools. The competition has certainly increased over the years, but at the end of the meet, the results were still the same in the team standings.

Using depth and talent, the Patriots overwhelmed the competition and easily outdistanced second place Rockvale 164 to 119. Central Magnet checked in as the third place team with 82 total points. The Oakland girls were much the best in their division as they took that trophy with 104 points. Central Magnet finished second with 58 while Riverdale tallied 45 for third place honors in the girls division. Rockvale made a strong showing in taking the boys's title with 100 points. Oakland was second with 60 and the Smyrna Bulldogs paddled to a third place finish with a score of 47.

Many strong individual showings were highlighted by new meet records being estaablished in the boys 200 freestyle by Riverdale's George Ebrahim, boys 50 freestyle by Rockvale's Isaac Barritt,  and by Oakland's Lyndell Laudencia in the girls 100 yard freestyle. The Oakland girls were winners in the medley relay, 200 frestyle relay, and 400 fcreestyle relay. Rockvale won the medley and 400 free relays while Oakland took the 200 free relay.

  "I am very proud to be a part of the Oakland tradition at the Rutherford County Meet", says Patriot head coach Drew Brewer, who has now won four team titles as the leader of Oakland swimming. "The competioin in this County has gotten so much better and we saw a lot of fantastic performances from a lot of kids. The Meet has grown  over the years and to be able to be a part of a record-tying fifteen year win streak given the level of competition present is a big statement as to the commitment of the people in our program." 

 Local swimmers will now focus their attention on the Region Meet to be conducted on January 23 and 24 at the Williamson County Rec Center.