- November 23, 2024
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Many Matanzas and Flagler Palm Coast seniors participated in their final home swim meet Oct. 14 at the Palm Coast Aquatics Center. The underclassmen on both teams lined up and splashed the seniors a farewell.
Matanzas coach Carrie Purdy read the seniors' memories, goals and and parting words to the underclassmen as emotions and energy ran high.
Both teams had members who could not swim due to injuries. Flagler Palm Coast's seniors carried a cardboard cutout of Jeffrey Serle, putting a face to the missing senior at the meet.
Matanzas senior Caleb Struble's mother, Betty Struble, along with younger bother Byron, accepted the gifts on Caleb's behalf. Caleb Struble suffered a spinal injury when he hit a sandbar diving into the ocean at Flagler Beach during a lifeguard drill on July 19. He has been undergoing treatment in Atlanta and is regaining strength. Caleb is still on track to graduate on time.
Many of the races were close. Madelyn Derringe of Matanzas and Mia Nilsen of FPC swam almost stroke for stroke the entire race in the 500-yard freestyle with Nilsen coming out on top.
Flagler Palm Coast won the meet, keeping the Bulldogs in high spirits heading into the postseason.