VARSITY
Both Tallulah Falls School varsity swim teams last season made waves with the girls placing 8th at state and the boys 12th. With individual state champion Madison Dampier back for her junior year, and several young standouts for both sides back, this has the potential to be an even better season.
The Lady Indians came in 8th at state, tying the team’s best finish at state in school history. Dampier set two school records in the 50 Free and 100 Fly, and now owns five individual marks and is part of two of the relay records. Other standouts such as sophomores Mattie Patterson, Molly Rickman, and Carsyn Griffis will lead a young girls team that has only one senior. Dampier was the State Champion in the 100 Fly and Runner-Up in the 200 IM. Patterson was 10th in the 100 Free, and the 400 Free Relay was 5th while the 200 Medley Relay was 6th.
Meanwhile, the Indians are coming off the 12th-place finish that represents their best showing at state since 2019-20. The boys were strong in their relays, with the 400 Free Relay placing 7th at state, the 200 Medley Relay placing 8th, and the 200 Free Relay coming in 10th. Individuals such as senior Henry Rickman, juniors Grayson Penland and Cole Borchers are among those who will be relied upon often. The boys have Rickman as the lone senior.
“We’re looking to have more individual state cuts,” says coach Tamara Griffis. “Opportunities for individual improvement while fostering a team atmosphere of support.”
As for the biggest area of improvement for this year’s team, Griffis talks about the intangibles.
“The intensity and focus has been a big improvement which will lead to individual success,” adds Griffis.
The varsity swim team opens the season at home on October 27 in the 4th Annual Mask-Erade Invitational.
“I am super excited to work with the new staff,” adds assistant coach Chris Kafsky. “We are at the culminating moment of something special.”
MS
The MS swim team meanwhile is coming off a pair of 2nd-place finishes in the GIAA MS State Championships. In that event, every swimmer set at least one personal record time in their respective event. While many of those swimmers have moved to the high school level, boys swimmer Henry Dumas is one of the top talents returning. Nearly all of the boys team is intact. Ida Patterson is back on the girls side, and was one of the top performers.
“We’re pushing a lot of swimmers to new levels,” says Griffis. “We want them to set first meet individual goals, as well as end of season goals. It’s always fun to watch swimmers not only meet but exceed these goals.”
Like the varsity teams, the middle school squads have areas they have improved in.
“Rebuilding our middle school program will be our goal this year,” adds Griffis. “We lost a lot of middle school swimmers to the high school program so we are going to focus on creating a culture of personal success mixed with a family atmosphere.”
“I am excited about this middle school program and all the new swimmers we have this season,” says Griffis. “Swimming is hard. It not only takes physical toughness but also mental. To watch these new swimmers push themselves this first week has been incredible to watch. They are stronger than they think they are which will lead to great success in the pool.”
The middle school team takes the block on October 27 in the Mask-Erade Invitational.
