Fast swimmers and slow pool renovations mean it is winter time!

The Beaver Area Bobcats swim and dive team has completed only one meet so far this season, but more importantly . . . they won.

The Bobcats competed against Seton LaSalle December 15 away at the home of the Rebels.

The boys’ team was victorious with a final score of 83-62.

The girls also won the meet with the final score of 78-46.

Hopes were high for the girls’ team going into the meet because last season they defeated Seton LaSalle in a mercy rule before the break period (swimming’s “half time”).

The boys knew that they were going to have to fight for a victory and did after falling to the Rebels last season.

Both sides defeated Seton LaSalle in a mercy rule cap off.

Beaver Area was also supposed to compete against Highlands December 8, but the away meet was canceled.

There are currently a record low number of meet officials in the WPIAL which is usually the cause of cancellations.

The team has also hit quite a few setbacks with many important A-team starters getting sick and having to miss practices.

However, team spirits and hopes were high that the team would be completely back at their newly renovated indoor pool, but the Bobcats are still swimming and diving at Blackhawk.

The renovations were nearly complete—but there was a crucial mistake made.

The new starting blocks, a pool feature that much of the team has been looking forward to the most, were installed overhanging the water too far.

This misplacement creates an unfair advantage for almost all events because races in swimming sometimes come down to a tenth of a second.

So until the blocks are removed and remounted in the concrete pool deck, the Bobcats continue to practice at Blackhawk . . . but hope to be in their new pool soon.