©2009 NPT PHOTO BY RUSSELL LAWS

Rapids' James Ball gets in some practice as the Swim Team
gets their season underway.

NEWPORT-The Cosby-Cocke County High School Swim Team is all set to start a new season, and this year, a new addition to the swim squad.

For the first time ever, a middle school team will be competing in the pool under coach Lisa Stepp and assistant coaches Debbie Lloyd and Pam Adkins.

The middle school squad started the swim season yesterday, Saturday, October 31, hosting Lenoir City at the Newport Community Center Pool.

The middle school swimmers will see plenty of action this season, and are next at an exhibition this Tuesday, November 3, at Carson-Newman College. They will have their own meets on Saturday, November 14, at home against Knox Central, and at the Middle School Invitational hosted by the Tennessee School for the Deaf on Saturday, December 12. They will also hook up with the high school squad at most of their meets.

The high school swimmers begin their season this Tuesday, November 3, against Jefferson County on the campus of Carson-Newman College. Home meets include Lenoir City on Saturday, November 21, Powell on Monday, November 23, Anderson County on Monday, December 7, Alcoa on Monday, January 11, and Karns on Saturday, January 16.

All home meets for both high school and middle school will be held at the Newport Community Center Pool.

The high school season will wrap up with the KISL City Meet in Knoxville on Saturday, January 23, and the state meet in Nashville Friday and Saturday, February 12-13.

2009-10 Cosby-Cocke County High School & Middle School Swim Team schedule

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 (Away)

Vs. Jefferson County @ Carson-Newman College (Middle School Exhibition);

Warm-up 5:30 p.m., Meet 6 p.m.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 (Away)

@ Gatlinburg-Pittman

Warm-up 5:30 p.m., Meet 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14 (Home)

Vs. Knox Central (Middle School Only)

Warm-up 8:30 a.m., meet 9:30 a.m.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16 (Away)

@ Pigeon Forge

Warm-up 5:30 p.m., Meet 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21 (Home)

Vs. Lenoir City

Warm-up 9 a.m., Meet 10 a.m.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23 (Home)

Vs. Powell (Including Middle School)

Warm-up 6 p.m., Meet 7 p.m.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 7 (Home)

Vs. Anderson County

Warm-up 5:30 p.m., Meet 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 (Away)

@ Snowball Invitational, Carson-Newman College

(TBA)

@ Middle School Invitational, Tennessee School for the Deaf

9 a.m.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14 or THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17

(TBA)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7 (Away)

@ Clinton vs. Clinton & Carter (Including Middle School)

Warm-up 6 p.m., Meet 6:30 p.m.

MONDAY, JANUARY 11 (Home)

Vs. Alcoa

Warm-up 5:30 p.m., Meet 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 (Home)

Vs. Karns

Warm-up 8:30 a.m., Meet 9:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 (Away)

KISL City Meet, Knoxville

(TBA)

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12-13 (Away)

State Meet, Nashville

(TBA)