Last Monday, Sept. 30, was a first for the Globe High School Tiger Sharks varsity swim and dive team, as they hosted a meet at the Globe Community Center Pool.

It was the first-ever home meet for the Tiger Sharks, in the team’s second year of existence. On Monday they hosted the ALA-Anthem South Titans and Payson Longhorns, winning the meet convincingly. On the boys’ side it was Globe 152, Payson 14 and ALA-Anthem South 0; on the girls’ side it was Globe 109, ALA-Anthem South 44 and Payson 25.

Team captains Matthew Pollock, a sophomore, and Evelyn Parker, a junior, broke school records Monday – two for Pollock and one for Parker. In addition, sophomore Calvin Hansen broke two school records including the 100-yard breaststroke, and will be considered for the state meet in November if he stays in the top 30 times among Division 3 schools. Freshman Liza Shank broke a Tiger Sharks record in the 100-yard freestyle.

“I think this meet went exceptionally well,” said Globe head coach Barry Schwenk. “They [ALA-Anthem South and Payson] have some smaller teams, which allowed our team an opportunity to swim more events. It was also a good first run-through so all of our volunteers know what to do.”

This was the team’s fifth meet of the season, including a qualifying event in Chandler (the Sept. 14 Croswhite Invite).

“This is our second year, our first full season and our first time being able to actually host a swim meet,” Schwenk added. “There’s been a lot of growth, a lot of great community involvement – from Globe High School’s administration to the City of Globe allowing us to use the facility to all the parents who have volunteered. I think this year we’re starting to hit our stride, to understand what this program’s going to look like in the future and what it’s going to take for it to be successful.”

The Tiger Sharks have only two seniors, Jackson Pollock and Sam Rifenbark. “That means there’s a lot of room for growth, so I’m excited about that,” said Schwenk.

Monday was the first of two home meets this season; the second will be Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. against the Morenci Wildcats and Poston Butte Broncos.

“Those are much larger teams. It'll be a more competitive, more balanced kind of swim meet,” Schwenk said.

The Tiger Sharks’ season will wrap up Oct. 26 at the Buckeye Aquatic Center, in a qualifying meet for state entries.