Like most schools of its size, California High School does not have an official swimming team. However, that doesn't stop local kids from competing in the pool every year.
Since the 1980s, the California Stingrays have given kids a chance to swim competitvely. With 46 kids in the program this year - ranging from ages 6 and under all the way up to 18 - the Stingrays have provided an outlet for kids of all ages who want to test the crystal clear waters of the pool.
"We don't keep track of points, we just keep track of times, so they're competing against themselves," said coach Jamie Johnston. "So it's just really cool when they break a record, especially one that's been there for a long time."
Record-setters this season include the team of Kierstyn Lawson, Gavin Porter, Zoe Street and Isabella Kincaid in the mixed freestyle 9-10 relay with a time of 1:13.96 and also the 9-10 mixed medley relay with a 1:35.51. Lawson, Street, Kincaid and Isabelle Rohrbach also teamed up to set the 9-10 girls freestyle record with a 1:15.39.
In the mixed 11-13 division, Will Pickering, Megan VanLoo, Tyler Johnston and Garrett Burger set records in the freestyle relay with a 2:17.64 and the medley relay with a 2:44.79.
Individually, Kincaid also achieved a record in the 9-10 girls butterfly with a mark of 18.53 seconds.
With the California City Pool being an indoor facility, swimmers have the benefit of practicing year-round.
"In the winter we usually do three practices a week for an hour, hour and a half," said Kaylee VanLoo.
VanLoo works at the California City Pool as a lifeguard. She's been swimming with the Stingrays for nine years and helping coach for the past three summers.
"We just work on conditioning," she said "If they want to compete, we'll work on that with endurance and speed and everything, but it's mainly just to get them in the pool and have them in the pool throughout the winter, so that when they start in the summer, it won't be as if they haven't been swimming."
A teacher here in California, Johnston started helping with the Stingrays a few years ago. Previously she taught swimming in high school and college and was a lifeguard.
"We want to do well at our meets and see kids get better each time," Johnston said. "We watch their times and encourage them, just for them to get better with their strokes during the season."
With attendance that fills up both the parking lot and the pool deck, Stingray meets have become a staple of summer activity in California. With events ranging from the freestyle, butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke to relays and medleys, there's no shortage of chances for kids to discover their talent in the pool.
"It's been a really fun season," Johnston said. "Kids have come out and worked hard and they get out of it what they put into it. They come to practice and meets and swim hard. It's just been fun to watch them and get to coach them."
Results from Wednesday's California Stingrays meet
Here are the top three finishers for California Stingrays for their meet against swimmers from Jefferson City, Eldon and Boonville:
Girls 100 Fly
2. Kaylee VanLoo, 1:31.05
Mixed 100 Free Relay 8 & Under
2. Byron Brown, Chris Murphy, Addyson McGee, Jaxon Scrivner, 1:49.78
Girls Free Relay 8 & Under
2. Jana Lawson, Lainey Porter, Sahara Labuary, Addison Arnold, 2:51.04
Mixed 100 Free Relay 9-10
1. Zoe Street, Kwynn Duvall, Gavin Porter, Isabella Kincaid, 1:25.09; 2. Cameron Combs, Will Edwards, Ella Bailey, Isabelle Rohrbach, 1:26.87
Mixed 200 Free Relay 11-13
1. DJ Schneider, Garrett Burger, Megan VanLoo, Tyler Johnston, 2:29.43; 3. Peter Dampf, Megan Arnold, Zoe Edwards, Trenton Irey, 2:53.63
Girls 200 Free Relay 11-13
2. Gabrielle Rohrbach, Mabree Cooper, Madison McCord, Kaylee Manhennet, 2:44.68
Girls 200 Free Relay 14-18
1. Brooklyn VanLoo, Alyssa Sabartinelli, Zoe Zimmerman, Kaylee VanLoo, 2:29.69
Boys 100 IM 10 & Under
1. Cameron Combs, 2:13.69
Girls 100 IM 10 & Under
1. Isabella Kincaid, 1:42.30
Boys 100 IM 11-12
2. DJ Schneider, 2:12.98
Girls 100 IM 13-14
1. Alyssa Sabartinelli, 1:43.85; 2. Zoe Edwards, 1:49.38
Boys 100 IM 15-18
2. Jack Johnston, 1:34.95
Girls 100 IM 15-18
3. Emma Baer, 1:56.07
Girls 25 Back 6 & Under
1. Addison Fletcher, 39.52; 2. Jana Lawson, 40.78; 3. Lainey Porter, 56.99
Boys 25 Back 7-8
2. Jaxon Scrivner, 31.52; 3. Byron Brown, 34.29
Girls 25 Back 7-8
3. Katherine Rohrbach, 28.75
Boys Back 9-10
1. Gavin Porter, 24.20; 3. Kwynn Duvall, 26.22
Girls 50 Back 11-12
3. Gabrielle Rohrbach, 46.83
Boys 50 Back 13-14
1. Garrett Burger, 42.97; 3. Tyler Johnston, 46.67
Girls 50 Back 13-14
2. Alyssa Sabartinelli, 47.10
Girls 50 Back 15-18
2. Sarah McCord, 48.95
Girls 25 Free 6 & Under
1. Addison Fletcher, 39.92; 2. Jana Lawson, 48.72; 3. Lainey Porter, 1:00.83
Boys 25 Free 7-8
1. Byron Brown, 25.40; 2. Jaxon Scrivner, 26.11
Boys 25 Free 9-10
2. Gavin Porter, 21.48
Girls 25 Free 9-10
1. Isabella Kincaid, 16.75; 3. Zoe Street, 19.89
Girls 50 Free 11-12
2. Kaylee Menhennet, 40.38
Boys 50 Free 13-14
1. Tyler Johnston, 31.68; 3. Garrett Burger, 38.53
Girls 50 Free 13-14
3. Megan VanLoo, 37.73
Girls 50 Free 15-18
1. Brooklyn VanLoo, 33.81; 2. Kaylee VanLoo, 34.82
Boys 100 Breast
2. Jack Johnston, 1:31.56
Girls 100 Breast
2. Megan VanLoo, 1:40.57; 3. Brooklyn VanLoo, 1:42.62
Boys 25 Fly 9-10
1. Gavin Porter, 25.20
Girls 25 Fly 9-10
2. Isabelle Rohrbach, 21.97; 3. Zoe Street, 23.65
Girls 50 Fly 13-14
2. Zoe Zimmerman, 49.03
Girls 50 Fly 15-18
2. Kaylee VanLoo, 42.31
Girls 100 Free
3. Madison McCord, 1:33.75
Boys 25 Breast 7-8
1. Chris Murphy, 33.94
Boys 25 Breast 9-10
1. Will Edwards, 29.39; 2. Kwynn Duvall, 30.19
Girls 25 Breast 9-10
1. Isabella Kincaid, 22.73
Girls 50 Breast 11-12
2. Kaylee Menhennet, 54.99
Boys 50 Breast 13-14
1. Tyler Johnston, 43.65; 3. Garrett Burger, 50.84
Girls 50 Breast 13-14
1. Zoe Edwards, 47.29; 2. Megan VanLoo, 47.40; 3. Zoe Zimmerman, 47.54
Boys 50 Breast 15-18
2. Jack Johnston, 38.68
Girls 50 Breast 15-18
2. Brooklyn VanLoo, 46.56; 3. Emma Baer, 59.78
Mixed 100 Medley Relay 8 & Under
1. Addyson McGee, Chris Murphy, Jaxon Scrivner, Byron Brown, 2:09.59
Mixed 100 Medley Relay 9-10
1. Kwynn Duvall, Will Edwards, Gavin Porter, Cameron Combs, 1:42.71
Girls 100 Medley Relay 9-10
1. Isabelle Rohrbach, Isabella Kincaid, Ella Bailey, Zoe Street, 1:40.25
Mixed 200 Medley Relay 11-13
1. Garrett Burger, Megan VanLoo, Tyler Johnston, Megan Arnold, 2:58.12; 3. DJ Schneider, Trenton Irey, Kyla Combs, Peter Dampf, 3:37.17
Girls 200 Medley Relay 11-13
2. Madison McCord, Zoe Edwards, Mabree Cooper, Kaylee Menhennet, 3:15.44
Girls 200 Medley Relay 14-18
1. Gabrielle Rohrbach, Zoe Zimmerman, Emma Baer, Alyssa Sabartinelli, 3:07.52