Kiwanis hosting annual swim meet

Grab those swimming trunks, air-up those floaties, and strap on those goggles. It’s time for the annual Kiwanis Club swim meet at the Portales City Pool.

On Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., swimmers between ages nine and 18 will gather to compete in four events.

Competitors are split into groups and compete in freestyle, back-stroke, and breaststroke swimming. Ribbons will be awarded to the top six swimmers in each event.

Swimmers between the ages of nine and 15 will be competing in the coin-toss event, which features Kiwanis Club members tossing between $25 and $50 in quarters in the shallow end of the pool.

The swimmer coming up with the most coins, wins. All coin-toss competitors get to keep the quarters they collect in their dives.

Tony Shroeder has been a Kiwanis Club member for three years, and said the coin-toss is a favorite among swimmers.

“They love to go after those quarters,” Shroeder said, noting the meet has taken place for at least the past 10 years.

The swim meet is also beneficial to the community in general, according to pool employees.

Marcela Garcia is a lifeguard at the pool, and said the swim meet makes children feel like they are a part of something in Portales.

“I think because there’s not really a program like that around here, it really gets kids involved and makes them feel like they are part of a team,” Garcia said.

Shroeder said he welcomes the entire community to come out, enjoy the activities and get some watermelon in the park after the meet.