MOULTRIE – Colquitt County High swim team coach Pierre Rogers says his team will open its 2008-2009 season on Saturday in “polar bear fashion.”

With the Friday night-Saturday morning low temperature forecast to be in the upper 20s and Saturday’s high only 55, the Packers and Lady Packers will compete in the Tift County Blue Devil Invitational at the Tiftarea YMCA’s Stafford Aquatic Center’s outdoor pool.

Fortunately for the expected 220 swimmers representing the 12 teams, the dressing rooms and pool water are heated.

And the start of the meet has been moved from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in hopes of giving the swimmers a chance to hit the water in somewhat warmer temperatures.

Rogers said Colquitt County swimmers have never competed outdoors during the regular season.

Also competing Saturdday, will be Jeff Davis, Heritage, Northside-Warner Robins, Coffee, Tift County, Shaw, Baldwin, Howard, Rutland, Westside-Macon and Central-Macon.

The rest of the Colquitt County schedule – which includes six other meets includes six other meets before the Jan. 31, region championships — will feature indoor venues.

This year’s Colquitt County team has 25 swimmers, including seniors Amy Peek, Christina Rogers, William Cobb, Andrew Green, Malcolm Marks and Chris Phillips.

“We have been receiving great leadership from our seniors at practice so far this season,” Rogers said. “This will be an exciting meet with quite a large number of Packer swimmers that are competing in their first swim meet.”

The girls expected to represent Colquitt County on Saturday are:

• Jennifer Cothern, sophomore, 200-yard medley relay A (freestyle), 100 free, 200 free relay B and 100 backstroke.

• Kara Dobbs, junior, 200 medley relay B (butterfly), 50 free, 100 free 200 free relay A.

• Laci Jarrell, sophomore, 200 medley relay B (free), 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay C.

• Amy Peek, senior, 200 medley relay A (breaststroke), 200 individual medley, 500 free and 200 free relay B.

• Aubrey Perryman, junior, 200 medley relay C (breast), 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay C.

• Everley Perryman, freshman, 200 medley relay C (fly), 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay C.

• Amber Phillips, junior, 200 medley relay C (back), 100 free, 200 free relay B, 100 back.

• Jessica Price, sophomore, 200 medley relay B (breast), 200 free, 200 free relay A, 100 breast.

• Samantha Price, freshman, 200 medley relay B (back), 200 IM, 200 free relay B, 100 back.

• Staci Repass, freshman, 200 medley relay A (back), 200 free, 200 free relay A, 100 back.

• Christina Rogers, senior, 200 medley relay A (fly), 500 free, 200 free relay A and 100 breast.

• Leah Stanaland, junior, 200 medley relay C (free), 50 free, 200 free relay C,100 back.

The boys team members are:

• Landon Bass, freshman, 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay.

• Andrew Carlton, 200 medley relay A (back), 50 free, 100 free,200 free relay A.

• William Cobb, senior, 200 medley relay A (free), 200 free, 100 free, 200 free relay A.

• Wes Cox, 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay C.

• Andrew Green, senior, 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay B.

• Mitchell Hawes, freshman, 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay B.

• Malcolm Marks, senior, 50 free, 100 free.

•Jody Morris, freshman, 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay B.

• Chris Phillips, senior, 200 medley relay A (breast), 200 free, 100 free, 200 free relay A.

• Blake Powell, freshman, 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay.

• Ethan Sobalvarro, freshman, 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay C.

• Denarrious Thornton, junior, 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay C.

• Connor Walsh, sophomore, 200 medley relay A (fly), 200 free, 500 free and 200 free relay A.

The Colquitt County swim team will be off next Saturday, then will travel to the sixth annual Bainbridge Bearcat Bash Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 6.

After going to the Northside High Eagle Invitational on Dec. 13, Colquitt County will play host to the Packer Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 3.