Connor Walsh, right, says he has enjoyed his 12 years of swimming for Moultrie Sharks coach Pierre Rogers, left.

When he was 6 years old, Connor Walsh watched his older brother swim for the Moultrie Sharks and thought he would give it a try.

Twelve years later, Walsh will swim in his final competitive events for the Sharks today in the GRPA state meet in Tifton and later this summer will travel north to begin his collegiate career at Berry College.

Although he was in Rome at Berry for orientation when the Sharks competed in the District III meet and qualified for the state meet, Walsh was able to get a chance for one last swim when one of his Moultrie Shark teammates was unable to participate.

The 16-18 boys 200-yard freestyle and medley relay teams will compete today in the final day of the two-day meet. Also swimming on the relay teams will be Austin Vines, Ethan Solbavarro and Andy Alekseichuk.

The Sharks are being represented by 14 swimmers at the meet.

The meet will end Walsh’s long association with the Sharks and coach Pierre Rogers.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for Coach Pierre,” Walsh said this week. “He’s a wonderful coach. It’s been a real blessing to have been able to swim for him.”

Walsh has been an integral part of the Sharks program since following his brother Taylor onto the pool deck.

He has given other sports a try over the years, “But I was good at swimming real quick and other sports just didn’t click.”

Breaststroke is his best event and is the one he will compete in at Berry.

Rogers has no doubt but that Walsh will succeed at the next level.

“He’s strong academically and he is always ready,” Rogers said. “He’s a great young man to have on the pool deck.

“He’ll do well at Berry.”

The Berry program is just in its third year, but Walsh said he believes the program is in good hands with coach Paul Flinchbaugh, who started the swim team in 2008.

Flinchbaugh previously coached at Darton College and has spent nine yeras at both the NCAA Division III and high school levels.

“He’s phenomenal,” Walsh said. “He’s one of the nicest people I’ve met and he’s obviously a great coach. The program has grown so much since he’s been there. He knows what he’s doing.”

Walsh will be part of the Vikings program that is joining a new Division III athletic conference.

Berry has completed two years of a four-year provisional membership in Division III. The new conference, which has not been named, will become operation in the fall of 2012.

Joining Berry as founders of the new conference will be Birmingham-Southern College, Centre College, Hendrix College, Millsaps College, Oglethorpe University, Rhodes College and Sewanee: the University of the South.

Walsh said he is looking forward to one last meet with his Sharks teammates.

“It’s been a blessing to have had all these friendships,” he said.