Katie Marie Womack will be one of the Tidal Wave swimmers at today's state meet.

TIFTON — Preparations have finished for the Tiftarea Tidal Wave. The Georgia Recreation and Park Association state Class B/C tournament starts this morning at Tifton’s Baldwin Drive Aquatic Center. The state long course championships are on the horizon.

“All of our swimmers are really looking forward to their end of season peak meet,” said head coach Dustin Bengston. “For some it is this meet in Tifton. For those that are qualified, it is the following week at Georgia Tech for the 14-and-under state USA meet where we will be taking our largest group ever. Finally, for our 15-and-up that are qualified for USA state, their big meet is at [the University of Georgia] at the end of July.”

Focus at this point is mainly on “fine tuning the small things” and lowering the swimmers’ workload.

Bengston said the district meet “went about as we thought it would.” There was only one disqualification of a swimmer that he thought really hurt them.

The Tidal Wave had first place finishes in individual events from Trey Dorminey, Ke’Nashah Mitchell, John Michael White, Lauren Stone, Laney Griffin, Kay Bailey Robinson, Karson Ponder, Parker Hobbs, Raegin Walker, Elijah Hellman, Hayden Roberts, Jacob Redd, Andrew Connell, Tucker Dowdy and Case Gregory.

Tiftarea finished on top in the 7-8 girls and boys 100 medley relay teams, the girls 10-and-under 100 medley relay team, the mixed 10-and-under 100 medley relay, the boys 12-and-under 200 medley relay, the girls 18-and-under 200 medley relay, the girls and boys 7-8 100 freestyle relay, girls 10-and-under 100 freestyle relay, mixed 10-and-under 100 freestyle relay, boys 12-and-under 200 freestyle relay and girls 18-and-under 200 freestyle relay.

Craig Sowell of the Tift County Recreation Department said that 46 members of the Tiftarea team are scheduled to compete at state, which starts at 9 a.m.

Tiftarea has one of the biggest groups to compete, trailing only Douglas (71), Calhoun (60), Jefferson (57) and Oconee County (52). The Tidal Wave would have an even higher total for the GRPA event if not for the older swimmers that will be competing at Georgia Tech and Georgia in the USA meets.

Thirteen Tidal Wave team members had a part in an individual or team first place finish in last year’s meet, which saw Tiftarea finish fifth overall. Nine are on the roster this year: Ponder, Hannah Murphy, Leighellyn Bengston, Hellman, John Michael White, Mitchell, Walker, Gregory and Mary Grace White.

Different opposing teams are strong in different age groups, said Bengston.

“In the 7-8 and 9-10 division, most teams at the meet bring their whole squad,” he said. “Once you get to 11-and-up, different teams have different policies on which of their swimmers attend GRPA meets and which focus on USA swimming meets.”

Naturally, Bengston is glad that the Tift County Recreation Department hosts the meet each year. He said the coaches and parents help out as much as possible.

He also likes the local impact.

“We think it’s great for the business of the community to bring in the large number of participants from out of town,” Bengston said. Sowell estimated that there would be 750 competitors from all around the state participating.

Bengston thanked the Tidal Wave’s parents and sponsors for making the year a success.