MOULTRIE — Mitchell Taylor is one of the newest members of the Moultrie Sharks Swim Team, but he has quickly made his mark.

Taylor, competing in the 7-8 boys 25-yard backstroke event on Friday in the first day of Georgia Recreation and Parks Association’s State B/C Swimming Champion-ships at the Jim Buck Goff Recreation Complex, finished seventh in the finals.

The 7-year-old Taylor turned in a 24.86 to finish sixth in the prelimaries.

In the finals, he had a time of 28.06, three seconds out of sixth place.

Taylor Delk of the Habersham Rapids Swim Team was first with a 17.29.

“Mitchell’s only been with us about a month,” said Moultrie Sharks coach Pierre Rogers. “But he’s been progressing real well.”

Taylor was one of just three Sharks who competed in the first day of the state meet, which included competition in the 7-8 and 10-and-under age groups.

Competition will begin at 9:30 this morning in the 12-and-under, 14-and-under and 15-18 age groups.

Andy Alekseichuk and Burton Brown competed in the 10-and-under boys 25-yard freestyle and breaststroke events.

Alekseichuk was 12th in the prelims in both events. Brown was 15th in the breaststroke and 17th in the freestyle.

The top eight finishers in the prelims advanced to the finals.

Medals were awarded in 32 events on Friday and three of the first-place finishers set state records.

Emmaline Brannon of the Cairo-Grady Sharks established a new record when she turned in a 32.06 to win the 7-8 girls freestyle.

Annie Williamson will return to Oconee County with a state record after her 20.74 won the 7-8 girls 25-yard breaststroke event.

And Natalie Wills of the Douglas Stingrays set a state record with a 14.11 in the 10-and-under girls 25-yard butterfly.

The meet has drawn more than 600 swimmers representing 24 teams.

Williamson’s record-setting time helped lead the Oconee County All-Stars to the top team score after the first day of competition with 310 points.

The Baldwin Aqua Dragons are second with 182 points.

The Tiftarea YMCA Tidal Waves are third with 108 points, followed closely by Walton County Youth Swimming, which has 106 points.

The first-day winners include:

• Robert Wylie, Oconee County, 7-8 boys 50 freestyle, 34.89.

• Mary Shoup, Tiftarea Tidal Waves,10-and-under 50 free, 33.91.

• Michael Martino, Baldwin Aqua Dragons, 10-and-under boys 50 free, 32.05.

• Oconee County, 7-8 girls, 100 medley relay, 1:20.52.

• Baldwin Aqua Dragons, 7-8 girls 100 medley relay, 1:22.38.

• Oconee County, 10-and-under girls 100 medley relay, 1:12.53.

• Oconee County, 10-and-under boys 100 medley relay, 1:10.02.

• Rebekah Smith, Thomasville Riptide, 7-8 girls 25 free, 16.18.

• Palmer Clark, Baldwin Aqua Dragons, 7-8 boys, 25 free, 15.10.

• Garrett Devaney, Oconee County, 10-and-under boys 25 free, 14.19.

• Andrew Mattison, Winder-Barrow, 7-8 boys, 25 breast, 21.54.

• Marissa Stanert, Statesboro-Bulloch Sharks, 10-and-under girls 25 breast, 19.02.

• Anton Franzlubbers, Oconee County, 10-and-under boys, 25 breast, 18.47.

• Emmaline Brannon, Cairo-Grady, 7-8 girls 100 IM, 1:25.96.

• Robert Wylie, Oconee County, 7-8 boys, 100 IM, 1:34.42.

• Marissa Stanert, Statesboro-Bulloch, 10-and-under girls 100 IM, 1:21.94.

• Andrew Linzie, Walton County, 10-and-under boys 100 IM, 1:20. 63.

• Erin Register, Tiftarea Tidal Waves, 7-8 girls, 25 back, 20.86.

• Taylor Delk, Habersham Rapids, 7-8 boys 25 back, 17.29.

• Katie Delk, Habersham Rapids, 10-and-under girls, 25 back, 18.14.

• John Stelmack, Habersham Rapids, 10-and-under boys 25 back, 17.35.

• Caroline Allen, Oconee County, 7-8 girls 25 fly, 19.46.

• Palmer Clark, Baldwin Aqua Dragons, 7-8 boys, 25 fly, 17.77

• Garrett Devaney, Oconee County, 10-and-under boys 25 fly, 15.23.

• Oconee County, 7-8 girls 100 free relay, 1:11.67.

• Walton County, 10-and-under girls 100 free relay, 1:03.70.

• Oconee County, 10-and-under boys 100 free relay, 1:00.84.

While only three Moultrie Sharks competed on Friday, the host team will have a bigger representation today.

Caroline Rogers, Ashlee Paramore, Jessica Price, Haley Goodman, Amy Peek and Connor Walsh qualified for individual events.

And the 11-12 girls 200-yard medley relay team also will be in the water today.

Staci Repass will swim the backstroke, Goodman the breaststroke, Katie Moore the butterfly and Ansley Moore the freestyle for the relay team.

“These kids have really worked hard,” Pierre Rogers said. “There is a group of them who have worked from 5:30-7 a.m.

“They are really getting sharp now and are ready to swim their best. I think they will come through.”

Rogers said he has been especially pleased with Paramore, who will swim in the 15-18 age group.

“She’s been working hard to get in shape for the high school season,” he said. “It’s really amazing the progress she’s made.”

Rogers said the first day of meet, which is run by the Moultrie-Colquitt County Parks and Recreation Department, went smoothly.

“We’ve really got a great group of officials and volunteers,” he said. “The parents have done a super job.”