While Michael Phelps was setting one new Olympic record after another, the swimming teams at both local high schools were getting ready for the fall season.

Next week - Tuesday, Sept. 2 - Fort Mill and Nation Ford high schools will square off in the Leroy Springs Complex pool. The Yellow Jackets opened their season against Northwestern yesterday (results were not available by press time) and next week's meet at the Complex will be the Falcons' debut.

At Nation Ford, Melissa Halstensgard is back as head coach. She's looking forward to a good year.

"Without a senior class last year, we did not lose any swimmers for this season," she said. "In fact we have grown to 35 members. Last year, we were a small team and competed well at the state tournament. As a result, we have been invited to 'Swimming in Da Crick' at Goosecreek, in September."

According to Halstensgard, "It is an honor to swim in the invitational and we will compete with some of the top teams in the state. Adam Rainey of Rock Hill is the new assistant coach and we will work to compete well again this season."

Swimmers to look for are (boys): Jordan Berry, Justin Ashcraft, Evan Ashcraft, Lucas Hawes, Brian Peterson and Seth Greene and (girls): Anna Kimbrell, Alexa Ashcraft, Kati Morris, Brooke Josa and Paige Conrad.

Halstensgard was raised in Minnesota and started competitive swimming at age 9. She was on the girls swim team in high school and then graduated from Northwestern College in St. Paul, in 2006.

"When I got my teaching job at Fort Mill, someone heard about my experience in swimming and I landed the head coach's position at Fort Mill High. When the opportunity to teach world geography, my first passion, came up at Nation Ford, I knew that I wanted to teach and coach at the new school. It was exciting last year to work with the first swim team for the school," Halstensgard said.

Fort Mill is coached by Lindsey Hawkins again this year.

"Jenni Russell and Holly Hirsch are seniors this year and they both have been competitive swimmers since seventh grade," Hawkins said.

"We have a young team of good swimmers and I think we are in the rebuilding stage this year after graduating several senior swimmers last year."

Born and raised in Fort Mill, Hawkins herself has been a swimmer since she was 3 and swam at the Complex. She swam on a club team and was a member of the first Fort Mill High School Swim Team when she was a ninth-grader.

While Hawkins was attending Winthrop, Fort Mill's swim coach, Gray Young offered her the assistant coaching position.

Hawkins served in that position for five years and then took the head coach's position when Halstensgard moved to Nation Ford.

"We are excited about the fall season. The coaches are working hard with the kids to prepare," said Fort Mill's Athletic Director, Bailey Jackson.