TIFTON — Tiftarea Academy’s swim program is ready for the 2019-20 season.

“We’re off to a good start,” said Cindy Harbort, who is in her first year of coaching the team. “I’m excited, the kids are excited. We have numbers like we’ve never had before.”

Tiftarea’s swim program is still new. Harbort estimates about 35 in the program, a significant increase from 2018-19. The success of last year’s team probably helped, she said. Tiftarea finished sixth in state at the high school level and 13th in middle school.

About 22 of the swimmers are experienced. Many are active during the summer, be it with the Tiftarea Tidal Wave or the Fitzgerald Fins. “It helps us out with the experience,” she said. The junior varsity teams are especially experienced.

Carrie Engram will lead the varsity. At the GISA state meet last season, she took third place in the 500 freestyle and 100 butterfly.

“Carrie’s our only returner,” said Harbort. “We’re hoping her positive influence and team leadership will pull the rest of the older swimmers together.”

Tiftarea started its season Saturday at the Dean Ferrell Invitational in Thomasville. The middle school goes back to Thomasville Saturday for a meet hosted by Thomas County Central. There will be a varsity meet hosted by Thomas County Central Nov. 20. There will finally be a non-Thomasville meet Nov. 22. Tiftarea goes to Brunswick for a meet hosted by Frederica Academy.

The high school roster for Tiftarea has one 12th grader, Jordan Harbort, and two 11th graders, Engram and Allison Carter. Brandon Maag and Claire Haynes. In ninth grade are Natalie Johnson, Lily Rodgers, Lars Sims and Roji Singh. Eighth grade swimmers are Hallie Haggard, Gigi Kendrick and Abbi Richter.

For the middle school team, Lexi Connell, Lindsey Carter, Kinsley Giddens, Kensie Law, Hannah Grace Murphy, Logan Floyd, John Michael White, Jacob Jones and Jackson Johnson are in seventh grade. Alexa Maag and Jase Hendricks are in sixth. Fifth grade competitors are Madi Shoultz, Maci Shoultz, Kinsley Wiggins, Coley Beth Croft, Cameron Faulkner, Addilyn Jones, Ethan VanOrman, Parker Hobbs and Andrew Connell.