By ROBERT L. LEE

LAPLACE – The summer is expected to be filled with fun, lessons and competition for nearly 700 swimmers, both boys and girls ranging from 4-18 years old. As soon as school began winding down, the swimmers have been practicing for the River Parish Swim League.

Formerly named the Cajun Swim League, it has grown from a modest two teams, to now include groups from six separate clubs across the area. While some teams jump in with 50 swimmers, others are more than 150 swimmers strong, and are still inviting more participants to join, up until the final deadline of June 15.

The clubs begin the River Parish meets June 10, with the clubs dueling in three locations, rotating through the season so each team hosts a meet.

When the season meets culminate, the top three teams are given monetary awards.

However, the competition does not end. The teams are all invited back for a weekend invitational meet and a chance to splash away with individual and team medals.

This year, the top 18 swimmers in each stroke of Saturday’s qualifying will return Sunday for a chance to win trophies, by swimming against the clock in their respective events. The events include freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, as well as relays and individual medleys.

Every swimmer who advances to the second round on Sunday will receive a medal and the top swimmers in each event will be awarded a trophy.

“Our goal is to have as much participation as possible,” said League President Jun Dufresne, who said two of his three children swam before joining their high school team, and the youngest still competes regularly. “It’s a competitive, but fun league.”

He said although he is the president, it is a neutral position in the league, while the vice president and secretary are each representatives from other teams.

Throughout the entire league, almost every coach and assistant coach is a former league swimmer, and occasionally, will be young and talented enough to both compete and coach.

Dufresne said some teams have dropped out of the summer league because of low participation, but the remaining six are healthy.

LaVacherie, Sun Villa, Hill Heights, Belle Terre and Riverlands country clubs and Larayo complete the current competing teams.

All events are run and judged by parent volunteers, who attend a clinic before taking the role of either starter or stroke judge.

Dufresne said the meets are based on honesty and integrity and the clinics are a requirement for the two most difficult judging positions.

Dufresne said to join the swim league, an interested swimmer must join the swim club at one of the involved clubs and pay the respective fee.