Biloxi hosts regional swim meet for Mississippi Senior Games

Swimmers from California, Arkansas, Alabama, Texas and Mississippi gathered in Biloxi to compete in the Mississippi Senior Games.

This year’s Senior Games was a non-qualifying year for Nationals, but it did not stop swimmers from improving their times and learning some new pointers for next year’s qualifying meet.

Teams competed in a number of individual heats and relays and even received medals for their efforts.

The Senior Games also provided an opportunity to friends to get together and reminisce on the good times.

“We have a team from Gulfport from 30 years ago that’s having a reunion right now,” said Andrea Robertson, event coordinator for the Senior Games. “They all swam for Coach Dana Abbott who’s here from Texas, who’s very involved in U.S. Swimming on a national scale. and so he came over and they’re all swimming together.”

Dana Abbott, the head swim coach from St. John the 23rd College Prep, said he received a text telling him to come to the meet in Biloxi.

“I got a text a couple of months ago telling me about it from one of my former swimmers who last time I saw him he was one of my 13-year-old kids who’s now 60 and he said I ought to come over and get together with some of our old swimmers,” Abbott said.

This Mississippi Games is an annual event. Next year, contestants will be able to qualify for nationals.