Cougars take season-opening win

Savannah Couch takes the second leg in the 200-yard freestyle relay. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

ROACHDALE -- The North Putnam girls' swim team opened its season in good form with a small meet against Covenant Christian and took the victory 94.5to 38.5.

"It was a good meet," NPHS coach Josh Willer said. "It was the first meet of the season for the girls and the first meet for me as a coach. We are learning a lot right now and trying to figure each other out and what we are capable of doing."

Willer is a Putnam County native who graduated from South Putnam in 2001 and has been coaching in Antigua and Barbuda, a country in the Caribbean.

"We've been making a lot of changes in practice," Willer said. "Just techniques, turns and strokes. Today the big focus was trying to really implement those changes for this meet. I did see some of it, we need to see more of it."

Willer said he is enjoying working with the Lady Cougars and said the North Putnam swimmers are willing to alter their swimming to accomplish what their coach is wanting.

"These girls are pretty coachable," Willer said. "They adapt well when you tell them a certain technique they really get their mind involved. They really try and pay attention to changing. They've got good energy. They are fun to coach."

The Cougars took the win easily as the Warriors had a small team and Willer was happy to see some competition in the race to push his Lady Cougars for faster times.

"We have a young team of girls," Willer said. "So I'm looking forward to developing them over the next three or four years and maybe we can get some fast swimming.