For one night, two rival swim teams join forces to help those in need
Marvin Ridge and Weddington will face off Monday for team championships in the annual Union County Swim Meet, but before renewing their rivalry, the teams joined forces on a special Christmas project.
For the fourth straight year, members of the rival swim teams from the two neighborhoods assembled stockings full of gifts for those in need.
“We started this at Marvin Ridge eight years ago,” said Melissa King-Pierce, who has coached the Mavericks to two straight boys 3A state championships. “We expanded it to Weddington when the Fishers moved there.”
The Fishers — Craig, head swim coach at Weddington High, and his wife Dianne — were part of the Marvin Ridge community until Union County Public Schools redistricting in 2015 moved them to Weddington.
Now members of the two teams buy a variety of small gift items, then gather on a weeknight in early December to stuff the stockings. Later this month, those stockings will be distributed to children through the Union County Christmas Bureau, where Dianne Fisher is a volunteer.
“It’s green and orange, mixed together,” Craig Fisher said, referring to the two schools’ primary colors. “Next week, they’ll be competing against each other. But tonight, they’re working together.”
Marvin Ridge and Weddington work together
About 50 swimmers gathered last Wednesday evening at Weddington Swim and Racquet Club. By the time they were finished, they had stuffed 173 stockings, which is thought to be the second-most ever in the program. Items in the stockings include books, pens, toys, candy and toiletries.
“At first it was difficult to think of what to buy,” said Weddington swimmer Joshua Madrigal, a sophomore. “But we learned that anything is helpful. You try to stuff as much into the stockings as you can.”
“It’s a cool way for Marvin and Weddington to get together and do something for the community,” added junior Madeline Tessin, who anchored Marvin Ridge’s 200-meter freestyle relay team that finished third in last year’s state meet. “We hope it makes Christmas a little happier for the kids.”
Marvin Ridge finished second and Weddington fourth in the boys 3A state finals last season, while the Mavericks were first and Weddington eighth in girls competition.
They will be the favorites Monday in the Union County meet, set for noon at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center.
“These are two swimming powers, and we’re definitely rival schools, especially in swimming,” King-Pierce said. “But helping the community brings us together.”
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
This story was originally published December 9, 2019 at 10:04 AM.