Center Grove High School senior swimmer Alex Feitl wanted to try something new this summer.
Feitl decided to join his three younger brothers — D.J., 13, James, 11, and Aaron, 9 — on the Carefree Crocodiles swim team at the Carefree Club in Greenwood.
“They looked up to me a lot,” Feitl said. “They wanted me to win every race, so I did my best to do that.”
Feitl and Drew Shellenberger each won three events in their age group as the Carefee Crocodiles won the Community Swim Conference meet with 506 points, edging Chapel Glen with 485.5 points.
Devon was third with 430 points, followed by Plainfield 244.5 and Meridian Woods 197.
The meet was conducted July 16 at Plainfield High School. The program, for ages 5 to 17, runs through the summer months of June and July, with all the meets at outdoor community pools.
Feitl captured the 50-yard breaststroke, 100 individual medley and 200 freestyle in the 15-to-17 age group.
“I felt really healthy that day and I thought I could put up some good times,” Feitl said. “I actually did have some of my lifetime best times.”
Shellenberger, 14, won the 50-yard butterfly, the 100 individual medley and 50 breaststroke in the 13-14 age group.
“My stroke just seemed really on that day,” Shellenberger said.
Carefree head coach Marcie Colwell said Feitl and Shellenberger are exceptional swimmers.
Shellenberger, who plans to swim for Southport High School as a freshman this winter, has been competing for Carefree for nine years.
Shellenberger said there are two main reasons. First, he has a lot of friends that are on the Carefree team.
“Then there is a little bit of rivalry between the (conference) teams to make it interesting,” he said.
Shellenberger said his favorite Carefree event is the 100 IM, but he expects the 100 breaststroke will be his favorite high school event. He also competes in triathlons and plans to run for Southport’s cross-country and track and field teams.
Colwell, a Greenwood resident, has been with the team 11 years and took over as Carefree head coach this summer, replacing Sam Dikeman. Colwell also coaches the 9-10 age group.
“We get a lot of repeats with kids coming back and coming back,” Colwell said. “The parents are really wonderful bringing them to the early practices every day. The big kids will help the little kids.
“The older children are good role models for the younger ones. It’s an excellent group we have. I like having an impact on the younger swimmers.”
The other coaches are Jake Eckert (ages 11 to 17), Holly Toth (8 and under) and Adam Pongracz (technique).
