During the past three years the Mercerwood Shore Club has not lost a Midlakes swim meet. But the one team that has posed the biggest challenge to the Manta Rays is Edgebrook, twice nearly ending the Shore Club’s win streak. Mercerwood again showed why its run of now 22 consecutive victories is not a fluke as they defeated their biggest league rival 385-321, despite low swimmer attendance, hot temperatures and hostile surroundings Thursday.

“I was very nervous,” said Mercerwood Shore Club coach Alice Godfred. “They have a good team and I was thrilled for us to get the win.”

Godfred said that all of her 8-and-under and senior swimmers stepped up.

“They were all really strong for us,” said Godfred, whose team took first in 42 of the 68 events. “We had some senior boys who had swam in a meet in Seattle earlier that day and they really swam well.”

The Shore Club, which normally has fewer swimmers than Edgebrook was even more out manned with just 92 swimmers.

“We normally are over 100 for an A meet,” said Godfred, who emphasized how important the meet was during the week. “We had a couple of kids that came back early from vacation but both teams were missing key swimmers.”

The swimmers and coaches also had the added stress of 85 degree heat to deal with.

“The heat was definitely a factor for the coaches,” joked Godfred. “But we tried to keep all the kids in the shade.”

Godfred also pointed out that dehydration is always a concern in the heat, especially for the swimmers.

“You don’t think about the fact that you sweat when you are swimming but we really tried to monitor all the kids,” said Godfred.

The win streak has become a source of pride for the swimmers and the club during the past three seasons.

“It is so much fun for the kids to keep the streak alive,” said Godfred. “But we are making sure to work on sportsmanship and a good attitude as well.”

The victory made the team’s Island rivalry meet with the Mercer Island Country Club Tuesday (after Reporter deadline) all that more important.

“They really have a solid team and we have a lot of respect for what they have done the last few years,” said Godfred, referring to the rebirth of the Country Club into the title hunt.

With a win, the Shore Club gains Island bragging rights but more importantly, its fourth regular season title in as many years.