The annual Stamm Family Invitational Swim Meet starts Friday and will bring plenty of aquatic action to the city pool.

New Vicksburg Swim Association coach Matthew Mixon, who arrived in December, is impressed with the turnout for the meet, which will draw teams from as far away as Greenville, Jackson and Ruston (La.)

According to Mixon, 250 to 260 swimmers will participate and admission will be free for fans.

“I think we’re going to have a good turnout,” Mixon, a former Delta State swimmer said. “That’s great, especially considering how expensive a sport swimming can be with all of the travel involved.”

On Friday, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., swimmers ages 10 and under will be competing in the pool. Also on Friday at 5 p.m is the one-mile swim.

On Saturday and Sunday, swimming will start at 9 a.m. 12 and under, with ages 13-18 hitting the pool after 4 p.m.

Among the swimmers to watch are 13-year-old Vicksburg native Wally Wibowo and four-time state champion Laura Lee Smith.

Wibowo was named the top swimmer in the state as a 12-year-old, according to Mixon and now he will compete at the top classification for swimmers ages 13-18.

“He’s just a great athlete,” Mixon said of Wibowo.

Mixon knows Smith from his time as Brandon’s swim coach. Smith has already won four titles despite only being a prep freshman.

“She is easily the best girls swimmer in the state of Mississippi,” Mixon said.

One key for the event is the quality of the city facilities, which Mixon says is a huge boon to the meet’s credibility and popularity in swimming circles.

“We’ve got one of the better facilities in the state here,” Mixon said. “We’re just trying grow our swimming base, develop some good youth and teach sportsmanship through the sport of swimming.”

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Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburgpost.com