With all this chilly weather and a hurricane floating around, the last thing on your mind might be swimming, but not for the Chesapeake Bay Aquatic Club members. They are eager to get the season under way.

Nearly 14 teams were present at the aquatics center at St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s Michael P. O’ Brien Athletics and Recreation Center in St. Mary’s City on Oct. 20 and 21 for the Fall Warm-up meet.

The organization is also getting set for its second annual Swim-a-Thon, which will take place on Nov. 8 at St. Mary’s College.

Swim-a-Thon is the only pledge-for-length program recognized by the USA Swimming Foundation. Since 1998, Swim-a-Thons have generated more than $30 million for swim clubs and swim programs across the country.

Participants earn money by swimming lengths of the swimming pool. Swimmers have a two-hour period in which to swim a maximum of 200 lengths. Swimmers get pledges from family, neighbors or businesses to support their efforts. Donors make a flat donation in support of a team.

At the Fall Warm-up meet, 506 swimmers attended from around Maryland, 61 of them being CBAC swimmers. According to CBAC vice president Cheryl Raley, CBAC posted an 88.9 percent improvement rating and she was excited to announce 2012 record setters already.

“This didn’t happen by chance,” Raley said via email, “because of our knowledgeable and dedicated coaches, Julio Zarate, Patrick Morris, Casey Brandt, Susan Shannon and Dave Conrad, as well as the swimmers and their families who have made the commitment to swim.”

The Raiders’ 12-year-old Merriam Hagadorn took home four wins, dropping time in each event. Hagadorn won the 100-yard butterfly in 1 minute 11.49 seconds, dropping from her seed time of 1:26.35. She also improved on her 100 backstroke (1:10.74). Her 100 individual medley time of 1:12.55 was replaced with her new time of 1:09.79. She also won the 200 IM in 2:32.64, dropping immensely from a 2:58.10.

“We only had a few DQs which were basically things that will go away with more meet experience for the swimmers,” Raley said. “I was quite happy to see so many flip turns in the freestyle events from my newest swimmers who learned how to do them recently. Everyone did at least one flip turn in the 100 free and [5-year-old] Hannah Heisler did all flip turns.”

Elizabeth D'Aurora swam the entire 100 IM with her goggles filled with water, but swam through it and didn't get disqualified. Savannah Raley swam the 500 free for the first time and earned B times in the 100 IM, 200 IM, 100 free, 50 back and 100 breaststroke. Raley earned at BB time in the 100 back. Sophie Cham swam the 100 breast and the 200 IM for the first time and also earned BB times in the 100 free and 100 back.

CBAC also won the 11- to 12-year-old 200 free relay with Tyra Countiss, Caitlin Jonasen, Savannah O’Dell and Samantha Chan in 1:59.43, improving on the seed time of 2:03.21. Another outstanding race was the girls 13-14 200 free as Kaleigh Hanson won the race in 2:11.69, dropping time down from a 2:02.63. Hanson also won the 100 fly in 1:06.26.

CBAC won the 13-14 girls 200 free relay in 1:49.17 with Hannah Ray, Lindsay Davis, Marion D’Aurora and Maddie Snow.

For the boys 15 and older, Chris Kahl captured the win in the 200 back (2:00.95), breaking the 2009 record set by Kevin Flood. Kahl also won broke the 2004 record held by Eric Pino in the 100 back (58.65) and the 200 breast (2:25.65).

On the relay end of things, CBAC won the 200 medley relay in 1:44.79 with Brad Shannon, Brandon Seidenberger, Kahl and Travis Askins. CBAC also won the 200 free relay in 1:34.80 with Askins, Shannon, Kahl and Caleb Kaslik.

Kaslik also won the 50 free in 24.22 and Askins took home wins in the 200 breast (2:29.35) and 100 back (1:01.84). The 13-14 200 free relay was taken by CBAC in 1:44.85 with Liam Vienneau, Eric Askins, Andrew Scott and Mike Kaslik.

The 9-10 year old boys 200 free relay and 200 medley relay teams set new records. Conner Anderson, Zachary Davis, Timothy Mai and Conor Vienneau broke a 2006 record with their time of 2:30.46.

Conor Vienneau, Mai, Bradley Beall and Max Green set a new record in the 200 medley (2:53.10) originally set in March.

The next meet will take place on Nov. 9-10 at the U.S. Naval Academy.

The North Baltimore Aquatic Club Invitational will be hosted by CBAC at St. Mary’s College Dec. 14 to 16.

tshowalter@somdnews.com