Crystal River’s Morgan Gibson Commits to Swim for the University of West Florida This week, the national swimming publication SwimSwam featured a familiar name to the Crystal River community—our own Morgan Gibson, a distinguished senior at Crystal River High School. The magazine reported that Morgan has verbally committed to continue her student-athlete career at the University of West Florida, where she will swim for the NCAA Division II Argonauts beginning in the fall of 2026. Morgan currently trains with Florida Aquatics Swimming & Training (FAST) in Ocala. Before that, she...

Sun Coast Swim Team’s Lia Richards Commits to Shippensburg University Raiders Sun Coast Swim Team and Crystal River High School senior standout Lia Richards has verbally committed to continue her academic and athletic journey at Shippensburg University, joining the NCAA Division II Raiders Swim Team. Lia will pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice while competing at the collegiate level. She has also been invited to join the Shippensburg University Honors College and is considering a minor in athletic coaching, reflecting her commitment to excellence both in and out of...

Sun Coast Swim Team Shines with Big Drops at Fall Invitational ST. PETERSBURG — The Sun Coast Swim Team (SCST) turned in a strong performance this past weekend at the 2025 SPA Kiefer/Speedo Fall Invitational at the North Shore Aquatics Center, with swimmers of all ages delivering gutsy races, lifetime bests, and eye-catching time drops. Under the guidance of Coach Renee Alford, the Crystal River-based team left its mark on one of the biggest early-season meets in the region. Alford Leads the Way in Distance and Sprint No swimmer embodied...

Celebrating a Legend: Happy 84th Birthday, Captain Holme! Today, September 8, 2025, we celebrate the 84th birthday of a true leader and pillar of the Citrus County swimming community and the Sun Coast Swim Team: Thomas T. Holme, more affectionately known as Captain. For decades, his dedication has shaped not only the Sun Coast Swim Team but also the lives of hundreds of young athletes. Captain Holme, a decorated U.S. Naval officer, began his journey in Citrus County swimming in 1992. Just three years later, in 1995, he founded the...

Sun Coast Swim Team Shines at 2025 Riptide Aquatics Summer Open This past weekend, the Sun Coast Swim Team (SCST) made a powerful splash at the 2025 Riptide Aquatics Summer Open, held at the Ed Gandy Pool Complex in Lakeland, Florida. This mid-summer competition has become a hallmark event for SCST each season, and this year’s meet delivered yet another exciting chapter in the team’s journey. Sixteen SCST swimmers competed in the high-energy, two-day event, racing against athletes from 11 teams across the region. When the lanes finally settled, SCST...

SCST’s Jocelyn Daugherty Wins Big at the TGH Citrus Kids Triathlon! The Sun Coast Swim Team (SCST) is thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievement of Jocelyn Daugherty (14), who took 1st place in the Ladies Senior B division at the TGH Citrus Kids Triathlon! �� This USA Triathlon-sanctioned event, hosted by the Citrus County Education Foundation (CCEF) and managed by DRC Sports, took place at the scenic Bicentennial Park in Crystal River, FL. Young athletes from across the area competed in swimming, biking, and running, showcasing their endurance, determination, and...

Welcome to Our New Sun Coast Swim Team Coaches: Renee Alford and Grace Laycock The Sun Coast Swim Team (SCST) is thrilled to welcome two new coaches, Renee Alford and Grace Laycock, to our growing swim family. Both coaches bring experience, dedication, and passion that will undoubtedly enhance our team’s success and community spirit. Coach Renee Alford Renee Alford is no stranger to the SCST family. As a board member and longtime dedicated supporter, Renee has played a pivotal role in the team’s growth and development. A former competitive swimmer...

Sun Coast Swim Team Welcomes New Board Members The Sun Coast Swim Team (SCST) is thrilled to announce the addition of four new members to its Board of Directors, approved at the July 3rd, 2024 meeting. The new Board members are Chuck Gatton, Mike Laycock, Leigh Anne Silva, and Renee Alford. Each brings a wealth of experience, dedication, and passion to the team, further enhancing SCST's mission to support its swimmers, families, and coaches. Chuck Gatton Chuck Gatton, the former head coach of SCST, continues to make significant contributions to...

Sun Coast Swim Team Cheers On Champions at 2024 FLAG Summer Long Course Championships The Sun Coast Swim Team extends its best wishes to our 2024 Florida Age Group (FLAG) championship Summer Long Course champion swimmers Cullen Alford (12), Halle Filipic (10), and Chase Alford (10). These talented athletes will be competing from July 11 through July 14, 2024, at the prestigious Florida Aquatics Swimming & Training center in Ocala, FL. Their dedication, hard work, and perseverance have brought them to this significant stage, and we are immensely proud of...

SCST Shines at Riptide Aquatics Summer Open with Impressive Team and Individual Performances The Sun Coast Swim Team (SCST) showcased their dedication and talent at the Riptide Aquatics Summer Open held on June 22-23, 2024, at the Ed Gandy Pool Complex in Lakeland, Florida. Competing at this meet for nearly two decades, SCST continued their tradition of excellence, securing second place overall despite bringing a smaller contingent of swimmers this year. The team's impressive performance was highlighted by three swimmers who earned the prestigious High Point Award for their respective...