Off the Bench: Gulf Coast swimmers get showcase

Don Henshaw picked a tough time to be battling illness.

With his Gulf Coast Swim Team about to host its biggest meet ever, Henshaw was still trying to overcome a cold he caught on an airplane two weeks ago. Earlier this week Henshaw was still sporting a scratchy voice.

Not to worry, though, because Henshaw has bright, promising swimmers whose talents in the pool speak volumes about the local swimming program.

Gulf Coast will host its inaugural Morgan Stanley Invitational at the Lee County/Florida Gulf Coast University Aquatics Center. Competition runs Friday morning through Sunday evening.

The meet is expected to attract more than 500 swimmers to the FGCU campus. The largest contingent is from the Sarasota YMCA Sharks, who have 139 swimmers entered, followed by Swim Florida of Fort Myers with 103. Other teams are coming from Tampa, Orlando, Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale, no doubt providing an economic boost outside of the water.

"This helps hotels in the area and keeps us from having to travel," said Henshaw.

It also provides an opportunity for the public to catch some of Gulf Coast's premier swimmers who have made their mark well beyond the boundaries of Florida.

Chelsea Franklin, a 15-year-old from Estero, has already qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 400 meter free and is a member of the National Junior Team. Franklin's featured races this weekend include the 200, 400 and 1500 meter free, events which she is ranked No. 1 in the state by Florida Swimming for 15-16 year-olds.

Franklin's Gulf Coast teammate, 14-year-old Gabrielle Ortega, has also racked up impressive credentials. Like Franklin, Ortega is ranked first in the state in the 400, 800 and 1500 meter free in her age group. Last fall Ortega earned one of 30 spots in the National Select Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

On the boys side, Nicholas Caldwell, 13, holds five national age group records. Caldwell recently began racing in the 13-14 age group after overwhelming the 11-12 year-old section. He holds the state's top ranking for 11-12 year-olds in the 100, 200, 400 and 1500 meter free as well as the 100 and 200 fly and the 200 and 400 IM.

In all, Gulf Coast will have 63 entries at the Invitational.

Henshaw said Monday that the meet still needs volunteers to do timings.

"It's easy work in the shade and we feed them," he said.

Preliminary races begin each day at 8 a.m. Finals are set for Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 5:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. There is no admission fee.