The Humboldt Hammerheads Swim Team are set to welcome the competition on Saturday, as they host the season-opening meet.

On June 9, the Hammerheads hosted a mini meet to help refresh the minds of their current swimmers, and also get the new swimmers prepared for races.

Coach Leisl Lefebvre says there are many things to look forward to with the beginning of a new season.

"There's two highly anticipated moments from my perspective," she noted. "One is seeing those new competitive swimmers get in the water and try this for the first time. They've been practicing for over a year already, but now they get to do it in a competitive setting."

Lefebvre adds that another thing to look forward to is seeing how swimmers from the previous year have improved.

On top of that, there are challenges that go with growth in swimmers - among them, is the natural size growth that the body goes through.

If a swimmer goes between three and six inches, it can throw everything off, according to Lefebvre.

"That can be three or six inches in reach as well, and all of a sudden they are getting ready to flip over, but they have already hit the wall, so their timing is off and their strokes are off."

Perhaps beneficial to the swimmers in their first time in the pool competitively this season, is the fact that they are hosting the meet and are familiar with the surroundings.

Lefebvre says that it is especially an advantage for the younger swimmers who are easing into competition.

As for the setting on Saturday, those who decide to attend some races during the Sizzler are in for a treat.

"A really great and overall fun atmosphere, but still competitive. If you happen to come in and watch a race from the beginning and all the swimmers, you get to really see the progression of a stroke."

She noted that the relay races at the end of the day are especially exciting, with extra cheering and anticipation added in.

The Hammerheads will have 51 swimmers competing on Saturday, with a total of 140 swimmers competing.

"It's going to be a pretty full deck and full pool," explained Lefebvre. "We have had parents from other towns tell us that they like the fact that it is a sprint meet, so it ends early. The swimmers usually end up out on the midway at some point."

Races will begin at 9:00am and are expected to conclude around 3:00pm.