HOLLY SPRINGS — The fourth annual South Wake Invitational Meet (S.W.I.M.), hosted by the Marlins of Raleigh swim team took place Sunday morning. More than 460 swimmers from 12 summer swim clubs, ranging in skill from novice to what Marlins head coach Paul Silver called “some of the best of the state,” beat the heat at the Sunset Ridge Swim Club in Holly Springs.

The Shepherd’s Vineyard Killer Whales won the meet, edging out the YMCA by 53.5 points. Dutchman Downs, Riverwood and Sunset Ridge rounded out the top five.

Cindie Lawton, the meet director, said one of the goals of S.W.I.M. is to “open kids up to the year-round experience.”

“We have swimmers from all the year-round teams in the area,” Lawton said. “They’re all great swimmers. There are some teams that are loaded with some year-round talent and there are some that aren’t.”

The Marlins of Raleigh, a year-round team, have hosted the event at Sunset Ridge all four years of its existence. The Marlins practice at several pools around the Triangle and consist of 320 or so swimmers who have decided to pursue the sport further.

“(S.W.I.M) is a great opportunity for kids to come out and have a championship-style meet at all levels,” Silver said. “They’re still going hard, but they get to be with their friends in more of a relaxed environment in a neighborhood type setting.”

Silver said the way the event is set up allows kids to experience a full-scale championship meet — timers, horns, ribbons and all.

“It’s not the Olympics, but they can get that kind of feel,” he said.

Many of Silver’s former pupils have gone on and received a real Olympic experience. Cullen Jones, who won a gold medal in the 4x100 freestyle relay for Team USA at last summer’s Beijing Olympics, swam with the Marlins before moving to Charlotte. Erika Stewart, a former Marlin, represented Colombia last year at the Beijing Olympics and placed 32nd in the 200 individual medley. She is seeking another berth to World Championships in Rome later this month.

However, many of those in the Wake County summer swim leagues are following in another, more well-known Olympian’s wake — Michael Phelps. Silver said interest in Phelps has boosted participation in summer swim leagues.

“This sport certainly took off last summer because of Phelps,” Silver said. “Interest in the sport has been tremendous.”

Though the season is not quite over — each team has two dual meets left in the schedule — S.W.I.M. served as South Raleigh’s championship meet. With approximately 8,000 summer swimmers in the Wake County area, breaking up the championship meet became a necessity four years ago. Even if a pool could be found to accommodate all, the meet would last late into the night, Silver said. Four championship meets took place around Raleigh and Cary Sunday and each team could pick which to attend.

“It’s become a more enjoyable environment for everyone, especially the parents,” Silver said.

Eleven-year-old Justin Ress of the Marlins and the meet-winning Killer Whales, did his part to secure the victory. His sister, six-year-old Amanda, secured 37 points for her team during the morning session. Ress swam in the 50 freestyle and 50 backstroke and his team won the medley relay.

“We all had our best times in the relay,” Ness said, adding, “We lapped a couple of teams.”

Ness, a year-round swimmer for the Marlins, echoed his coach’s statements about the nature of summer swim league. Though he takes his races seriously, it’s a time to relax, be with friends and enjoy the sport he loves.

“It’s still competitive, but it’s more about having a good time and being around friends,” Ness said.