CRANBERRY TWP — Once a swimmer, always a swimmer.

Members of the Cranberry Wave Master swim team have proven that.

The squad, which is made up of 25 swimmers who range in age from the mid-20s to early 50s, practices at the Cranberry Township YMCA.

Many of the members swam in high school and some continued in college.

Joining the Wave gave them a chance to rediscover the competitive aspect of the sport.

"I work in Cranberry Township and started going to the Y in the mornings and swimming just to work out," said Jeremiah Friday, 29, who swam at Riverside High School. "But once more people started to join the team, it was easier to train. It's easier pushing each other than when you're by yourself."

The Wave's roots go back to four or five swimmers who moved from lap swimming at Seneca Valley High School's natatorium to the Cranberry Township YMCA when it opened in 2006.

The group began to grow and the Wave swam its first competitive meet in September 2007.

"I swam for a master swim team before at the Downtown YMCA in Pittsburgh and I wasn't planning on doing it again," said Dana Stewart, 39, who is one of the team's original members.

"But, here, everybody's always cheering for each other to get their best time."

The squad is a member of the Allegheny Masters Division, which includes teams from Erie, Jamestown, N.Y., and Hollidaysburg, among others.

The team swam 10 meets this season within their division.

Those swimmers who competed in at least three meets have been rewarded with berths in the regional championships, to be held Saturday and Sunday at Clarion University.

The Wave is sending 11 swimmers to the event.

There will be a men's division and women's division at the meet in Clarion.

A swimmer can finish third in the 100-yard freestyle, but place first in his or her age bracket and earn team points accordingly.

Just like high school and college swimmers, the Wave's members spent many hours in the pool before most people are out of bed.

Practices run from 5:30 to 7:15 a.m. on weekdays, though other times are available. Saturday sessions are optional.

"There's not many people who want to see each other at 5:30 in the morning," said Jamie Heil, 30. "But we're great motivation for each other."

The Wave is hoping all the hard work pays off at the event, but the team already is a resounding success.

"Anybody who hops in the pool, we ask, 'Hey, do you want to swim with us?'" said Heil, a co-captain who helped form the team. "They range from swimmers who swam in college to people just learning the strokes."

"It's a very welcoming thing," said Sarah Antal, 40, who swam in two events this season, just missing the cut for the regional event. "Anybody who is remotely interested in swimming some laps, they're welcome to join us.

"I wish I would have qualified for the regional meet," Antal said. "I'm definitely looking to try it again next season."

"The thing I most enjoy is the camaraderie with people who share the same interests as me," said Friday.

Looking ahead to the 2008-09 season, the Wave is seeking new members.

"We're hoping to get more swimmers next year to round out the age groups, a little bit more diversity," said Stewart.

To learn more about the Cranberry Wave, visit www.cranberrywave.org or e-mail Heil or Stewart at cranberrywave@yahoo.com.

<B>MenDale Wagner (51): </B>100 freestyle, 25 backstroke, 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 25 freestyle, 50 backstroke, 200 freestyle<B>Joe Beiter (43):</B> 100 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke, 25 butterfly, 100 individual medley, 50 butterfly, 25 breaststroke<B>Dana Stewart (39):</B> 200 butterfly, 200 backstroke, 25 butterfly, 500 freestyle, 50 butterfly, 100 backstroke, 400 individual medley<B>Matt Clark (37):</B> 100 breaststroke, 50 breaststroke, 200 individual medley, 200 breaststroke, 100 butterfly, 25 breaststroke, 400 individual medley<B>Jeremiah Friday (29):</B> 1,000 freestyle, 200 butterfly, 200 backstroke, 25 butterfly, 500 freestyle, 25 freestyle, 400 individual medley<B>Ryan Sanders (27):</B> 100 breaststroke, 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke, 200 individual medley, 200 breaststroke, 25 freestyle, 25 breaststroke<B>WomenJanet McDonough (49):</B> 25 backstroke, 50 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 25 butterfly, 100 individual medley, 100 backstroke, 50 backstroke<B>Colleen Malone (49):</B> 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, 25 freestyle, 25 breaststroke<B>Lisa Myers (44):</B> 1,000 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 25 freestyle, 200 freestyleJ<B>ody Geyer (31):</B> 100 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke, 25 butterfly, 100 individual medley, 50 butterfly, 50 backstroke<B>Jamie Heil (30):</B> 1,000 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 500 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 25 freestyle, 200 freestyle