A champion will be crowned in the Rockdale Swim League Saturday, but the 2013 season, like those before it, was about young athletes learning to swim and to compete week in and week out.

The final regular season meets took place Monday with all six teams getting a chance to improve once more before heading to Johnson Park Saturday for the year’s finale.

The Covington Y lost at Brentwood by 6 points, with the Barracudas showing they have come far since the league’s opening meet on June 10.

“I was very proud of my swimmers,” Brentwood coach Dawn Lane said. “Over the season, everyone has progressed.”

Deer Run Dolphins’ coach Taylor Horton and Meadowbrook Marlins’ coach Beth Ward both also said their swimmers have progressed, and that was on display as the two teams faced off at Meadowbrook Monday.

The Dolphins came out on top, using their larger numbers — having 65 swimmers, compared to Meadowbrook’s 40 — to their advantage. Deer Run also saved the best for last, finishing several races with season-best times, according to Horton.

The Westchester Lakes Wahoos won their final meet of the regular season, beating Honey Creek 359-157. The Wahoos had 60 first-place finishers, 50 second and 35 third in the victory.

“Over the season, I am proud of my swimmers and the way they have progressed,” Westchester Lakes coach Reggie Murray said.

Although Honey Creek didn’t win the meet, several of its swimmers put up improved times and won races.

“At the end of the meet some of the swimmers pushed me into the water which felt really good,” Honey Creek coach Alisa Cartwright said.

The Splash demonstrated the improvement the Rockdale Swim League strives for, taking swimmers ages 5 through 18 and of all skill levels.

Honey Creek had two sisters who weren’t comfortable in the water at the beginning of the season, but at the end were excelling in their races.

“By the end of the season they had progressed a lot,” Cartwright said.

Dozens of stories like the Splash sisters will be on display at the county championship, which the Covington Y will try to win for the fourth straight year.

Joseph Anderson contributed to this report.