It was essentially a Father's Day pool party. But for Carl Brewer, it was also about defending his title.
Last year during the inaugural YMCA Dads Day Dive, he made the winning plunge in the cannonball competition.
"One of the lifeguards, I've known since he was a little kid. He was up there voting, and he put up a 10, and I beat the other guys."
So when the lifeguards took their turn at competing, he returned the favor, awarding him a 10.
He said it helped to know a judge, but his body fat also gave him an edge.
"I use a lot of fat. I grab my knees (and land) toward my back," he said with a laugh.
He said the event was fun and filled with friendly people. A longtime Y member, he said the pool and its activities have improved in recent years.
One of Brewer's competitors in the cannonball competition said he showed up to take out the champ.
"We were here last year, and we lost in the cannonball competition, so today is about redemption," said Aaron DeSha, adding more seriously: "It's just fun. A good opportunity to be with my family and it's a lot of fun."
DeSha and the others failed to take out Brewer, who successfully defended his title. Still, all the dads and their families seemed to be having a good time.
The pool party featured root beer floats, music specially selected for dads and a "carpool" race in which fathers swam across the pool while holding a large ring, which looked like an oversized steering wheel, then "picked up" their kids and swam back. It also included a "Dad and Me Driving Range" and "dadications" in which family members filled out forms about their fathers, and had the answers read over loudspeakers.
A staff photographer took photos to be posted to the YMCA's Facebook page.
The event was free for Y members and their guests. Dyer expected an attendance of about 200 people.
"It's something fun for families to do on the weekend, celebrate dads and families, which is really what the YMCA is all about," said Lisa Dyer, the YMCA's aquatics director.
She said her staff looks forward to special events like this.
"It's a great way for the staff to kind of bond and take on a project together and have fun while they're at work. We really use these for team-building for the staff as well as a fun event for the community."