PONTE VEDRA – Ten-year-old Raphael Manley said he was only doing what his big brother was doing and being a part of the First Coast Summer Swim League championship meet on Sat., July 20 in Ponte Vedra was not that big a deal for Manley.

“I’m a little slower, but I will finish my races,” said Manley, who is wheelchair-bound with Spina Bifida, but a three-event swimmer for the Oakleaf Orcas. “This is my first year as a competitive swimmer. My brother is faster.”

For Oakleaf Orcas swim coach Jack Powers, having Raphael Manley on his team has inspired both him and his teammates.

“His older brother is one of our swimmers and he has an older brother that swam at Oakleaf High School and is now at University of Florida, so there is sort of a legacy of Manleys for Oakleaf swimming,” said Powers. “He is the first time I’ve had to teach and coach an adaptive swimmer. He also plays wheelchair basketball. During practice, he does muscle up on the side of the pool and pulls up off the starting blocks. He’s taking off mad time this past summer.”

Manley’s mom, Valerie Manley, lifted and put Raphael at the starter’s block during the meet and stayed until he finished to retrieve him and get him ready for the next event.

“He had reduced movement and was finally diagnosed with Spina Bifida,” said Valerie Manley. “He is not afraid to try most sports; hockey and basketball, and his brothers have been a great inspiration for him.”

Manley finished 44th in the 50 freestyle with a two-minute, 36.23 seconds split, finished 31st in the 50 backstroke in 2:11.28 and finished 17th in the 50 breaststroke in 3:07.03.

Meanwhile, Lucius Manley, 16, finished eighth in the 50 fly in 28.29, fourth in the 100 free in 54.98, sixth in the 50 free in 25.17 and helped Oakleaf finish second in the 200 free relay.