The Chattanooga Area Swim League is scheduled to begin its season Thursday evening at four area locations, but this year a few changes have been made to the league’s makeup.

With the Ooltewah Swim Club coming into the CASL, the league decided in January to have two divisions instead of the traditional Blue, Red and White and face each division opponent once instead of home-and-home.

That made 17 teams, but then Colonial Shores dropped out, leaving 16 again.

As in the former format, the divisions reflect the teams’ perceived relative strength. Last year’s Red Division was split in half based on each team’s results; the top finishing teams will compete in Division I in 2009, while the lower half will join Ooltewah and the old White Division members in Division II.

CASL president Dale Tillman said one thing she likes about the new format is that all the teams will compete against some opponents they aren’t accustomed to facing.

With the new two-division format, teams will also have one less meet.

“We’re happy to have Ooltewah jump right in with us this year,” Tillman said. “They’ve had a lot of interest and have had about 70 swimmers sign up.”

Tillman said about 1,600 boys and girls have registered with league teams, and she credited some of the increased interest to the Olympics and Michael Phelps.

Tillman said she believes Stuart Heights will be a team to watch.

The CASL is scheduled to conclude its season July 17-18 with the City Meet Championship at the Baylor School.

Division II gets started Thursday with Ooltewah at Fairyland Club, Fort Oglethorpe at East Ridge, Ridgeside at Chattanooga Golf & Country Club and Mosby Park at Calhoun (Ga.). Cumberland Youth Foundation jumps into action Monday against Ooltewah, with Mosby Park getting the night off.

Division I begins June 11.