Enrolled in a new school in a new town while staying at a new house, two sets of siblings found comfort in the only thing that wasn’t new.

They went swimming.

Sisters Kim and Kim-Di Vu and brothers Tien and Tan Vu were forced out of their homes in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina and found refuge with friends in Natchez. When everyone enrolled at Trinity Episcopal the week after Labor Day, they found out the school had a swim team.

Now that season wrapped up recently and the school posted the best mark among Class AA schools, everyone is thankful they joined.

&8220;I had stopped swimming for about a year, and I started again this year,&8221; said Kim-Di, who left her school at Ecole Classique to enroll at Trinity. &8220;If I was in shape, I would have done better. I guess I needed to go back swimming. I had tried to go back swimming at my old school, so I thought I’d go back and do it here.&8221;

All four swam competitively in New Orleans for the NORD Jets, and it was only natural they join Trinity’s team upon their arrival. The team competed at the MPSA state meet at Delta State Oct. 5 and finished in third overall in the high school ranks but first among Class AA schools.

Only Jackson Academy and Jackson Prep finished higher in the standings. Tan Vu won first places in the 100 freestyle in 51.57 seconds and 50 butterfly in 27.19, while Tien Vu won the 50 free in 25.79 seconds.

&8220;They’re all well-mannered children,&8221; Trinity swim coach Julie Timm said. &8220;The fun thing about MPSA swim meets is the team aspect of it. We have several good swimmers on the team, but swimming together &045; they do a four-man team. One does breaststroke, one does butterfly, one does freestyle and one does back stroke. The Vus fit right in. We did well thanks to the Vus.&8221;

The boys did the best by pulling in the first-place finishes. Tan Vu, a junior who attended Ben Franklin High School, won the 100-meter freestyle in 51.57 seconds and the 50-meter butterfly in 27.19 seconds.

Tien Vu, a freshman who attended Holy Cross, won the 50-meter freestyle in 25.79 seconds and finished second in the 100 intermediate in 1:07.73 while competing up a level on varsity for those sophomores and older.

&8220;I think we did pretty good,&8221; Tan Vu said. &8220;I did the best I could. (The times) were pretty good compared to last year.&8221;

Kim-Di Vu had been out of swimming for a year, and she posted two fourth-place finishes &045; the 100 intermediate in 1:16.84 and the 50 backstroke at 33.29 seconds. Kim Vu, a sixth-grader, finished eighth in the 50 breast in 53.60 seconds.

&8220;They swam just about every day the pool was open to us,&8221; Timm said. &8220;They swim very competitively. They were very eager and very glad to be part of the team. That’s part of getting back to a normal life for them.

&8220;At the swim meet, they were one of the guys. They didn’t all hang together. They spread out in the hotel rooms, and I think they really enjoyed it and enjoyed making the trip. They got along very well.&8221;It gave the four an opportunity to fit in with everyone at school and in their new home after their families left their homes on Magazine Street in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

Both stayed when the storm rumbled through Aug. 29, but rising waters forced them to leave and stay with a friend of Kim-Di and Kim’s father in Natchez.

&8220;A lot of water,&8221; Tan Vu said. &8220;I haven’t been home very often, but when you look into the house, the line is probably about (to the ceiling). We lost everything but some pictures.&8221;

The sisters’ home, however, was spared from rising waters. They both stayed during the storm and didn’t fear anything until after the storm passed through.

&8220;Our house is pretty fortunate compared to the other houses,&8221; Kim-Di Vu said. &8220;Then it got real scary when all the looters were going around. Wal-Mart got really looted, and there were shootings everywhere. During the hurricane, it wasn’t bad.&8221;

Now that swimming is over, the four will likely remain at Trinity for the rest of the school year. They are staying at a home downtown, and Kim-Di said she will go out for the school’s soccer team as well.

All four will likely continue swimming with the Natchez with Tammy Whittington and the Natchez swim team as long as they’re here.

&8220;(This) is definitely different,&8221; Kim-Di Vu said. &8220;I grew up in the city, and you come to the country &045; it’s a big change. You’re used to the commotion, and you come to the country and it’s really quiet. I guess you can say it’s slow-moving compared to what we’re used to.

&8220;We like it here. We’ll finish the year, and we’ll probably go back home.&8221;