Southeastern Swimming (SES) awarded the BMAC Geckos thirteen medals at the Long Course Championship in Nashville, Tenn. Thirty-one team members participated in the event which drew more than 900 swimmers from over 40 teams located in Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida.

Eight of the BMAC swimmers, representing all age group levels, were Championship finalists, and two were consolation finalists. They accounted for eight new individual team records and two new boys’ team relay records. The new record holders are:

·          Katie Cronin – Girls 10 & Under 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke

·          Hannah Legg – Girls 15 & Over 100 & 200-meter breaststroke, 200 & 400-meter individual medley, and 200-meter butterfly

·          Stephen Jellenc – Boys 13-14 200-meter breaststroke

·          Boys’ 400-meter freestyle and medley relays

Stephen Jellenc (13, Montrose) led the team with three medals in the Boys 13-14 division. He placed second in the 200-meter breaststroke, fourth in the 400-meter individual medley, and sixth in the 100-meter breaststroke.

Coach Rich Suhs stated, “Stephen has been focused all season! His unwavering commitment to training and his consistent performances have been the keys to his success this year. He was just wicked fast in his 200-meter breaststroke final, especially having swum the long-course-mile that afternoon!”

Peyton Mahoney (Daphne, 10) medaled in the Girls 10 and Under division with a seventh place finish in the 100-meter backstroke. Hailey Kennett (10, Spanish Fort) swam to an eighth-place medal in the 50-meter butterfly.

Jackson Algiers (12, Fairhope) earned an eighth place medal in the Boys 11-12 division 100-meter breaststroke.

Olivia Hudson (13, Fairhope) medaled in two Girls 13-14 events. She placed sixth in the 200-meter backstroke and eighth in the 100-meter freestyle.

Kevin Pollard (14, Fairhope) was awarded two medals in the Boys 13-14 division. He placed sixth in the 50-meter freestyle and eighth in the 100-meter butterfly. Kevin joined the year-round team after completing the Bridge Program, which is intended for middle and high school athletes who wish to increase their strength and endurance between seasons, and which was offered January through April. Due to the success of the program, as evidenced by Kevin who went on to compete at the SES Championships, Coach Rich will offer the Bridge Program throughout the coming school year.

“Kevin has competed on a level far above his overall time in the pool. He is a great asset to the team, and is very motivated to be the best swimmer he can be!” say Suhs.

Hannah Legg (15, Fairhope) received a sixth place medal in the Girls 15-16 division 200-meter backstroke. She also earned points in three other events. Sarah Williamson (15, Fairhope) also earned a point for the team in the 200-meter backstroke.

Michael Dubose (17, Daphne) earned seventh-place medals in the 100- and 200-meter butterfly.

Several relay teams earned points for the Geckos, including the Boys 400-meter freestyle and 400-meter medley as well as the Girls 10 and Under 200-meter freestyle and the 200-meter medley and Girls’ 400 Medley Relay

The point-earning Boys 400-meter freestyle team members were Christian Barrett (18) Michael Dubose (17) William Legg (16) Ben Morseth (15) . The 400-meter medley team included Tyler Phelps (15), Morseth, Dubose, and Barrett.

The Girls’ 400 Medley Relay team consisted of Sarah Williamson, Catharine Hardyman, Hannah Legg, and Olivia Hudson.

Hailey Kennett (10), Peyton Mahoney (10), Katie Cronin (8), and Sydney Johnson (8) swam on both point-earning Girls 10 and Under relay teams.

Arnold Blohme , Ansley Hardyman, Catharine Hardyman, Ben Hodde, Richard Hudson, Christopher Jennings, Brian Jones, Helen Legg, William Legg, Kate Phelps, Trista Phelps, Meredith Phillips, Thomas Shane, and Ashlynn Weissgerber also competed for the Geckos.

The Eastern Shore Parents Aquatics Foundation operates Eastern Shore Aquatics Center (ESAC), formerly known as BMAC, which offers swimming lessons for all ages, tri-athlete training, master’s swimming, lap swimming, high school swimming, and summer league swimming. For more information about the available programs, visit www.esaquatics.org or call 251-625-0950.

# # #

Cutline : Jackson Algiers swims to an eigth-place finish in the 100-meter breaststroke