SWAT Takes Home Trophy at GPAC Meet
SWAT took home the first place trophy at the Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club Winter Invitational in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Five team members returned home with high point or runner-up trophies and an additional ten swimmers were in the top ten for their age divisions. Fifty-six swimmers achieved personal best times, or which twenty-seven also saw improved time standards for one or more events.
Jackson Tunks (12, Fairhope) turned in the highest score overall and placed first in the Boys’ 11-12 division. Tunks swam to first in the 50-, 100-, 200-, and 500 yard freestyle, 50-, 100-yard backstroke, 100-, 200-yard IM, 50-, 100-yard butterfly, and finished second in the 50-yard breaststroke.
Stephen Jellenc (14, Montrose) placed second for 13-14 Boys with four first place, three second place, and two fourth place finishes. Michael Dubose (18, Daphne) finished in eighth place for 15 and older Boys.
Hannah Legg (15, Fairhope) swam to first place in 15 and over Girls placing first in the 100-, 200-yard breastroke, 100-, 200-yard backstroke, 200-, 400-yard IM, 200-yard butterfly, and finished fourth in the 100-yard freestyle and seventh in the 500-yard freestyle.
Olivia Hudson (14, Fairhope) was high-point winner for 13-14 Girls with first place finishes in 100-, 200-yard backstroke, 100-, 200-yard freestyle, 400-yard IM, second place in the 200-yard IM and 1650-yard freestyle, third place in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly and fifth in the 500-yard freestyle.
According to Coach Rich Suhs “Olivia, Hannah, Jackson, and Stephen had a great meet winning their high points, They have been working very hard with their Distance and IM training since before Christmas. I was very glad to see them perform so well under that kind of rigorous training. The swimmers in our Junior group did a great job with much improvement because of their hard work with Coach Kathleen.”
Emi Feldvoss (8, Daphne) was runner-up for Girls 8 and under with six first place and one second place finishes. Other female SWAT swimmers finishing in the top ten in their respective age divisions were Sydney Jayne Hendryx, (7, Fairhope) in sixth, Peyton Mahoney (10, Daphne) in third place, Ashlynn Weissgerber (12, Spanish Fort) swam to fourth, Taylor Mahoney (12, Daphne) finishing ninth, and Tara Suhs (12, Daphne). Among 13-14 Girls, Meredith Phillips (13, Spanish Fort) finished fourth, Trista Phelps (14, Loxley) placed seventh, and Fran Harris (13, Mobile) came in ninth. Top finishers among Girls 15 and over were Jessica Dubose (16, Daphne) in third and Catharine Hardyman (16, Daphne) in eighth place.
SWAT relay teams achieving top three finishes include first place Girls 13-14 freestyle and medley relay team of Trista Phelps, Frances Harris, Olivia Hudson and Meredith Phillips. Also finishing first in the Girls 10 & under freestyle relay and third in the 200-yard medley was the team of Peyton Mahoney, Ansley Hardyman (10, Daphne) Kennedy Hendryx (9, Fairhope), and Sydney Johnson (9, Fairhope). The relay team of Emi Feldvoss, Megan Short (8, Spanish Fort), Amanda White (8, Spanish Fort) and Sydney Jane Hendryx took second place in the Girls 8 & under 100-yard medley and 100-yard freestyle. Girls 11-12 team of Taylor Mahoney, Ashlynn Weissgerber, Kate Phelps (12, Loxley) and Tara Suhs (12, Daphne) took second place in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Boys 200-yard medley relay team of Tyler Phelps (15, Loxley), Ben Morseth (16, Jackson), Michael Dubose (18, Daphne) and Kevin Pollard (15, Fairhope) swam to second.
Boys 13-14 freestyle relay team of Stephen Jellenc, Jackson Algiers (13, Daphne), Jackson Tharpe (14, Fairhope) and Arnold Blohme (13, Daphne) finished third.
New qualifying times for the Southeastern Swimming Short Course Championship meet were achieved by: Ansley Hardyman, Catharine Hardyman, Frances Harris, Ross Hudson (15, Fairhope), Peyton Mahoney, Meredith Phillips, Kevin Pollard, Tara Suhs, Jackson Tunks, and Ashlynn Weissgerber.
“I’m very happy for our newest Southeastern Qualifier, Tara Suhs, She has been working very hard with Coach Dean and as a result made the Southeastern qualifying time in the 200 Free,” says Suhs.
Five SWAT swimmers made new qualifying times for Eastern Section Southern Zone Championship: Olivia Hudson, Stephen Jellenc, Peyton Mahoney, Meredith Phillips, and Jackson Tunks.
The Eastern Shore Parents Aquatics Foundation (ESPAF) operates SWAT and welcomes inquiries about swim-related programs offered at the Eastern Shore Aquatics Center located on Hwy. 64 in Daphne. Call 251-625-0950 or visit www.esaquatics.org for more information. |
