SWAT Competes at Southeastern Championship: Tunks Wins Title, 11-12 Boys

Top swimmers from the Southern Waters Aquatic Team (SWAT) competed at the 2010 Southeastern Swimming Championships in Nashville. Only swimmers meeting specific time standards based on performances in USA sanctioned meets during the short course season are eligible to compete at this level. Twenty-five swimmers from SWAT participated in the meet.

Jackson Tunks (12, Fairhope) delivered an outstanding performance and is the 2010 Short Course SES Champion for 11-12 boys. Tunks swam the maximum seven events after earning thirteen qualifying times throughout the season.  Over the four day meet, Tunks dominated his division swimming to first in the 1000-yard freestyle (10:30.37), 500-yard freestyle (5:03.64), 200-yard freestyle (1:52.23), 100-yard freestyle (52.73), 200-yard IM (2:08.13), 100-yard backstroke (56.84), and took second place in the 100-yard IM (1:00.42). Tunks scored 137 points for his team and now holds a National USA ranking of third in the 100-yard backstroke and fifth in the 200-yard backstroke.

“Jackson had a fantastic meet. He has been working very hard and has learned a lot working with from Coach Dean. It was impressive to see him swim all of those races and win six out of the seven,” says Head Coach Rich Suhs. “All of our swimmers did a great job in the prelims and those who made it back to finals did awesome both improving their times and moving up a place or two.”

Olivia Hudson (14, Fairhope) earned 93 points for her team swimming final events with a second place finish in the 400-yard IM (4:38.65), third place in the 200-yard backstroke (2:10.20) and fourth place finishes in the 100-yard backstroke (1:00.36),  200-yard IM (2:12.93),  500-yard freestyle (5:17.22), and 200-yard freestyle (1:57.40). Hudson also swam the 100-yard freestyle as a preliminary event.

Four other SWAT team members were eligible to swim in finals. Peyton Mahoney (10, Daphne) had a fourth place finish in the 100-yard backstroke (1:11.22), sixth place in the 50-yard backstroke (33.16), and seventh place in the 200-yard freestyle (2:21.07) and swam the 100-, 200-yard IM, 50-, 100-yard freestyle in preliminaries.

Hannah Legg (15, Fairhope) finished third in the 200-yard backstroke (2:05.07) and fifth in 400-yard IM (4:34.01). Legg also swam the 100-yard backstroke, 100-, 200-yard breastroke, 200-yard IM, 200-yard butterfly.

Michael Dubose (18, Daphne) third in 200-yard butterfly (1:52.59), fourth in 100-yard butterfly (50.67) and sixth in the 400-yard IM (4:17.50) Dubose also swam the 50-yard freestyle and 200-yard IM.

Stephen Jellenc (14, Montrose) finished fifth in 200-yard breastroke (2:18.07), and eighth in the 100-yard breastroke (1:04.60). Jellenc also swam the 200-, 400-yard IM, 500-, 1000-, 1650-yard freestyle.

“Stephen Jellenc swam a very impressive 200 breaststroke Sunday night. An hour after swimming the 1650, he returned to swim the 200 breastroke in finals and was still able to improve his time.”

Senior swimmers (15 and over) competing in consolation finals were Jessica Dubose (16, Daphne), Hannah Legg, Ben Morseth (16, Jackson), and Thomas Shane (16, Fairhope).

Other qualifying SWAT swimmers participating in the championship meet include: Jackson Tharpe (14, Daphne) swimming the 100-, 200-yard breastroke and 50-yard freestyle; Ben Morseth 100-, 200-yard breastroke, 100-, 200-yard backstroke, 50-yard freestyle, and 200-yard IM; Tyler Phelps (15, Summerdale) 100-, 200-yard breastroke, 100-, 200-yard backstroke, 200-, 400-yard IM; Thomas Shane 100-, 200-yard breastroke and 400-yard IM; Kevin Pollard (15, Fairhope) 100-yard backstroke, 50-, 100-yard freestyle, 100-, 200-yard butterfly; Ross Hudson (16, Fairhope) 200-yard IM, 100-, 200-yard butterfly, 200-yard backstroke; Meredith Phillips (13, Spanish Fort) 50-, 100-, 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard IM, 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard butterfly; Jessica Dubose 50-, 100-, 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly;  Trista Phelps (14, Summerdale) 100-, 200-yard breastroke, 100-, 200-yard backstroke, 200-, 400-yard IM, 100-, 500-yard freestyle; Frances Harris (13, Mobile) 100-yard breastroke, 100-, 200-yard backstroke, 100-, 200-yard butterfly; Catherine Hardyman (16, Daphne) 100-yard breastroke, 100-, 200-yard backstroke.

Swimming in events for ages 12 and under were: Kennedy Hendryx (9, Fairhope) 50-, 100-, 200, 500-yard freestyle, 50-yard backstroke, 100-, 200-yard IM; Ansley Hardyman (10, Daphne) 50, 200-yard freestyle, 50-, 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard IM, 50-, 100-, 20--yard butterfly; Ashlynn Weissgerber (12, Spanish Fort) 50-, 200-, 100- 500-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke; Tara Suhs (12, Daphne), 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, 1000-yard freestyle; Helen Legg (11, Fairhope) 100-yard breastroke, 100-yard freestyle; Taylor Mahoney (12, Daphne) 50-, 100-yard backstroke; and Kate Phelps (12, Summerdale) 50-, 100-yard backstroke.  

“ Kennedy Hendryx had a great, first experience at Southeasterns. She swam two excellent races; 100- and 200-yard freestyle. She has really shown a lot of improvement in her technique and her conditioning and has done a great job training under Coach Lauren,” says Suhs.

According to Suhs, “We had three relays that scored points for the team; our 13-14 Girls relay scored twice and the Senior boys relay scored once.”
The relay team of Meredith Phillips, Trista Phelps, Frances Harris, and Olivia Hudson finished in eighth place in both the 400-yard freestyle and 400-yard medley relay. The senior boys relay team of Tyler Phelps, Ben Morseth, Michael Dubose, and Kevin Pollard finished tenth in the 400-yard medley relay.