Winter Invite Proves Most Productive for GPAC Swimmers

A blizzard storm of best times was the result of 94 GPAC swimmers converging with a balmy Florida winter’s weekend at GPAC’s Winter Invitational held at UWF’s aquatic center January 18-20.  The dominant home team, GPAC handedly won the meet with over 2,000 points.  Coulson Barfield, 12, Brooke Ferrara, 15, Renee Henderson and brother William Henderson, 10 were named the high point winners in their age groups.

“This was an impressive meet for our team,” said Head Coach Phil Kraus.  “We had great swimming from all ages and in all groups.”

In his last meet as a 12-year old, Coulson Barfield won seven individual events and posted best times in all 11 events swam.  He swam seven new Southeastern championship qualifying times and nine new Age Group Sectional cuts!  He was also a part of the victorious 11-12 boys freestyle and medley relays.

Brooke Ferrara swam an impressive 13 event program at the meet, winning an impressive 12 of them and posting a new Senior Sectional and ‘AAA’ time in the 1000-yd freestyle.  Brooke went on to set seven new best times in her events.  Brooke also swam the butterfly leg of the team record-setting medley relay along with Briana Mount, Caroline Page and Bailie Tate.

Renee Henderson was the standout for the 10 and under age group.  Renee set a new team record in the 50-yd breaststroke, eclipsing the 20-year old mark by .23 seconds!  She won eight of her individual events and set five new best times.  Renee’s breaststroke events now are among the fastest in the LSC!  Brother William won nine out of 10 events, swimming best times in nine.  William also has times in his breaststroke events that are among the fastest in the LSC.

Twenty one swimmers accumulated 34 new Southeastern cuts at the meet: Alex Atherton (10), Ethan Beaver (10), Caitlin Bridges (12), Paige Bridges (9), James Henderson (12), Cameron Jones (11), AJ Luth (12), Brianna Mount (17), Steffen Mount (15), Tatiana Oberley (14), Peyton Parra (14), Walker Parra (11), Heidi Schellin (14), Noah Scoggins (9), Nate Thomas (16), Olivia Weekley (16).  Special congratulations to Izzy Kent, 10, Sam Laggan, 10, Rachel Lee, 10, and Bailie Tate, 17 who made their first-ever Southeastern cut!

Nate Thomas, 16, joined teammate Brooke in setting new Senior Sectional qualifying times.  His times in the 200-yd butterfly, 200-yd freestyle and 400 IM will make him eligible to swim them when the Senior Team travels to Wisconsin this spring.

With a meet format that allowed them to swim the 200s of each stroke, several 11-12 year olds set new Age Group Sectional cuts.  Along with Barfield’s nine, Caitlin Bridges added three (50, 200 Br, 200 fly), James Henderson (50 Br, 200 Bk), Cameron Jones (100, 400 IM, 200 Bk, 200 Br, 500 Fr), AJ Luth (50, 200 Br), and Walker Parra (500 Fr, 50, 200 Bk, 200 Fr).  Braden Barkley, 10, threw out five more qualifying swims to round the number to an even 30 new cuts!

“It’s exciting to see the progress that each age group is making,” said Head Age Group coach Greg Johnson.  “I’m looking forward to championship season; Districts, attending SES Champs and beyond.”

GPAC boasted 16 individual event winners: Coulson Barfield, Braden Barkely, Ethan Beaver, 10, Caitlin Bridges, Sophia Diagne, 14, Brooke Ferrara, James Henderson, Renee Henderson, William Henderson, AJ Luth, Sara Lypko, 8, Tatiana Oberley, Walker Parra, Heidi Schellin, Nate Thomas, and Olivia Weekley.

Congratulations to the GPAC swimmers who swam best times in all of their individual events: Jenna Banta, 8, Coulson Barfield, Abigail Barr, 14, Parker Brandt, 11, Aaron Cooper, 10, Meghan Doyle, 12, Scott Griffith, 14, Bryce Howell, 12, Sami Humeda, 11, Kristina Jacques, 15, Madelyn Jones, 7, Rachel Lee, Kyle Longley, 8, Grace Matthews, 11, Mimi Sherrill, 11, Bailie Tate, Amelia Thomas, 13, Alexis Tinker, 14, Kathryn Turner, 9, Charles Warren, 12, and Cali Wilson, 11.

Every swimmer from GPAC posted at least one life-best time for the weekend, and the team had 73 percent over-all best times.

Meet Results - Team Scores - Individual High Point