In a weekend’s worth of hard-fought races, GPAC’s Sara Lypko emerged as the fastest 8-and-under girl at the South District Championship, and was crowned the high-point winner for the meet.  The meet also served as the season-ending competition for many other GPAC swimmers, who posted multiple best times and new Southeastern qualifying times.

“We knew going into the meet that Sara had a good chance to win the high-point race,” said Coach Alex Gilespie, Sara’s coach.  “She knew she was going to have to race hard.”

Lypko, 8, who was GPAC’s first high-point winner at this meet in several years, won five individual events and placed second in three others.  She also posted 8-and-under ‘A’ times in all eight events contested, and best times in each as well.  This was Sara’s first high-point honor!

While the meet served as a championship for GPAC’s youngest swimmers, it was also a “last chance” qualifying meet for the Southeastern Swimming Championships held in Nashville, TN a week later.  GPAC had 17 swimmers account for 29 new qualifying times!   Five swimmers posted their first qualifying times at the meet: Coulson Barfield, 13 (100 Fly, 50 Fr), Jacob Bell, 10 (100 Br), Grace Matthews, 11 (50, 100 Bk), Matthew Rodgerson, 10 (200 Fr, 200 IM), and Seth Scoggins, 11 (50 Br).

Congratulations to the following swimmers who posted new SES cut times: Alex Atherton, 10 (200 Fr, 200 IM), Caitlin Bridges, 12 (200 IM, 100 Fr), Paige Bridges, 9 (200 Fr, 50, 100 Fr), Sophia Diagne, 14 (100 Fr), Izzy Kent, 10 (50, 100 Fly, 50 Bk, 200 IM), Brianna Mount, 17 (100 Fly), Steffen Mount, 15 (50 Fr), Nicholas Petruska, 13 (1650 Fr), Heidi Schellin, 14 (100 Bk), Noah Scoggins, 9 (50 Bk, 50 Br), Olivia Weekley, 16 (200 Fr), Thomas Young, 12 (100 Br, 100 IM).  These swimmers will all represent GPAC in Nashville at the championships.

Three of GPAC’s 11-12 swimmers competed in the 400 IM for the first time and nabbed new Age Group Sectional qualifying times: James Henderson, AJ Luth and Walker Parra.  Heidi Schellin posted a new Age Group Sectional cut in the 100 backstroke as well!

GPAC boasted several event winners: Alex Atherton (500 Fr), Coulson Barfield (100 Bk, 100 Fly, 50 Fr), Caitlin Bridges (200 IM), Paige Bridges (100 Fly), Sophia Diagne (100 Fr), Brooke Ferrara, 15 (100 Br), Scott Griffith, 14 (200 Br, 100 Br), James Henderson, 12 (400 IM), Izzy Kent (100 Fly, 100 IM, 200 IM, 100 Fr), AJ Luth (400 IM), Jack Menzies, 10 (50 Bk), Alex Morris, 16 (100 Bk, 100 Fly), Brianna Mount (100 Bk, 100 Fly), Nicholas Petruska (500Fr, 1650 Fr), Heidi Schellin (100 Bk, 50 Fr, 100 Fr), Noah Scoggins (100 IM), Seth Scoggins (100 Br, 500 Fr), Grace Sill, 13 (200 Br), Bailie Tate, 17 (200 Br, 50, 100 Fr), Taitem Turbyfill, 10 (100 Br), Cameron Walton, 16 (50, 100 Fr), Charles Warren, 12 (200 Fr), Olivia Weekley, 16 (200 Fr), Cali Wilson, 11 (50, 200 Fr, 50 Bk, 100 IM) and Thomas Young (100 Fly).

Congratulations to these swimmers who posted life-best times in all events:  Camden Archbell, 10, Coulson Barfield, Paige Bridges, Matt Brown, 13, Lexi DeJesus, 11, Sophia Diagne, Brooke Ferrara, James Henderson, Rebecca Holliman, 15, Meryl Jones, 14, Izzy Kent, Austin Lee, 13, Rachel Lee, 11, Justin Liu, 11, Anna Marks, 10, Geza Maruschak, 14, Alex Morris, 16, Brianna Mount, Heidi Schellin, Noah Scoggins, Seth Scoggins, Alexis Tinker, 14, Taitem Turbyfill, Cameron Walton, Charles Warren and Cali Wilson.

8 & Under Individual High Point Scores

8 & Under Team Scores

Full Meet Results