The last days of the school year coupled with the rising temperatures signals the beginning of summer in Pensacola. And it is the GPAC tradition to welcome the summer with the annual Tom Lalor Invitational. This year’s meet, marking the midpoint of the long course season for the GPAC team, saw vast improvement from just over a month ago for a majority of the swimmers who competed. GPAC hosted over 15 teams and 375 swimmers from across the Southeast, including some terrific teams from Louisiana.  GPAC claimed the team title at the meet, edging fellow Southeastern Swimming team Memphis Thunder by less than 200 points and GPAC posted 67% best times at the meet!

“It was great to get new teams and new competition back into the Lalor meet,” said Head Coach Philip Kraus.  “Seeing the progress the swimmers are making and the participation at this point in the season is very encouraging.”

In repeat fashion, Brooke Ferrara, Renee Henderson and William Henderson were the high-point winners for their age groups. All three swimmers have claimed the high-point award for the last three meets this summer. Ferrara, 15, once again swam an impressive 14-event program over the weekend, winning six of her individual events and posted five life-best times.

Renee Henderson, 10, won seven of her 10 individual events, posted nine new best times, established three new ‘AAAA’ times and set a new team record in the 50-meter breaststroke. Her time of 40.36 eclipsed the 18-year old record.  William Henderson, 10, also won seven of his 10 individual events, placing second in the other three.  He set personal best times in all events swum and he set three new ‘AAAA’ times.

GPAC boasted several other individual event winners: Anna Jordan Luth, 13 (400 IM), Nicholas Petruska, 14 (400 IM, 1500 Fr), Nate Thomas, 17 (100 Fl, 50, 200 Br, 200, 400 IM, 100 Fr), and Olivia Weekley, 16 (100 Fly).

Similarly to last month’s meet, GPAC swimmers posted a slew of new Southeastern championship qualifying times.  This meet, 19 swimmers combined for 29 new cuts: Alex Atherton, 10 (200Fr), Coulson Barfield, 13 (100 Fr, 200 Fly), Parker Brandt, 12 (200 Fr), Caitlin Bridges, 12 (100, 400 Fr), Paige Bridges, 9 (50 Fr), Lexi DeJesus, 12 (200 Fr), Berkeley Humphreys, 12 (50 Bk), Izzy Kent, 10 (200 Fr), Sam Laggan, 10 (200 Fr), Makayla Ludwick, 11 (50, 100 Fly, 200, 400 Fr, 200 IM), Maren Mackey, 9 (50 Fr), Grace Matthews, 12 (200 Fr), Lizzie Molchan, 10 (50, 100 Br), Heidi Schellin, 15 (200 Bk), Noah Scoggins, 9 (100 Bk), Seth Scoggins, 11 (100 Bk), Nate Thomas, 17 (200, 400 IM), James Tracey, 11 (50 Bk, 400 Fr, 200 IM), and Charles Warren, 12 (200 Fr).

Congratulations to all of the swimmers who posted life-best times in all events swum: Camden Archbell, 11, Braden Barkley, 10, Parker Brandt, 12, Sydney Dodson, 12, James Henderson, 12, Berkeley Humphreys, 12, Austin Lee, 14, Ryan Longley, 15, Makayla Ludwick, 11, Malia Ludwick, 9, Lizzie Molchan, 10, Hao Ngo, 10, Catherine Petruska, 15, Travis Raymer, 13, Katherine Summers, 11, and Bailie Tate, 18.

This was one of the last meets this summer for the GPAC swimmers.  A handful will be traveling to Savannah, GA at the end of June, and then there will be GPAC’s last home meet the first weekend in July.  After that, the team will travel to Nashville with those qualified for the Southeastern Swimming championships.