In manner similar to the fireworks shows two days earlier, the GPAC swimmers put on a fabulous display of performances over the weekend at the GPAC Season Finale swim meet held at the University of West Florida aquatic center, saving some of the best and brightest for last. GPAC swimmers Braden Barkley, Paige Bridges, and Steffen Mount were the stand-out performers for the team, winning their respective age groups’ high-point award for the meet.

Braden, 10, captured his first high-point award this season, winning seven out of his eight individual events. He set new personal best times in all eight swims, and amassed five new ‘AAA’ times. His times in all of his events now rank him among the top 10 in Southeastern Swimming in his age group.

Paige Bridges, 9, was the high point winner for the 10-and-under age group on the girls’ side.  Paige went six out of eight personal best times, winning three individual events. She placed second in three others and third in two. She also nabbed two new Southeastern qualifying times (50, 100 Fly).

Steffen Mount, 16, was named the Senior boys’ high-point winner for the meet. Though he only swam a five-event program, he won four of them and set personal best times in all five.  He also set three new SES qualifying times (50, 100 Fr, 100 Fly).

Although he did not claim a high-point title, James Henderson, 12, came in to the meet to claim something a little more memorable; a team record. He had been calculating the results of his 50m freestyle for two months. If he could drop just .5 seconds, he could set a new team record, a new 11-12 ‘AAAA’ time and get a qualifying time for soon-to-be age group at Southeasterns. His time of 28.03 seconds broke the tie for the team record held by GPAC sprinter, now collegiate All-American Ryan Funk (2006), and team standout Nam Nguyen (1993)! James also won all four of his events and set four new personal best times.

GPAC boasted several individual winners: Claren Anderson, 16 (400 Fr), Coulson Barfield, 13 (100 Bk, 200 Fr), Caitlin Bridges, 12 (100 Br, 50 Fr), Grant Bridges, 16 (200 Bk), Sophia Diagne, 14 (200 Fr), Meghan Doyle, 12 (50, 100 Fly), Brooke Ferrara, 15 (100 Bk), Renee Henderson, 10 (50, 100 Br), William Henderson, 10 (50, 100 Br), Izzy Kent, 10 (200 IM, 100 Fly 100 Fr), Makayla Ludwick, 11 (100 Bk, 400 Fr), AJ Luth, 13 (400 Fr, 200 Br, 400 IM), Maren Mackey, 9 (400 Fr), Walker Parra, 11 (200 Fr), Nicholas Petruska, 14 (800 Fr), Seth Scoggins, 11 (100 Br), Nate Thomas, 17 (100 Bk, 100 Br), and Charles Warren, 12 (400Fr).

Sixteen swimmers accounted for 27 new Southeastern qualifying times. This marks the sixth consecutive meet that team members have posted double digit cut times this summer at a single meet! Congratulations to Coulson Barfield (100 Bk, 200 Fr), Parker Brandt, 12 (100, 400 Fr), Caitlin Bridges (50 Bk), Lexi DeJesus, 12 (100, 400 Fr, 200 IM), Berkeley Humphries, 12 (100 Bk), Izzy Kent (100 Fr, 200 IM), Maren Mackey (50, 100 Bk, 50 Br), Grace Matthews, 12 (50 Br), Brianna Mount, 17 (100 Fr, 100 Fly), Nate Thomas (100 Bk), James Tracey, 11 (100 Fly), Charles Warren (50 Fr). Congratulations also to Scott Griffith, 13, and Kyle Longley, 9, who posted their first-ever Southeastern qualifying times! Scott and Kyle help to bring GPAC’s team total to 40 championship qualifiers this summer!

In season finale fashion, many swimmers posted life-best times in all events swam. Job well done to: Claren Anderson, Coulson Barfield, Kareem Bataineh, 13, Jacob Bell, 11, Grant Bridges, Kierstynn Crawford, 8, Jillian Flowers, 14, Andrew Frosch, 8, Josh Gardner, 12, Scott Griffith, Chloe Hansen, 12, William Henderson, Austin Lee, 14, Makayla Ludwick, AJ Luth, Jenna Luth, 15,
Sarah Marks, 9, Grace Matthews, Brianna Mount, Hao Ngo, 10, William Ngo, 9, Peyton Parra, 14, Walker Parra, 11, Molly Power, 14, Matthew Rodgerson, 11, Whitney Speck, 13, Alexis Tinker, 15, and Charles Warren.

GPAC swimmers finished the meet totaling 73% life-best times and 96% of swimmers finished the weekend with at least one best time!