Bringing one of the largest squads in several years, thirty four swimmers traveled to Nashville to represent GPAC at the 2013 Southeastern Swimming Long Course Championships July 18-21. GPAC finished in the top 16 of all teams, led by a tremendous meet by Braden Barkley, with support from several senior-level swimmers, some 11-12 year-old distance swimmers and strong relays.

Barkley, 10, cleared nearly 100 points himself with top-eight performances in all seven of his events. Braden swam life-best times in all of his individual events, grabbing the bronze medal in the 400m freestyle, posting six ‘AAA’ times and one new ‘AAAA’ time in the 100m backstroke. He also swam on two 10-and-under boys’ relays.

GPAC had several other finalists at the meet, including a meet-ending performance by Olivia Weekley, 16,in the 100m butterfly. Olivia smashed her previous best time by almost two seconds in the morning, and came back at finals to improve her time once again. Swimming an impressive one minute, 3.97 seconds, she took the silver medal and posted a new ‘AAAA’ time for her age group. She also made an appearance in the consolation finals of the 200m butterfly, finishing 15^th.

Brooke Ferrara, 15, made several appearances in the finals over the weekend. Her 100m backstroke swim Saturday night earned her the bronze medal and a new Junior National qualifying time, her first. She finished eighth in the 50m freestyle, 11^th in the 200m backstroke and 16^th in the 100m freestyle.

Nate Thomas, 17, also posted a new Junior National qualifying time in his 50m freestyle (24.37), finishing 10^th in the race.  He won the consolation final heat in the 100m freestyle, almost qualifying for Juniors, posting a ‘B’ cut in the swim. He grabbed a few more points for the team by finishing 14^th in the 100m breaststroke, and posted best times in all seven of his events.

Jacquie Kinman, 16, finished sixth in the 100m breaststroke, while Briana Mount, 17, and Tatiana Oberley, 15, made their debut in the finals at Southeasterns.  Mount finished 12^th in the 50m freestyle, and Oberley placed 15^th in the 200m breaststroke. Both Mount and Oberley posted best times in all events swum.

In the distance events, the 11-12 year-olds made a strong statement to open the meet on Thursday evening. Makayla Ludwick, swimming the 800m freestyle for the first time, grabbed fourth place and set a new ‘AAA’ time. Walker Parra, 11, and Cameron Jones, 12, placed sixth and seventh, respectively, in the same event, with James Tracey, 11, just behind in tenth place. These swimmers totaled 40 points for the team on the opening night. Parra and Jones also posted a new ‘AAA’ time in the event while Tracey posted a new ‘AA’ time.

GPAC also had some great relays that bolstered the team tally. On Friday, the senior girls’ freestyle relay of Ferrara, Kinman, Mount and Weekley finished sixth, while the 11-12 girls’ free relay of Caitlin Bridges, Renee Henderson, Ludwick and Grace Matthews also finished sixth. On Saturday, the same senior girls placed fourth in the 400m medley relay, while the 11-12 boys’ medley relay of William Henderson, Cameron Jones, Walker Parra and Charles Warren nabbed eighth place.

Congratulations to Berkeley Humphries, Makayla Ludwick, Walker Parra, Tatiana Oberley, Seth Scoggins and Charles Warren who swam best times in all of their individual events during the meet. Overall, the team posted a 74% best-time total, one of the best championship meet percentages in recent years.

GPAC is proud of all of our championship participants: Alex Atherton, Coulson Barfield, Braden Barkley, Parker Brandt, Caitlin Bridges, Paige Bridges, Lexi DeJesus, Sophia Diagne, Brooke Ferrara, Scott Griffith, James Henderson, Renee Henderson, William Henderson, Berkeley Humphries, Cameron Jones, Jacquie Kinman, Sam Laggan, Kyle Longley, Makayla Ludwick, Malia Ludwick, Maren Mackey, Grace Matthews, Brianna Mount, Steffen Mount, Tatiana Oberley, Walker Parra, Heidi Schellin, Noah Scoggins, Seth Scoggins, Nate Thomas, James Tracey, Taitem Turbyfill, Charles Warren and Olivia Weekley.