Bringing one of the largest teams in recent history to an away meet, over 60 GPAC swimmers, and as many dedicated parents, braved a torrential rain storm virtually all day Saturday and part day on Sunday to bring home a fifth place team finish and many, many best times.

“I thought the swimmers did a tremendous job considering the circumstances,” said Head Age Group Coach Greg Johnson. “Swimming outdoors is very different for the kids, and swimming in the pouring rain and cold breeze is extremely difficult. I’m proud of all the swimmers and parents for sticking it out.”

Makayla Ludwick, 12, placed third in the high point standings for the meet, and Cameron Jones, 12, finished fifth. Both swimmers were presented with awards for their performances.

Friday night’s sprint pentathlon and 12 & under distance sessions showed GPAC’s versatility across several age groups. Coulson Barfield, 13, captured two wins in the 50-yd fly and 50-yd freestyle, and finished second in the point standings among the 13-year old boys in the pentathlon. Parker Brandt, 12, in her debut in the 500-yd freestyle, captured first place a set a new ‘A’ time. Congratulations to Alex Atherton, 11, Paige Bridges, 10, Trinity Devanney, 10, Sam Laggan, 11, Walker Parra, 12, Noah Scoggins, 9, and Taitem Turbyfill, 11, who posted best times in their 200-yd IM, and to Seth Scoggins, 11, who dropped time in his 500-yd free on Friday evening.

GPAC boasted several event winners over the weekend. Braden Barkley, 10, nabbed the gold in the 100-yd backstroke. Makayla Ludwick, 12, took the 200-yd freestyle, Steffen Mount won the 200-yd IM, and Olivia Weekley, 17, took top honors in both the 100 and 200-yd butterfly events.

Congratulations to all the GPAC swimmers who posted life-best times in all of their individual events: Henry Demedeiros, 12 (in his first GPAC meet),  James Henderson, 13, Sam Laggan, 11, Grace McNally, 9, Steffen Mount, James Tracey, 12, and Taitem Turbyfill.  Very special congratulations to Sydney Dodson, 10 who posted all best times and set two new ‘B’ times and one new ‘BB’ time, Trinity Devanney, who posted all best times and three new ‘BB’ times, Cason Forst, 12, who, in his first meet posted all best times and set three new ‘BB’ times, Maren Mackey, 10, who had all life-best times and posted numerous new ‘BB’ times and a new ‘A’ time and Sarah Marks, who had all best times and set two new ‘B’ times!

Many other swimmers came close to all best times. Amy Brown, 14, swam 10 out of 11 best times and made two new ‘B’ times, Ashley Burroughs, 12, made six of seven best times and set a new ‘AA’ time and one new ‘BB’ times, Lexi DeJesus, 12, swam seven of eight best times and set four new ‘BB’ times, Berkeley Humphries, 12, swam seven of eight best times and set three new ‘BB’ times, Makayla Ludwick swam seven of eight bests and set two new ‘AA’ and two  ‘A’ times, Malia Ludwick, 9, had six of seven best times and posted three new ‘BB’ times. Alex Smith and Nevada Wood, both 13, swam ten of eleven best times in their first travel meet with GPAC!