Three members of the GPAC Senior Team represented our club at the USA Swimming Junior National Championships in Greensboro, NC, December 12-14.  This was the first short course Junior Nationals for all three swimmers.  Brooke Ferrara qualified for juniors for the first time this past summer; however, she once again achieved qualifying times weeks before the meet during Florida’s High School State Championship Series held in November.  Olivia Weekley and Nate Thomas both qualified for the first time during that same state series.

Senior Olivia Weekley, 17, posted a best time in her 100-yd butterfly resetting her own team record set at her HS state meet with a 55.79.  Olivia is currently ranks 44^th in the nation for 17 year olds.  In Olivia’s second race, the 50-yd Freestyle, she was just 0.05 off her personal best of: 23.93.  

 Nate Thomas, also a senior, followed up his Florida High School swimming title in the 100-yd freestyle finishing 63^rd in that race.  He finished 38^th in the 50-yd freestyle where he is currently the 23^rd fastest 17 year old in the country.  Nate also swam the 100-yd breaststroke and was only 0.01 off his best time.  While a best time eluded Nate he swam very well with all three races off his best by a combined 0.57 seconds.

Brooke Ferrara, 16, competed in 4 events (50-yd Freestyle, the 100-yd Freestyle, the 100-yd Backstroke and the 200-yd Backstroke) throughout the weekend.  Like Nate she did not achieve a personal best but she swam very well.   Brooke finished 79^th in the 100-yd backstroke with a 56.42 which marks her 4^th time this season under the USA Swimming Senior National cut. Her best time of the season, :55.78, ranks her as the 28^th fastest 16 year old in the country.

Congratulations to these three swimmers, who upon qualifying marked the 5^th year in a row GPAC has had a swimmer qualify and a 4^th time that three or more swimmers have qualified in one year.