The GPAC Winter Invitational showcased more of GPAC’s tremendous depth and the hard work that the swimmers have put in over the past month and over the holiday. GPAC swimmers accounted for 64% life-best times and a slew of new motivational and qualifying times among all age groups. GPAC won the meet by a slight 41 points over visiting Crawfish Aquatics from Louisiana, and boasted four high point winners.

The Henderson trifecta of James, 13, and Renee and William, 11, claimed the high point award for the respective age groups. James posted life-best times in all 10 of his individual events, winning two and placing second in five others. He also set a new Age Group Sectional qualifying time in his 100-yd backstroke and new Southeastern qualifying times in his 1000-yd freestyle, the 200-yd freestyle and the 100-yd butterfly. His sister Renee claimed four individual victories and posted five new best times, including a new ‘AA’ time in the 100-yd butterfly. Her time was also good enough to qualify for Southeasterns. William posted three individual wins and had nine out of 10 best times. He also set a new Sectional time in his 200-yd breaststroke and a new SES qualifying time in his 50-yd freestyle.

Brooke Ferrara, 16, was the high-point winner for the senior girls’ age group. Brooke laid claim to seven individual titles at the meet, including a best time in the 50-yd butterfly. She was also the lead-off swimmer for both of GPAC’s victorious relays.

“We accomplished so much at this meet,” said Head Coach Phil Kraus. “Not only are we still seeing great participation at our home meets from all training groups and parents, but we have almost 40 Southeastern qualifiers, new best times, and even new team records!”

The format of the meet allowed many of the team’s 11-12 year olds to expand their meet programs to include 200-yd races of the strokes. Taking full advantage, four new team records were set at the meet in the 11-12 age group.  Cameron Jones, 12, reset his own mark from last year in the 200-yd breaststroke, pursued hotly by William Henderson, and set a new team record in the 200-yd butterfly, an event that did not have a current record with it in the GPAC annals. Cameron won four individual events at the meet as well (50, 100 Fr, 200 IM, 100 Br). Makayla Ludwick, 12, runner-up for the girls high-point race, set a new team record and grabbed the win in the 1000-yd freestyle, her first time racing it this season. Her time also qualified her for the SES championship (3^rd in the LSC) and also for the Sectional meet in Atlanta in March. She also went on to win four other individual events (50, 100 Fr, 50 Bk, 50 Fly). Walker Parra, 12, smashed the old team record in the 400-yd IM, dropping 13 seconds and grabbing a new ‘AAA’ time.

Head Age Group Coach Greg Johnson said, “This meet format was great for our Junior group. Virtually everyone who swam an over-distance (200-yd) stroke race got a Sectional cut, and the thousands were tremendous for our team overall. It shows that we are developing well and are in great shape.”

Senior team member Steffen Mount, 16, had the most individual wins of any swimmer at the meet, taking first place in nine out ten of his individual events! Steffen also set a new Sectional cut in his 200-yd backstroke.  He also posted four new best times. He was second in the high-point race, with the winner swimming three more events than Steffen to capture the points race.

GPAC had several other individual event winners at the meet. Coulson Barfield won both the 100 and 200-yd butterfly events, setting a new Age Group Sectional time in the 100-yd race. He also set two new SES cuts in the 100-yd freestyle and 200-yd backstroke. Parker Brandt, 12, nabbed the win in the 100-yd butterfly, setting a new ‘AA’ time, and Paige Bridges, 10, won the 100-yd freestyle. Cason Forst, 12, swept the 50 and 100-yd butterfly events, setting new Sectional cuts in both. Seven-year-old Braedan Jacobs won the 25-yd backstroke, and Maren Mackey, 10, won the 200-yd IM. Korbin Menser, 8, boasted six individual wins (50, 100 Fr, 25, 50 Br, 50 Fly, 100 IM). Tatiana Oberley, 15, took the wins in the senior girls’ 100 and 200-yd breaststrokes, and Nicholas Petruska, 14, took the 200 and 500-yd freestyles. Finally, James Tracey, 12, captured his first win in the 500-yd freestyle, posting a new Sectional cut.

Fourteen GPAC swimmers accounted for 22 new Southeastern cuts at the meet: Alex Atherton, 11 (1000 Fr), Coulson Barfield (1000 Fr, 200 Bk), Braden Barkley, 11 (1000 Fr), Paige Bridges (100 fly, 500 Fr), Sophia Diagne, 15 (400 IM), Cason Forst (100 Fr), James Henderson (200, 1000 Fr, 100 Fly), Renee Henderson (100 fly), William Henderson (50 Fr), Makayla Ludwick (1000 Fr, 100 IM, 50 Fly), Anna Jordan Luth, 13 (200 Fly), Nicholas Petruska (200 Fly, 400 IM), Grace Sill, 13 (1000 Fr), Thomas Young, 13 (200 Bk, 500 Fr).

In addition, fourteen swimmers made new Sectional qualifying times: Coulson Barfield (100 Fly), Braden Barkley (1000 Fr, 200 Bk), Paige Bridges (500 Fr), Cason Forst (50, 100 Fly), James Henderson (100 Bk), William Henderson (200 Br), Makayla Ludwick (1000 Fr, 50 Fly, 400 IM), Maren Mackey (50, 500 Fr, 200 IM), Grace Matthews, 12 (200 Bk), Steffen Mount (200 Bk), Nicholas Petruska (200 Bk), Noah Scoggins (50 Fly), Seth Scoggins, 12 (200, 400 IM, 200 Bk, 200 Br), and James Tracey (500 Fr, 200 Bk).

Congratulations to the following GPAC swimmers who posted life-best times in all events swam: Grace Bradshaw, 9, Amy Brown, 14, Trinity Devanney, 10, Landry Hadder, 9, Isabel Harris, 11, Ryan Harrison, 13, James Henderson, Rebecca Holliman, 16, Erin Johnson, 11, Max Little, 6, Ryan Longley, 16, Malia Ludwick, 9, Maren Mackey, Sarah Marks, 9, Adriana Rivera, 10, Grace Sill, 13, Hope Waggoner, 8, Grayson Walter, 15, and Nevada Wood, 13.

By the numbers, GPAC swimmers accounted for 71 new ‘B’ times, 47 ‘BB’ times, 36 ‘A’ times, 24 ‘AA’ times and 3 ‘AAA’ times.

B: Claren Anderson, Cynthia Anderson, Alex Atherton, Blakeley Baker, Braden Barkley, Abby Barr, Kareem Bataineh, Jacob Bell, Amy Brown, Trinity Devanney, Sydney Dodson, Meghan Doyle, Landry Hadder, Claire Han, Amelia Hoitt, Genna Hoitt, Rebecca Holliman, Erin Johnson, Brantly Keiek, Sam Laggan, Austin Lee, Rachel Lee, Ryan Longley, Anna Marks, Sarah Marks, Korbin Menser, Aiden Morgan, Francisco Ramirez, Joseph Richbourg, Adriana Rivera, Matthew Rodgerson, Taitem turbyfill, Delaney Turner, Joseph Webb, Nevada Wood, Jackson Wright

BB:  Alex Atherton, Blakeley Baker, Coulson Barfield, Abby Barr, Jordan Barrett, Kareem Bataineh, paige Bridges, Ashley Burroughs, Lexi DeJesus, Trinity Devanney, Sydney Dodson, Meghan Doyle, Cason Forst, Scott Griffith, Genna Hoitt, Rebecca Holliman, Kristina Jacques, Cameron Jones, Brantly Keiek, Rebekah Loesch, Malia Ludwick, AJ Luth, Jenna Luth, Sarah Marks, Walker Parra, Nicholas Petruska, Grace Sill, Cameron Walton, Jackson Wright

A:  Claren Anderson, Coulson Barfield, Braden Barkley, Parker Brandt, Caitlin Bridges, Cason Forst, James Henderson, Renee Henderson, William Henderson, Austin lee, Grace Matthews, Logan Mead, Walker Parra, Noah Scoggins, Grace Sill, James Tracey, Cameron Walton, Cali Wilson, Thomas Young

AA:  Coulson Barfield, Braden Barkley, Parker Brandt, Paige Bridges, Lexi DeJesus, James Henderson, Renee Henderson, William Henderson, Cameron Jones, Makayla Ludwick, AJ Luth, Maren Mackey, Nicholas Petruska, Heidi Schellin, Noah Scoggins, Grace Sill, James Tracey, Thomas Young

AAA:  Makayla Ludwick, Steffen Mount, Walker Parra

Way to go GPAC Swimmers!