A group of twenty one GPAC swimmers of all ages traveled to Columbus, GA for one more chance to improve their times and make some last-minute cuts before the championship season at the Groundhog Invitational hosted by Columbus Aquatic Club.

The meet was unique in that it awarded trophies for the top 10 places in the high point standings. Eight GPAC swimmers came home with a trophy. Sophia Diagne, 15, finished second in the high points for the 15-and-over girls. Sophia won six out her eight individual events, and swam personal best times in two of them. Makayla Ludwick, 12, finished fifth overall in the 11-12 girls, winning the 200-yd freestyle. Sisters Anna Jordan, 13, and Jenna Luth, 16, finished ninth and tenth, respectively in their age group. Both girls swam three life-best times at the meet.

Maren Mackey, 10, posted six best times out of her eight individual swims, placing in the top three in four events. She also nabbed two new Age Group Sectional qualifying times in the 500 and 100-yd freestyles. Walker Parra, 12 won the 200-yd backstroke, and placed in the top three in his other seven events to finish ninth in the point standings.  The Scoggins brothers, Noah, 10, and Seth, 12, each received a high point trophy, with Noah placing seventh and Seth placing eighth. Each one won one individual event, and each one got a new Sectional qualifying time, Noah in the 200 IM and Seth the 500 Free.  Not to be outdone, youngest brother Cain Scoggins, 6, swam six out of eight best times!

Five swimmers achieved new Southeastern qualifying times at the meet. Caitlin Bridges, 13, got her cut in the 200-yd butterfly. Both Diagne and Grace Menzies, 14, posted new cuts in the 200-yd backstroke. Along with the Sectional cut, Seth Scoggins got the Southeastern cut in the 500 free, and Thomas Young, 13, got his cut in the 200 butterfly.

Several swimmers attained new time standards at the meet:

BB:   Parker Brandt, 13 (200 Fly), Lexi DeJesus, 12 (50 Fly), Seth Scoggins (50 Fly), Taitem Turbyfill, 11 (50 Free), Thomas Young (200 Fly)

A:   AJ Luth (100 Back), Noah Scoggins (100 Back)

AA:   AJ Luth (500 Free), Maren Mackey (100 Free), Noah Scoggins (200 IM), Seth Scoggins (500 Free),

AAA: Maren Mackey (200 Free)

GPAC finished fifth overall as a team at the meet. Congratulations to all the swimmers who participated.