Bringing the largest team from the South District, and perhaps the deepest and most talented squad in years, GPAC capped off the 2013-14 short course season with an 11^th place finish at the Southeastern Swimming Short Course Championships held in Nashville, TN February 27-March 1.

Senior Olivia Weekley, 17, captured her first-ever Southeastern title in the 100-yd butterfly on the last evening of competition. Posting a lifetime best time in the event (:55.23), a strong final 25 yards a quick finish sealed GPAC sole event win.

“It couldn’t happen to a more deserving swimmer,” said Head Coach Philip Kraus. “Olivia has worked extremely hard over the last four years, and to finish her career with GPAC as a Southeastern champion makes me very proud.”

Olivia swam best times in three of her individual events, posting a Junior National ‘B’ standard in the 200-yd butterfly, finishing 10^th.

For the girls’ team, Makayla Ludwick, 12, was the top point scorer for GPAC. She posted all best times in her individual events, tallying 49 points for the team. She finished sixth in both the 1,000-yd freestyle and the 100-yd backstroke, and placed 7^th in the 50-yd backstroke and 8^th in the 500-yd freestyle.  Brooke Ferrara, 16, contributed 36 points, placing 5^th in the 100-yd backstroke and 8^th in the 500-yd freestyle. Other girls who posted a top-eight finish were Paige Bridges, 10 (5^th 500 Fr), Maren Mackey, 10 (6^th 500 Fr), and Tatiana Oberley, 16 (6^th 200 Br).

This was the first Southeasterns in many years where the boys’ squad outscored the girls’ squad. Walker Parra, 12, led GPAC with 62 points. Walker posted four of seven best times in his individual events, taking 4^th in the 1,000-yd freestyle, 6^th in the 200-yd free, 7^th in the 100-yd backstroke, and 8^th in the 500-yd free and 200-yd IM. 

Steffen Mount, 16, was close behind Walker with 58 points. He finished 3^rd in the 100-yd backstroke, and 4^th in the 100-yd free and 100-yd butterfly. His 7^th place finish in the 200-yd freestyle belied his new Junior National ‘A’ cut in the event.  Senior Nate Thomas, 18, scored 54 points. His bronze medal performances in the 50 and 100-yd freestyles were very close to the times her posted in his high school state meet. He also finished 4^th in the 100-yd breaststroke with a life-best time. Cameron Jones, 12, in his last Southeastern championship as a 12 & under, scored an impressive 40 points, posting four of seven best times and placing 4^th in the 50-yd breaststroke, 5^th in the 100-yd IM and 8^th in the 1,000-yd freestyle.

William Henderson, 11, had two top-eight finishes at the meet, placing 6^th in the 100-yd breaststroke and 8^th in the 100-yd IM. Nicholas Petruska, 14, dropping almost two whole minutes in his mile swim, placed 6^th overall.

Fifteen age group swimmers and two senior swimmers posted new sectional qualifying times at the meet: Coulson Barfield (200 Fr, 200 Fly), Braden Barkley (200 Fr, 500 Fr), Lexi DeJesus (500 Fr), Sophia Diagne (100, 200 Br, 50 Fr),Cason Forst (200 Fr), James Henderson, (100 Fr, 100 Fly), Renee Henderson (100 Fly), William Henderson (100 Fr), AJ Luth (100 Br, 200, 400 IM), Grace Matthews (100 IM, 100 Bk), Grace Menzies (100 Bk), Nicholas Petruska (1,000, 1,650 Fr, 400 IM), Heidi Schellin (200 Bk), Seth Scoggins (200 Fr, 100 Br), James Tracey (100 Bk), Cali Wilson (50, 100 Fr), Thomas Young (1,000, 500 Fr).

“I think it was a great meet overall,” said Head Age Group Coach Greg Johnson. “Like any team, we had some good swims and some not-so-good swims. But the swimmers really stuck together and made the most of the opportunities presented to them. I’m very happy with how they performed.”