The GPAC team record book contains a list of tremendous swimmers, some of which have gone on to be Olympians. So it goes to say that if your name is there, you are among giants. Led by record-setting performances by Coulson Barfield, Makayla Ludwick, Walker Parra and Heidi Schellin, twenty nine GPAC swimmers had an exciting and successful Southeastern Swimming Championships in Knoxville, TN July 17-20. GPAC, being the 13^th largest team, finished an impressive 10^th place overall. This was a six-team jump from last year’s meet. GPAC also had the 11-12 boys’ team place second in the age group as a team, and the 11-12 girls placed 5^th.

Coulson Barfield, 14, was the Southeastern champion in both 50m and 100m freestyle events at the meet, and set a new team record in the 50, erasing the mark set 14 years ago. His name will now be just four lines above his father, Chris Barfield, who still holds GPAC team records. Coulson’s time in both the 50 and 100-meter freestyle is a new ‘AAAA’ time for him. Couslon went on to swimming all best times in his individual events, placing 6^th in the 400m IM and 100m butterfly.

Makayla Ludwick, 12, grabbed the silver medal in a tough race against the top-seeded girl in the 800m freestyle on Thursday evening. Ludwick’s time of 9 minutes, 29.18 seconds shattered her old team record by over 30 seconds, is a new ‘AAAA’ time, and is in the top-10 rankings nationally. Makayla was a championship finalist in six of her individual events, finishing 3^rd in the 100m backstroke, 4^th in the 100m freestyle and 5^th in the 50m back. Ludwick posted six new ‘AAAA’ times at the meet.

Walker Parra, 12, had what he called “the best meet of my life,” and blasted a new team record his 800m free race. Leading the race at the halfway point and a strong push by his opponent in the last 50 meters made for a dramatic finish. Walker won the silver medal, and reset the team record by 23 seconds. His His time of 9:39.65 is a new ‘AAAA’ time as well.  Walker was a four-time silver medalist at the meet, taking the medal in the 200, 400, 800 meter freestyles and the 200 IM. His time in the 100 back was also a new team record, erasing the 21-year old mark. Walker was also selected to the Southeastern Swimming Zone team, which will compete in San Antonio the last week of July. He swam seven out of seven best times, and was the lead-off swimmer in the bronze medal 400m free relay.

Heidi Schellin, 16, in her first-ever appearance in a Southeastern final, finished fourth in the 200m breaststroke and set a new team record. Her time of 2 minutes, 43.64 seconds was a new ‘AAA’ time and reset the team mark from 1996. Heidi was also a consolation finalist in the 100m breaststroke, finishing 12^th.

In addition to these swimmers, GPAC had numerous other swimmers be championship finalist, and finish in the top-eight. Paige Bridges, 10, finished 4^th in the 400m free, 5^th in the 200 IM, 6^th in the 200 free and 8^th in the 100 back. Trinity Devanney, 10, in her SES debut, placed 6^th in the 400 free. GPAC also had James Tracey, 12, and Braden Barkley, 11, finish 6^th and 8^th, respectively, in the 800m freestyle event, giving the team three in the top-eight. Barkley also finished 8^th in the 400 free. Tatiana Oberley joined in the scoring by finishing 8th in the 200 breaststroke.

The Henderson sibiling combined to score in 10 events.  James Henderson, 14, placed 3^rd in the 200 back and 4^th in both the 100 back and 200 IM, and sister Renee, 12, nabbed a bronze medal in the 100 breast, as well as 6^th place in the 50 breaststroke and 100 free. William Henderson, 12, finished 3^rd in the 50 breaststroke, 4^th in the 100 br, 5^th in the 200 IM and 7^th in the 100 back. 

Steffen Mount, 17, took the silver medal in the men’s 100m free, posting a best time of 52.20, just missing the automatic Summer Junior National qualifying time by .01 seconds. Steffen swam best times in all of his individual events, and set three new Winter Junior National qualifying times (50, 100, 200 free). Brooke Ferrara, 16, finished 5^th in the 100m back, once again qualifying for winter Juniors, and she posted a “B cut” in the 50 freestyle as well. Steffen and Brooke will be invited to the Junior National championships held in Seattle, WA in December.

GPAC also had great relays at the meet. The 13-14 boys’ freestyle relay of Thomas Young, Cameron Jones, James Henderson and Coulson Barfield took the silver medal, and the 11-12 boys’ free relay of Parra, William Henderson, Manas Pandey and Seth Scoggins took 3^rd. The 11-12 boys’ medley relay of Parra, Henderson, Scoggins and Braden Barkley placed 4^th.

Congratulations to the swimmers who posted all best times at the meet: Coulson Barfield, James Henderson, Cameron Jones, Steffen Mount and Walker Parra.

Many GPAC swimmers posted very impressive new motivational times:

A:            Trinity Devanney, Cameron Jones, Malia Ludwick

AA:         Coulson Barfield, Braden Barkley, Caitlin Bridges, Trinity Devanney, Sophia Diagne, Tatiana Oberley, Noah Scoggins, Seth Scoggins

AAA:      Coulson Barfield (2), Braden Barkley, Brooke Ferrara, James Henderson(3), Renee Henderson (4),  William Henderson (2), AJ Luth, Steffen Mount, Tatiana Oberley (2), Walker Parra (3), Heidi Schellin (3), Thomas Young

AAAA:   Coulson Barfield (2), Renee Henderson, Makayla Ludwick (6), Steffen Mount (3), Walker Parra (3)

GPAC and the coaches are very proud of the hard work and accomplishments of this season’s Southeastern team:
Coulson Barfield, Braden Barkley, Jacob Bell, Parker Brandt, Caitlin Bridges, Paige Bridges, Lexi DeJesus, Trinity Devanney, Sophia Diagne, Brooke Ferrara, James Henderson, William Henderson, Renee Henderson, Cameron Jones, Kyle Longley, Makayla Ludwick, Malia Ludwick, AJ Luth, Jenna Luth, Sarah Marks, Steffen Mount, Tatiana Oberley, Manas Pandey, Walker Parra, Heidi Schellin, Noah Scoggins, Seth Scoggins, James Tracey and Thomas Young.