It seemed a little more like paradise this year, as the clouds broke and sun shone on a large GPAC squad that captured second place at the Nike Paradise Invitational held in Panama City Beach September 19-21. GPAC had over 85 swimmers attend the meet; the most swimmers at an away meet in over five years!

Friday night at the meet had the 13 and over swimmers racing in a sprint pentathlon, where each swimmer competed in a 50-yd race of each stroke, and a 100-yd individual medley. Scores were based on “power points,” and the faster they swam, the more points were awarded. Caitlin Bridges, 14, won her age group, scoring an impressive 1,691 points. She won the butterfly, breaststroke, freestyle and individual medley events. Makayla Ludwick, 13, took second among the 13-year old girls, winning the 50-yd freestyle, and Cason Forst, 13, was third in the boys.

The rest of the weekend was a standard meet format for all ages. GPAC had several individual event winners at the meet. The Henderson Trifecta of James, Renee and William accounted for four individual wins.  James, 14, took top honors in the 400-yd I.M. and 200-yd backstroke, and Renee and William, 12, each won the 100-yd breaststroke. Renee also posted a new ‘AAA’ time in her breaststroke race. AJ Luth, 14, took the 13-14 girls’ 400 I.M. title, Heidi Schellin, 16, also won the 400 I.M. and added a win in the 200 breaststroke and Noah Scoggins, 10, won the 100-yd backstroke.

Although still early in the season, many swimmers posted best times in all their individual events. Congratulations to Trinity Devanney, 10, who in her last meet as a 10-year old posted best times in all 10 of her events. Meghan Doyle, 14, Landry Hadder, 10, Emily Johnson, 14, Matthew Rodgerson, 12, Liam Winans, 12, Marina Winans, 15, and Nevada Wood, 14, all posted life-best times in their events.

                Congratulations to the following swimmers who made new motivational times:

B:            Paige Bridges, Amy Brown, Landry Hadder, Amelia Hoitt, Cannon Hutchens, Emily Johnson, Sam Laggan, Grace McNally, Logan Mead, Korbin Menser, Kat Ralls, Matthew Rodgerson, Alex Smith, Shelby Smith, Nevada Wood

BB:         Kate Bradley, Trinity Devanney, Meghan Doyle, Scott Griffith, Landry Hadder, Amelia Hoitt, Cannon Hutchens, Emily Johnson, Maren Mackey, Anna Marks, Sarah Marks, Grace McNally, Korbin Menser, Grace Menzies, Manas Pandey, Matthew Rodgerson, Liam Winans, Marina Winans, Nevada Wood

A:            Trinity Devanney, Zoe Hall, Rebekah Loesch, Makayla Ludwick, Malia Ludwick, AJ Luth, Gracie Matthews, Manas Pandey, Walker Parra, Noah Scoggins, Liam Winans, Thomas Young

AA:         Parker Brandt, Trinity Devanney, Renee Henderson, William Henderson, Manas Pandey

AAA:      Renee Henderson