The CAT 5 Tropic Like It’s Hot Invitational was a fantastic weekend of swimming, sunshine, and team spirit. Beautiful weather and a cool breeze created great conditions for racing, and our swimmers enjoyed competing and being together.

The meet was a true team event, with athletes supporting one another both in and out of the pool. The positive energy on deck and around the team tents provided a fun and memorable experience for everyone involved. 

GPAC was represented by 70 swimmers who combined for 385 total swims throughout the weekend. The team raced to an impressive 69.6% lifetime best rate, with 65 of our 70 athletes recording at least one personal best times. Nineteen swimmers achieved a lifetime best in every event they raced. GPAC swimmers also captured multiple individual event victories, while eight athletes earned new Southeastern/Sectional qualifying standards and 23 swimmers achieved new Motivational Time Standards. These accomplishments reflect the hard work, dedication, and commitment our swimmers have shown in training and provide great momentum as we continue through the season. 

Congratulations to Alexandru Badila, our 8 & Under High Point Winner, who scored 60 points while winning four events. Individual event winners included Ethan Anderson (200 IM, 50 Breaststroke, 100 Backstroke, 50 Freestyle), Alexandru Badila (25 Breaststroke, 50 Freestyle, 25 Butterfly, 25 Backstroke), Marcela Dos Santos (50 Breaststroke, 100 Breaststroke, 100 Freestyle), Amelia (1000 Freestyle), Nicholas Lypko (200 Breaststroke), Arthur Phillips (100 Breaststroke), and Lincoln Purdy (50 Backstroke).

A special congratulations goes to our swimmers who achieved lifetime best times in every event they raced: Charis Anz, Evan Beattie, Holden Brown, River Gaut, Claire Gibowski, Tess Kellner, Grace Laughlin, Eme Mason, Madelyn Mears, Sky Menendez, Lincoln Purdy, Ellianah Rocha, Luna Roseano, Galen Schwartz, Mason Shiueh, Bella Valdez, Conor Valdez, Riley Valdez, and Oliver Winkler. 

Several GPAC swimmers also reached new championship-level standards. New Southeastern qualifying times were earned by Addison Adams (400 IM), Ethan Anderson (200 IM, 100 Butterfly, 100 Breaststroke), Tyler Ashby (200 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 100 Breaststroke), Marcela Dos Santos (50 Backstroke), Nicholas Lypko (200 Freestyle), Arthur Phillips (50 Butterfly, 50 Breaststroke, 500 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle), Lincoln Purdy (50 Freestyle), and Lane Robinson (100 Butterfly). New Age Group Sectional qualifying times were achieved by Addison Adams (400 IM), Ethan Anderson (50 Breaststroke, 100 Breaststroke, 100 IM), and Lincoln Purdy (100 Backstroke). 

New Motivational Standard Time:

B- Anatolie Badila, Callie Coleman, River Gaut, Tess Kellner, Eme Mason, Lane Robinson, Laliyah Roland, Luna Roseano, Galen Schwartz, Conor Valdez

BB- Tyler Ashby, Madison Crisco, Hailey Herron, Maddy McKian, Vale Purdy, Mason Shiueh, Bella Valdez, Jansen VanWormer

A- Nicholas Lypko, Lincoln Purdy, Benjamin Stewart

AAA- Addison Adams, Ethan Anderson

We are proud of the effort and sportsmanship shown by our team and look forward to building on this momentum at our next competition. We appreciate all of the parents that were willing to travel to Panama City. 

Go GPAC!