Barnes Named Site Coordinator

Excel Aquatics names local coach as Gallatin Site Coordinator

August 8, 2004……Excel Aquatics, a year-round USA Swimming Silver Medal Team based in Gallatin, Brentwood, and LaVergne has named Wilson County resident John Barnes as their Gallatin Site Coordinator. Coach Barnes, who is also an Assistant Coach with the MJHS Swim Team, took an offer to join the coaching staff at Excel Aquatics in the Spring of 2004, and began assisting with their Gold and Xtreme training squads in Gallatin. By assuming the duties as Site Coordinator at Excel-Gallatin, Barnes will be responsible for leading the Gallatin coaching staff in the planning and implementation of the training program of Excel swimmers across all skill levels, as well as handling the multiple other swimming related issues that arise on a daily basis. He will report directly to Excel Head Coach Mark Walker who is based in Brentwood.

Coach Walker noted that “I’m proud to announce that Coach Barnes will be leading our Gallatin training location. John is the right person at the right time for this newly created position within our Gallatin training squad. Since he has been with us he has made a positive impact not only on the swimmers in his group, but with the parents as well. He brings a lot of energy to the team on and off the deck. We are close to finalizing the rest of the coaching staff in Gallatin which we will be announcing soon. I know that everyone is going to be pleased with of the quality of the coaching staff we are assembling. There is going to be a lot of fresh ideas and excitement on deck this coming season with Excel Aquatics.”

Cumberland University graduate and Mount Juliet resident Johnny Davis, who is the Head Coach of the Willoughby Station Waves Summer League team, noted that “Coach Barnes was my mentor in coaching swimming. He’s an old fashioned coach who genuinely cares about his swimmers and demands their best in whatever they do. He wants them to realize that they are capable of far more than the limits they tend to impose upon themselves. I have no doubt that he will bring that same philosophy to all aspects of the Excel-Gallatin program as well. He’s not only great coaching the kids; he’s also great at coaching coaches.”

• Excel Aquatics is a 2003 & 2004 USA Swimming Silver Medal Club. Excel will be holding placement trials and a free two week trail beginning August 23^rd at the Gallatin Civic Center. For more information, visit www.ExcelAquatics.org.

County Residents compete at SES LC Championships

Wilson County Residents Compete at

Southeastern Swimming Long Course Championships

August 1, 2004……Three Wilson County swimmers took to the water at the Southeastern Swimming Long Course Championships in Tuscaloosa this past weekend, July 29-August 1^st. Competing for Excel Aquatics were 7^th Graders Bradley Gillilan and Taylor Wallace, and rising University of Texas Senior, Olympic Trials Qualifier, and fellow Wilson County resident Andrew Davidson.

Taylor Wallace, competing in the 11&12 Year Old Category, swam the 50 Breaststroke, 50 Freestyle, 50 Butterfly, and 100 Breaststroke. “Taylor had an outstanding meet, he really got going and applied himself this weekend and showed that he is capable of doing outstanding things.” Assistant Coach John Barnes stated.

Bradley Gillilan, also in the 11&12 Year Old Category, took to the water in the 400 Freestyle, 800 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke, 200 Individual Medley, and 50 Butterfly. “In the 800 Freestyle Bradley placed 7^th in the Southeast, his time was terrific and he is learning how to pace himself in this distance events, it will only help him get better in all his events.” Barnes stated.

Olympic Trials Qualifier, Andrew Davidson, put on a show for those in attendance, including his two younger teammates that hope to follow in his footsteps. Davidson won the Men’s 17 & Older 200 Backstroke, showing what he is capable of doing by dominating the last 50 meters and winning hands down. Coach Barnes noted that “Andrew has incredible underwater technique and strength off the starts and turns, he used the same capability to dominate the 200 Back and win the 100 Butterfly as well. It was a clinic to all swimmers in attendance down there in how to use that aspect of swimming to your advantage. Head Coach Mark Walker was pleased that Andrew would take the time out of this training regimen at Texas and come back to compete for Excel and set an example for our younger swimmers.”

· For more information on Excel Aquatics and complete Meet Results, visit www.excelaquatics.org and come to the Excel New Swimmer Placement Trial on August 23^rd at the Gallatin Civic Center.