JPII Swimmers Place at State

Claycomb and Pouget place in Top 16 at State High School Swimming Championships

February 25, 2006……Lebanon residents Stephen Claycomb and Amy Pouget, both Juniors at Pope John Paul II High School, placed in the Top 16 at the State of Tennessee High School Swimming Championships this past weekend in Nashville. Claycomb, placed 10th in the Boy’s 100 Yard Freestyle with a time of 48.58 seconds in the evening Finals, after doing a time of 49.59 in the morning Preliminaries. Claycomb is the first male swimmer from Wilson County to place in the Top 16 at the State Championships since Mt. Juliet resident Andrew Davidson did it in February of 2001.

Pouget, placed 16th in Girl’s 100 Yard Freestyle with a time of 56.22 seconds in the evening Finals, after doing a time of 55.27 in the morning Preliminaries. Last year as a Sophomore swimming for Lebanon High School, Pouget had placed in the Top 16 in a different event, the 50 Yard Freestyle.

“Both of these swimmers are exciting to watch. Their techniques are similar, they love to sprint, and both are fierce competitors,” JPII Head Swim Coach Adam Towsley stated. “Amy and Stephen have a lot of potential to do greater things, and I’m proud of both them and their teammates who helped them achieve these accomplishments this season.”

Mardi Gras Meet 2006

Mardi Gras Magic

February 19, 2006……The weather outside was snowing one day, sleeting the next. But the action inside the Brentwood Indoor Sports Complex was steaming as 7 boys from Wilson County took to the water in the annual Excel Aquatics Mardi Gras Invitational Swim Meet. Lebanon residents Luke Blackwell and Austin Barnes joined Mount Juliet residents Bradley Gillilan, Alek Nochowicz, Tay Needles, Taylor Moses, and Taylor Wallace. All 7 boys are members of Excel Aquatics, a USA Swimming Silver Medal Level Club.

Blackwell (12 years old) and Nochowicz (14 years old) turned up the heat as their times were dropping as fast and as furious as the snow outside.

Blackwell, having caught the attention of the Wilson County swimming community in January with his first Southeastern Swimming Qualifying Time, caught the attention of all of the Mid-State area with 4 additional new SES Qualifying Times. The new events he added to his qualifying total were the 100 Free, 100 Breaststroke, 100 Backstroke, and 500 Free. “We were really stunned by the 500 time, at 5:45.43, it was a 31 seconds under the qualifying standard needed.” Excel Aquatics Assistant Coach John Barnes stated. “This was his first time swimming it, and we knew he would get the time, the only question was by how much. Luke has been working hard, listening to Coach Andreea, and challenging his teammates in practice everyday. When these boys push each other in practice every day, it makes all of them better and faster. That time Luke did in the 500 would qualify for the High School State Championship Meet if he was old enough, and puts him in the Top 5 swimmers among Wilson County boys, and he’s the youngest of that Top 5.”

Nochowicz continued his streak of meets where big time drops were turned in. In the 500 Free, Nochowicz dropped 11 seconds; and a further 6 seconds in the 200 IM. “Alek will be swimming for Pope John Paul II High School next year, and will be a major contributor for them from the very first meet if he keeps working hard.” Barnes commented. “Like all Excel Aquatic swimmers, he is learning the full spectrum of swimming, from sprinting to long distance swims. He’s not backing down from any challenge.”

Rounding out the 7 swimmers from Wilson County are Austin Barnes (COE 8^th Grader), Bradley Gillilan (MJMS 8^th Grader), Taylor Moses (Home School 5^th Grader), Tay Needels (MJES 5^th Grader), and Taylor Wallace (MJMS 8^th Grader).

For more information on year-round competitive swimming options in the Mid-State Region, as well as information on Summer League Swimming in the County, visit www.SwimWilsonCounty.com.