4 From Wilson County in Championship Meet

Wilson Quartet Represents Wilson County at Southeastern Championship Meet

March 19, 2007……The Southeastern Swimming Short Course Championship Meet this past weekend in Nashville saw Madison Blackwell, Luke Blackwell, Bradley Gillilan and Taylor Wallace, all from Wilson County, contribute to Excel Aquatics’ Third Place finish at the Meet. 45 teams, comprising 872 swimmers from Tennessee, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle competed in the Championship Meet.

Lebanon High School freshman Bradley Gillilan placed 15^th in the 13&14 Boy’s 1650 Yard Freestyle with a time of 18:10.86. Gillilan also competed in the 1000 Freestyle (17^th place), 200 Yard Freestyle (33^rd), 100 Yard Breaststroke (30^th), and 200 Yard Backstroke (31^st).

“Bradley had a great meet, dropping time in 3 of his 5 events after coming off a short course season where he split his training focus between his natural distance events and the sprint focused High School season.” Excel Assistant Coach and Lebanon resident John Barnes stated.

Home School 8^th Grader (Mt. Juliet) Luke Blackwell took home a 13^th Place finish in the 13&14 Boy’s 1650 Yard Freestyle, turning in a time of 17:53.49. A 16^th Place finish was garnered in the 1000 Yard Freestyle with a time of 10:42.08, a remarkable 37 second drop from his previous try at that distance. Blackwell also competed in the 200 Yard Freestyle (32^nd Place), 200 Yard Backstroke (28^th), 500 Yard Freestyle (24^th), and 100 Yard Backstroke (23^rd).

“Both Bradley and Luke did great in the 1650, aka “The Mile”. For someone not familiar with this sport, swimming that distance is more closely similar to running a 5 Kilometer race, a Cross Country running distance. Excel Aquatics’ encourages our kids to swim all the strokes and varied event lengths in swimming, in order to find what the correct fit is for them. Over time things may change, and all of our kids typically continue to develop because of their strong aerobic base.” Barnes commented.

Madison Blackwell, a Home School 6^th Grader (Mt. Juliet), competed in her first Southeastern Short Course Championship in the Girl’s 11&12 category. Blackwell participated in the 50 Yard Backstroke, and turned in a time of 0:32.76. “Madison swam lights out in her event, she really nailed her underwater technique off of the start and turn and once on top of the water she got her arms moving while maintaining excellent body position in the water.”

Mount Juliet High School freshman Taylor Wallace swam to a 9^th Place finish in the 100 Yard Breaststroke, and anchored the 13&14 Boy’s 400 Medley Relay that attained a National Top 16 time during the meet. Wallace also competed in the 400 Yard Individual Medley, 200 Yard Individual Medley, 50 Yard Freestyle, 100 Yard Butterfly, and 100 Yard Freestyle.

For more information on competitive swimming visit www.SwimWilsonCounty.com.

Madison Blackwell Posts Win In Memphis Meet

Madison Blackwell Swims to Wins in Memphis

March 12, 2007……Madison Blackwell of Mount Juliet, competing in the Girl’s 11&12 year old category at the Southeastern Swimming Districts Meet in Memphis this past weekend scored an individual win along with two relay wins.

Competing in the 50 Yard Backstroke, Blackwell quickly swam away from the field, with a winning time of 0:33.40. In other individual events Blackwell placed 3^rd in the 100 Yard Backstroke (1:13.66), 4^th in the 50 Yard Butterfly (0:32.89), 6^th in the 100 Yard Individual Medley (1:15.10), 7^th in the 100 Yard Breaststroke (1:26.77), 9^th in the 50 Yard Freestyle (0:30.09), and 12^th in the 50 Yard Breaststroke (1:13.66).

Blackwell was also part of Excel Aquatic’s winning 200 Yard Medley Relay and 200 Yard Freestyle Relay at the meet.

“Madison has done a great job this short course season. Having just aged up into this harder age group, she just barely missed her Southeastern Swimming Championship Meet Qualifying Times.” Excel Aquatics Assistant Coach John Barnes stated. “This was only her fifth short course meet since joining Excel a little over a year ago, and at the rapid pace she is progressing, she should have no problem achieving the long course standards in the upcoming long course season.”

Madison’s older brother, Luke, will be joining LHS Freshman Bradley Gillilan and MJHS Freshman Taylor Wallace in the upcoming Southeastern Swimming Short Course Championship Meet March 15-18. All three boys will be competing in the Boy’s 13&14 year old category, representing Excel Aquatics.

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