Excel Aquatics Swimmers Lead Wilson County

County Swimmers Tapering for Championship Meet

July 7, 2007……Wilson County will be represented by three swimmers in the upcoming Southeastern Swimming (SES) Long Course Swimming Championships July 19-22 in Nashville and Brentwood TN. Siblings Madison and Luke Blackwell of Mount Juliet will be joined by fellow Excel Aquatics swimmer Bradley Gillilan of Lebanon as qualifiers for the meet.

Southeastern Swimming is the Local Swimming Committee (LSC) of USA Swimming (USAS). USA Swimming is the governing body responsible for hosting the Olympic Trials every four years to pick the US Olympic Swim Team. This selection process is done by different stages of qualifying meets. The SES LSC covers all of Tennessee, Alabama, and the Panhandle of Florida.

The SES Long Course Championships require that swimmers attain qualifying time cuts based on their age groupings and gender at USAS sanctioned meets. Due to the size of the meet this year, the meet is being co-hosted by two different teams utilizing two different pools, one in Nashville and the other in Brentwood. The preliminary swims will be held at both pools based on age category, with the Finals being swum in the evenings at the Tracy Caulkin’s Competition Pool in Nashville.

The Wilson County swimmers qualified for the meet have begun their tapering phase of training leading up to the meet. Tapering in swim training is used to rest the body so that muscle adaptations made during normal training are maintained, while the body rebounds to allow meet performance at a higher level.

Madison Blackwell is swimming in four events in the 11&12 Year Old Girl’s category: the 50 Meter Backstroke, 50 Meter Butterfly, 100 Meter Backstroke, and 100 Meter Butterfly. “Madison is only eleven years old and has progressed tremendously over the past year with Excel Aquatics.” According to Excel Aquatics Assistant Coach and Possum Town resident John Barnes. “Last year as a ten year old in this championship meet she swam in two events, and with aging up this year to the older category came much more difficult time standards. Madison rose to the challenge and swam to four new qualifying times in the harder category. Her work ethic during practice is wonderful.”

Luke Blackwell has qualified in ten events in the 13&14 Year Old Boy’s Category for the Championship Meet, however due to rules will only be able to swim in seven of the ten. The seven chosen: 200 Meter Freestyle, 400 Meter Freestyle, 800 Meter Freestyle, 1500 Meter Freestyle, 100 Meter Backstroke, 200 Meter Backstroke, and the 200 Meter Individual Medley. “Having ten qualifying times can be a challenge when you have to decide which seven to swim in the meet. We had to balance the four day length of the meet, the days on which events fell on, and the potential of placing in the Top 16 of each event.” Barnes explained. “Luke will do very well in this meet even though he is thirteen and will be swimming against boys a year older. We expect him to be in the Top 16 in quite a few of his events in his age grouping. Even though it is a lengthy meet with his individual events combined with relays, as long as he eats right through the weekend, and gets plenty of rest in between his swims, he should do just fine.”

Gillilan, a rising Sophomore at Lebanon High School, will be competing in the 15&16 Year Old Boy’s 200 Meter Freestyle, 400 Meter Freestyle, 800 Meter Freestyle, 1500 Meter Freestyle, and the 200 Meter Breaststroke. “Bradley will age up to the 15&16 year old category the day before the meet. In the 13&14 year old category Bradley had attained qualifying times in eleven different events, now because of the large drops in times needed to swim in the 15&16 year old category, he is qualified in five events.” Barnes stated. “Bradley is the first 15 year old from Wilson County to compete in the Long Course Championships since Andrew Davidson, who went on to swim at the University of Texas. Bradley has had some outstanding swims this summer and I expect that to continue as long as he keeps his drive and focus.”

“Wilson County residents have reason to be proud of these three swimmers. They are showing us what our youth are capable of with hard work and determination. Swimming is a sport where no child is left on the bench. Why are these three the cream of the crop of Wilson County swimmers? Their success starts with their attitude, continues with a focus on training that emphasizes both correct technique and challenging work, and concludes by coming full circle back to the swimmers and their goals. Our coaches at Excel Aquatics give them the tools necessary to help them realize those goals”