Wilson County Excel Aquatic Residents at SES Championships

Blackwell Places in Top 8 five times at
Southeastern Swimming Championships

July 24, 2007……With over 700 swimmers representing 38 different clubs covering Tennessee, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle, descending on the Tracy Caulkins Competition Pool in Nashville TN for the 2007 Southeastern Swimming Long Course Championships, there was a small contingent of Wilson County swimmers preparing to make their mark on the meet. This Championship level meet was conducted in the Prelims/Final format whereby if a swimmer placed in the Top 8 in the Preliminary swims in the mornings, they would come back and compete in the Finals in the evening. Long Course refers to the length of the pool, 50 Meters, the same pool length the Olympics is held in.

Siblings Luke and Madison Blackwell from Mount Juliet, and teammate Bradley Gillilan of Lebanon, were qualified and entered in a combined total of sixteen events for the Championship Meet. All three train with Excel Aquatics.

Luke Blackwell, swimming in the 13&14 Year Old Boy’s category, had qualified in ten different events, but per meet rules was only allowed to swim in seven events. Luke took to the water in the 200 Meter Freestyle, 400 Meter Freestyle, 800 Meter Freestyle, 1500 Meter Freestyle, 100 Meter Backstroke, 200 Meter Backstroke, and 200 Meter Individual Medley.

Over the course of the four days the meet lasted, Luke placed in the Top 8 in at least one event per day. With the 800 Meter Free and the 1500 Meter Free being the only events to be conducted as Timed Finals with no repeat swims, Blackwell placed 5^th in both events. In the 800 Meter swim, Luke was one of only two 13 year old boys to finish in the top 12 placings in the race, with the rest being 14 years old. In the 1500 Meter swim, Luke was the highest placing 13 year old in the event.

Blackwell also swam to Top Eight finishes in the 100 Meter Backstroke (8^th), the 200 Meter Backstroke (5^th), and the 400 Meter Freestyle (8^th). All three of those events were swum twice, first in Preliminaries, and again in Finals.

In Blackwell’s other races, he placed 16^th in the 200 Meter Freestyle, and was disqualified in the 200 Meter Individual Medley after not executing the Butterfly to Backstroke turn properly.

“Overall Luke had a fantastic meet”, Excel Assistant and Lebanon resident John Barnes noted. “Between Prelims, Finals, and Relay events, Luke swam in 12 events over the course of the meet. That is a lot of swims at this level of competition, and he held up very well. It’s been over 6 years since a Wilson County male over the age of 13 has had that many swims at a Championship level meet.”

“He was one of the youngest swimmers in his age group returning to the Finals each night, and this bodes well for him next summer when he will be one of the oldest in his age grouping.”

Madison Blackwell competing in the 11&12 Year Old Girl’s category, swam in the 100 Meter Butterfly, 50 Meter Butterfly, 100 Meter Backstroke, and the 50 Meter Backstroke.

“Madison had some great time drops over her entry times in the 50 Fly and 50 Back, which was real nice to see. Her stroke style is probably suited more for the 100’s and 200’s, so for her to get up and race the shorter distance was great to see” according to Barnes. “She is working hard in practice and her dedication has paid off.”

Gillilan, competing for the first time in the Senior Boy’s category, after having aged up the day before the meet, competed in 5 events he had already qualified for in that higher level. Gillilan swam in the 200 Meter Freestyle, 400 Meter Free, 800 Meter Free, 1500 Meter Free, and the 200 Meter Breaststroke. Against boys ranging in age from 15 to over 20 years of age, Gillilan’s highest placing was 23^rd in the 1500 Meter Free.

“Bradley aged up and was the youngest 15 year old at the meet, having to swim against others quite a bit older than him.” Barnes explained. “But Bradley held his own and went after it in his races, we were proud of him and his efforts.”

Gillilan will be entering his Sophomore year at Lebanon High School as the only returning State Qualifier in Individual Events on the LHS Boy’s team, and is expected to compete in the distance events.

“Both Bradley and Luke Blackwell have had an amazing Long Course Season this summer. They were able to get in some long course training in Murfreesboro in the mornings, and that really paid off when combined with their normal evening training. They have established themselves as the most dominant males out of Wilson County in Long Course events since Andrew Davidson was swimming up in the late 1990s.

“All of Wilson County should be proud of these three swimmers for representing us so well.”

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