More Time Cuts at Stars and Stripes Meet

Excel Swimmers Make Their Mark at Swim Meet

May 27, 2007……Madison Blackwell of Mount Juliet led a contingent of seven Wilson County residents in competing at the Excel Aquatics Stars & Stripes Long Course Swim Meet in Brentwood TN this past weekend. Joining Madison from Lebanon were Austin Barnes and Bradley Gillilan; from Watertown were Chelsie Barlettano and Dallas Barlettano; and also from Mount Juliet were Samuel Blackwell and Luke Blackwell. All seven compete for nationally recognized Excel Aquatics.

The Long Course format is swam in a 50 Meter Pool, the same pool dimensions as the Olympic Games.

Madison Blackwell garnered Southeastern Swimming (SES) Long Course Swimming Championship Meet Qualifying Times in the Girls 11&12 year old category for the 50 Meter Backstroke and 100 Meter Butterfly. Madison had previously attained a qualifying cut in the 100 Meter Backstroke. In the 100 Meter Butterfly, Madison turned in a time of one minute, twenty one seconds, and 86 one-hundredths of a second (1:21.86), good for a 7^th place finish. “I knew Madison’s time was faster than anything I remember for girls that age in Wilson County, and after coming home to check several websites I’m fairly confident that it is the fastest time ever for a girl from Wilson County in that age group in that event.” Excel Assistant Coach and Lebanon resident John Barnes stated. “Her time in the 100 Meter Backstroke also is the fastest time ever for a Wilson County girl that age.”

Blackwell placed 6^th in the 100 Meter Backstroke with a time of 1:20.36, dropping 87-hundredths of a second in the process. In the 50 Meter Backstroke, Blackwell popped a 0:38.28, a SES Qualifying time.

“Madison continues to do very well with Excel Aquatics, and I was ecstatic with her big time drops in both the 50 Meter Butterfly and the 100 Meter Butterfly.” Barnes commented.

Chelsie and Dallas Barlettano competed in their first Long Course Meet, and showed that they were up to the challenge. Both turned in impressive times. Chelsie swam in the 100 Meter Breaststroke and 50 Meter Freestyle, while brother Dallas took to the water in the 100 Meter Freestyle, 50 Meter Backstroke, 50 Meter Freestyle, and 50 Meter Breaststroke.

Austin Barnes competed in the 400 Meter Freestyle, 100 Meter Freestyle, and 100 Meter Backstroke; setting personal best times in all three events.

Samuel Blackwell, competing in the Boys 8&Under category swam to a 4^th Place finish in the 50 Meter Breaststroke, 6^th Place in the 50 Meter Backstroke, and 9^th Place in the 50 Meter Freestyle with best times in all events.

In the older 13&14 Boys division, Luke Blackwell and Bradley Gillilan proved once again why they are the most well rounded male swimmers in the county. Gillilan increased the number of SES Long Course Qualifying Cuts to 11 in the 13&14 age group, while Blackwell closed close in bringing his total to 10. Gillilan added two Boy’s 13&14 year old SES cuts in the 200 Meter Individual Medley and 200 Meter Backstroke (13&14). He added cuts in the 15&16 year old category in the 200 Meter Breaststroke, which was also a Senior Boys cut.

Blackwell added qualifying cuts in Boys 13&14 year old category in the 400 Meter Individual Medley, the 100 Meter Freestyle, the 200 Meter Breaststroke, and the 1500 Meter Freestyle. In the 200 Meter Breaststroke the time was also good enough for a 15&16 year old qualifying cut; while in the 1500 Meter Freestyle Luke’s time of 18:06.36 was both a 15&16 cut and a Senior cut.

“This was another great meet for these two boys. Bradley’s time in the 800 Meter Freestyle was phenomenal, just hundredths of a second off a qualifying cut in the 15&16 year old category.” Coach Barnes commented. “Luke turned the meet on its ear with his time in the 1500 Meter Freestyle, coming out of nowhere to place 2^nd in his age group in the event. Honestly, I was stunned by his 1500 Free and his 400 Meter Individual Medley swim on Friday night. That 1500 swim was the fastest swim by a Wilson County boy I’ve been able to find in results databases and website searches. Both boys swam great in the Individual Medley events, something we work on several times a week in practice.

“At Excel Aquatics our goal is to develop well-rounded swimmers that can be competitive at all levels of swimming. It’s what the families want, and what our focus is on a day to day basis. We have fun, they swim fast, and we want them to be the best student-athletes they can be out of the water and in the water.”

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

Excel Swimmers get Time Cuts at Knoxville Meet

Excel Swimmers Travel to Knoxville

May 12, 2007……Three Wilson County residents with Excel Aquatics recently traveled to Knoxville to swim at the Pilot Invitational held at the University of Tennessee Aquatics Center, May 4-6. All three returned with new Southeastern Swimming (SES) Long Course Championship Meet Qualifying Times.

Bradley Gillilan of Lebanon led the way with new 13&14 Boys Qualifying Times in the 100 Meter Breaststroke, 100 Meter Freestyle, 100 Meter Backstroke, 1500 Meter Freestyle and 200 Meter Freestyle. Gillilan also attained a 15&16 Boys Qualifying Time in the 400 Meter Freestyle, having already qualified in that event at the 13&14 age group level. “Bradley did well this meet.” Coach John Barnes of Lebanon noted. “At Excel we constantly focus on both technique and aerobic conditioning, and Bradley is making some technique changes in the Freestyle events, and they seem to be taking hold early. He was focused on what he wanted to do, and went out there and did it. It was great seeing those time drops at the Long Course format.”

Luke Blackwell of Mount Juliet attained six new Qualifying Times in the 13&14 Boys category. As a result, Luke is eligible for the SES Long Course Championships in the 800 Meter Freestyle, 200 Meter Individual Medley, 100 Meter Backstroke, 400 Meter Freestyle, 200 Meter Freestyle, and 200 Meter Backstroke. “Luke was only 6-hundreths of a second away from a qualifying time in the 100 Meter Breaststroke, so we are fairly confident that he will add that to his qualifying list when he swims it again.” Barnes predicted. “With his strength in the distance events, we believe that he has a realistic shot at the 200 Meter Breaststroke as well as the 1500 Meter Freestyle. The qualifying time in the 400 Meter Individual Medley is also a real possibility.”

“With Luke moving up to the same training squad Bradley is in, it is a pleasure to watch them train from a coaching perspective. After doing a good 45 minutes or so on drills and kicking, we turn them lose on the main set, and it becomes a battle to see who leads the practice. In an average day at practice they swim 6500+ yards, with Saturday practices between 8000 to 9200 yards. Combine that sort of conditioning with technique work and it is obvious why they are leading Wilson County in performance.”

Madison Blackwell also of Mount Juliet brought home an 11&12 Girls SES Qualifying Time in the 100 Meter Backstroke. “Madison had a great meet in all 9 of her events she swam; there are 3 or 4 more events where she is close to her qualifying times for the Long Course Championship meet in July.” Barnes noted. “The last time a Wilson County girl as young as Madison attended the Long Course Championship meet was in 2002, so Madison is leading the way among her age group.”

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

Excel Awards Presented

Wilson County Duo Receive Swim Team Awards

May 2, 2007……Two Wilson County swimmers, Bradley Gillilan of Lebanon and Madison Blackwell of Mount Juliet, recently were awarded the prestigious “Excel Award” from Excel Aquatics for their achievements this past Short Course Season.

The Award is given annually at the Excel Spring Banquet to a select few recipients in each training squad, and is based on Good Sportsmanship, Dedication, Positive Attitude, and Leadership within the squads. Out of 350 swimmers over three training locations, only 14 swimmers received the honor of the Award.

Gillilan, a Freshman at Lebanon High School, is a multi-year winner of the award. “Bradley exemplifies the work ethic and “can do” spirit that we look for in our older swimmers.” Excel Coach John Barnes stated. “He steps up to any workout challenge that we give them, he works hard, has no real complaints, and pushes everyone in the Gold Training Squad on a daily basis. He encourages his training partners to step up and reach beyond their pre-conceived notions of what they can do.”

“Last year we had Kyle Lee who was the leader in the water. After Kyle graduated and went to swim at the University of Alabama, Bradley has stepped up and is learning to be a leader although only a Freshman.”

Blackwell, a rising 8^th Grader who is Home Schooled, won her first Excel Award. “Madison only started training with us about 16 months ago and has done a phenomenal job both in training and in meets, quickly becoming a Southeastern Swimming Qualifier, the only 12&Under Girl in the county to achieve that this past short course season.” Barnes noted. “She trains with our Silver 1 Squad, and leads the squad in attendance and attitude.”

“Madison has a tremendous upside on her swimming abilities, and is proficient in her stroke techniques. The next step is for her to start applying strategy to her races of 100 yards and longer, and when she does that, I believe that you will see some amazing things from her. She is already the top Middle School age girl in Wilson County, and in a few years will be the top High School age girl if she continues to keep her great attitude and work ethic.”

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