Blackwell is Runner-Up High Point Winner at SES

Blackwell places 2^nd Overall at Swimming Championships

February 24, 2008…. 5 Wilson County swimmers from Excel Aquatics participated in the Southeastern Swimming (SES) Short Course Championships this past weekend. Taylor Wallace, Luke Blackwell, Madison Blackwell, and Alek Nochowicz of Mt Juliet joined Lebanon’s Bradley Gillilan in the meet.

The SES meet requires qualifying time cuts and consisted of 955 swimmers from 52 teams from Tennessee, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Swimmers are divided up by gender into 4 age group categories: 10&Under Age Group, 11&12 Age Group, 13&14 Age Group, and Senior level swimmers. Swimmers are also limited to a maximum of 7 individual events in the meet.

Luke Blackwell, led off the swims for Wilson County residents by placing 1^st in the 1,000 Yard Freestyle in the 13&14 Boy’s category on Thursday night. From there Luke placed 2^nd in the 200 Yard Backstroke, 2^nd in the 1,650 Yard Freestyle, 3^rd in the 500 Yard Freestyle, 5^th in the 200 Yard Freestyle, 6^th in the 200 Yard Individual Medley, and 6^th in the 100 Yard Backstroke.

In the process, Luke scored 110 individual points in the meet, good enough for a second place finish overall in total points scored by all 13&14 Year Old Boys. Luke also was part of a 3^rd Place 400 Yard Freestyle Relay, and a 1^st Place 400 Yard Medley Relay.

“Luke had a great meet, it was his last Short Course championship in the 13&14 Year Old category, and he has one Long Course season left before he ages up to the Senior category” Coach John Barnes noted. “He swam in a total of 14 events over the 4 day meet, and performed at a high level until the end.”

Luke achieved a USA Swimming Senior Sectional Meet qualifying time standard in the 1,000 Yard Freestyle in the meet, joining teammate Gillilan in the event in two weeks.

“The Senior Sectional cut was Luke’s first, and we’re proud of his achievements.”

Gillilan participated in the Senior Boy’s category and swam in the 200 Yard Free, 400 Yard Individual Medley, 200 Yard Butterfly, and 200 Yard Breaststroke.

“We held Bradley out of his best events by design since he will be swimming them at the Senior Sectional Meet, we did not want him to over-swim them before Sectionals,” Barnes explained. “Bradley has qualified for Senior Sectionals in the 500 Yard Freestyle, 1,000 Yard Freestyle, and the 1,650 Yard Freestyle.”

During the SES Meet, Madison Blackwell achieved Age Group Sectional (AGS) Qualifying Time Standards in the 11&12 Year Old Girl’s 100 Yard Backstroke, 50 Yard Backstroke, and the 100 Yard Butterfly. Madison was also part of a First Place 200 Yard Medley Relay for her Age Group. “Madison already had her AGS cuts in the 50 Butterfly and 200 Butterfly, and she had a really good SES meet, dropping times in all 6 of her events she participated in.”

Nochowicz swam in one event, the Senior Boy’s 1,650 Yard Freestyle having qualified the previous weekend under the 15&16 Year Old Time Standard. Nochowicz dropped 14 seconds in the event at SES. His final time of 18:21.86 was good enough for a SES Senior Boy’s qualifying time in the event.

Taylor Wallace dropped 0.44 seconds in the Senior Boy’s 100 Yard Butterfly, turning in a time of 0:56.92. “Taylor has gone from being primarily a Breaststroke swimmer to one of the top “Flyers” in the Southeast.”

“These swimmers represent what can happen when you train hard, work on improving the fundamentals of stroke techniques, and having fun in the process. The combination leads to championship caliber swimmers, a hallmark of Excel Aquatics training of Wilson County swimmers since the days of Andrew Davidson.”

For more information on swimming in Wilson County visit www.SwimWilsonCounty.com.