Excel Awards - 2 From Wilson County!

Excel Awards goes to two from Wilson County

May 4, 2008……Samuel Blackwell and Alek Nochowicz, both of Mount Juliet, were awarded the prestigious “Excel Award” during the Excel Aquatics Annual Banquet, 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 418 swimmers over three training locations, only 17 swimmers received the honor of the Award this year.

Blackwell, a current Home School 3^rd Grader won his first Excel Award, due to his young leadership within the Silver 2 Training Group. “Samuel has been a joy to coach and work with this past year in particular”, Excel Assistant Coach John Barnes noted. “He is always in the water on time, listens to direction well, and has worked a lot on both his technique and conditioning lately.”

“At meets he is scoring in the Top 8 in the 8&Under Year Old Boy’s category. Samuel has been a great example for our younger swimmers in Excel as well as within our county.”

Nochowicz is a 10^th Grader at Pope John Paul II High School. He swims year round with Excel Aquatics, in the High School season for Pope, and during the summer for the Willoughby Station Waves summer league team. “Alek has been with Excel Aquatics for 6 years now, and recently attained his first Southeastern Swimming Championship Meet qualifying time standard”, Coach Barnes commented. “He qualified in the 1,650 Yard Freestyle, a distance event that most swimmers stay away from.”

“Alek has really stepped up his training intensity this year, and has been rewarded for that effort with a SES Time Standard in the 1,650 Free, as well as High School State Meet qualifying times in the 100 Free, 200 Free, 500 Free, 100 Back, and 200 IM.”

“Our annual banquet is a time when we reflect on the success of the past year, and we recognize the achievements and accomplishments of the youth who Excel Aquatics serves. We have several goals at Excel, one is to create competitive swimmers in the water, another one (which is arguably more important) is to help create leaders who will excel is school and in their lives afterwards.”

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