Wilson County's Youth Movement in Swimming

Cook and McCullough Excel at October Open Swim Meet

October 20, 2008….The youth movement in Wilson County swimming was evident this past weekend at the October Open Swim Meet in Nashville. While High School swimmers such as Luke Blackwell, Alek Nochowicz, and Bradley Gillilan typically grab headlines with their record setting swims, this weekend was headlined by two elementary age swimmers, Lucy Cook and Grace McCullough, both representing Excel Aquatics.

Of all 10 Wilson County swimmers representing Excel Aquatics, Lucy Cook of Lebanon had the biggest time drop of the weekend with her 16.24 second drop in the 10 & Under Girl’s 100 Yard Breaststroke. Cook turned a 1:37.50 (one minute, thirty seven seconds and 50 one-hundredths).

“It was a great race by Lucy, she was seeded into Lane 8, an outside lane,” Coach John Barnes noted. “Lucy grabbed the lead by the 50 and held on through the end of the race. She kept her glide long and her stroke movements quick, just as she is being taught to do.”

Cook also dropped time in the 50 Yard Breaststroke (0:45.90); and the 50 Yard Backstroke (0:47.62). Cook also swam the 200 Yard Individual Medley for the first time.

Grace McCullough, also of Lebanon, dropped times in everyone of her events in the 8 & Under Girl’s Category. Time drops occurred in the 100 Yard Freestyle (1:57.89); 25 Yard Backstroke (0:27.77); 50 Yard Freestyle (0:52.91); and the 25 yard Freestyle (0:24.02). McCullough also swam the 25 Yard Breaststroke, 50 Yard Breaststroke, and the 50 Yard Backstroke for the first time.

“Grace did great as well, she is coming to a lot of her scheduled practices and has been doing great. It’s been a joy to watch her progress in swimming.”

Also swimming in the meet were Mt Juliet residents Luke Blackwell, Madison Blackwell, Samuel Blackwell, Kelsey Copeland and Nochowicz. From Lebanon were Andrew Barnes, Austin Barnes, and Gillilan.

Other first time swims of note were Austin Barnes swimming the 1,000 Yard Freestyle, turning a time of 12:46.06, with a split of 6:21.82 in the first 500 of that event.

Excel Aquatics is a USA-Swimming Silver Medal Team of Excellence for 2003-2008, and has a Level Four designation in the Club Recognition Program (CRP) by USA-S, one of only 13 teams nationwide to achieve the highest ranking in the CRP. For more information about Excel Aquatics, visit www.ExcelAquatics.org.