Gillilan Going North

Gillilan to Compete at Grand Prix Swim Meet in Minnesota

November 9, 2008….Excel Aquatics’ Bradley Gillilan is heading north to Minneapolis, Minnesota this coming weekend for USA Swimming’s Grand Prix Meet.

This prestigious meet is only open to those who have achieved qualifying time cuts, and will be held Nov 14-16^th at the University of Minnesota’s Aquatics Center.

Gillilan, a Junior at Lebanon High School, achieved qualifying times in the 500 Yard Freestyle, 1000 Yard Freestyle, and 1650 Yard Freestyle. Gillilan will be the first swimmer from Lebanon to compete at the Grand Prix level in swimming.

“This meet is a step above USA Swimming’s Senior Sectional meets”, Excel Aquatics Assistant Coach and Lebanon resident John Barnes explained. “We have had some intense training for this meet, skipping another meet on our schedule in order to prepare for this one. If Bradley remains focused on his reason for being there, he will have a good meet.”

“This will be some great exposure for Bradley to college level coaches who will have some of their swimmers there. Olympic and National team members will be competing. As a result the exposure will work both ways. College coaches will be exposed to Bradley, and conversely, Bradley will be exposed to some of the top swimmers in the United States. He will see how they prepare for their swims, and witness the strategy they execute in their swims.”

“Training is only half the equation in swimming, if the coach is not teaching race strategy and the swimmer is not implementing that strategy, then the swimmer will not reach their potential. That combination of proper training and teaching of strategy is what makes Excel Aquatics so successful.”

Friendship Christian sophomore and Mount Juliet resident Luke Blackwell, also a member of Excel Aquatics, achieved qualifying times in the 1000 Freestyle and 1650 Freestyle for the Grand Prix Meet. Blackwell was unable to make the trip due to other obligations.

For more information about swimming, visit www.SwimWilsonCounty.com