Wilson County Swimmers Shine at High School Region Meet

Wilson Five Place at Region Swim Meet

January 30, 2009….Five WilsonCounty residents placed in the Top 16 at the MTHSSA Region High School Championship Meet on Friday in Nashville. 52 high schools were represented from across the mid-state region, with 666 athletes competing.

There were 37 swimmers who live in Wilson County in the meet, representing 5 high schools, Friendship Christian, Lebanon, Mt Juliet, Pope John Paul II, and Wilson Central.

Placing in the Top 16 in their individual events were Luke Blackwell (FCS); Kelsey Copeland (MJHS); Christian Roberts (MJHS); Alek Nochowicz (JP2); and Ashley Powell (JP2).

Blackwell, who lives in Mt Juliet and is a sophomore at FCS, took home a 7^th place finish in the Boy’s 500 Yard Freestyle in a time of 5:03.43, and an 8^th place finish in the 100 Yard Backstroke (0:59.45).

Copeland, a MJHS senior who will be swimming at King College next Fall, took home a 13^th place finish in the Girl’s 100 Yard Backstroke (1:07.17).

Roberts, a junior at MJHS, placed 16^th in the Boy’s 100 Yard Freestyle (0:53.62), good enough for a High School State Championship Meet qualifying time.

Nochowicz, a junior at JP2 who lives in Mt Juilet, placed 12^th in the Boy’s 500 Yard Freestyle (5:18.25).

Powell, a JP2 senior who lives in Mt Juliet, placed 14^th in the Girl’s 100 Yard Breaststroke (1:16.51).

“Luke was not rested for this meet, and was coming off a heavy workout the night before,” FCS Coach Christy Blackwell stated. “He also trains year round with Excel Aquatics and Coach Barnes is going to taper him for the State meet in a few weeks. We were pleased with his performance and where he is at in his training plan.”

Copeland, Nochowicz and Powell all train with Excel Aquatics, and Coach Barnes reports that they were in a similar situation as Blackwell.

“Coach Blackwell is absolutely right. All Excel Aquatics swimmers who had previously qualified for the High School State Championships understand that Region is a warm-up for that meet,” Coach Barnes explained. “We will taper for State, they train hard with this as a goal, and too long of a taper can be counter-productive.”

“Some schools tapered for this meet, for many it was their championship meet, and they did great. From looking at the results of the county swimmers, many made strides towards State times, and with some hard work and a training plan this off-season, more from Wilson County should be making State next year.”

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