4 New State Cuts!

Barnes, Bailey, Bracey, and Curtis qualify for High School State Swim Meet

January 16, 2010….Wilson County resident swimmers, representing Mt Juliet HS and Pope John Paul II HS participated in Excel Aquatics’ High School Invitational.

Four boys, three from Mt Juliet HS, and one from Pope JP2 HS, posted High School State Qualifying Times during the meet.

Spencer Bracey, Tommy Bailey, and Nathan Curtis attained State cuts for Mt Juliet HS.

Bailey, a senior, placed 11th in the Boy’s 50 Yard Freestyle, turning a best time of 0:23.57. Bracey, a Sophomore, placed 19th in the Boy’s 50 Yard Free in a best time of 0:24.14, and 11th in the 100 Yard Freestyle with a time of 0:52.94. Nathan Curtis, a Freshman, placed 11th in the Boy’s 200 Yard Freestyle with a time of 2:00.43; and 20th in the 100 Yard Freestyle, turning a 0:53.89.

Barnes, a senior at JP2, attained a State qualifying time in the Boy’s 500 Yard Freestyle, turning a 5:40.85, good enough for a 10th Place finish in the event. For Barnes it was his first State qualifying time in his High School career, and was the result of a total of 24 seconds dropped from his best time in the event as a junior.

“Austin swam his heart out, he had set qualifying for State as his goal for this year, and to see him accomplish that goal was great,” JP2 Coach Sheree Zobl noted. “As a freshman, Austin was over two minutes away from a State time in the event; each year he progressed, and each year he moved closer to State. He trains daily with Bradley Gillilan (Lebanon resident and Michigan State signee) and success breeds success. There is no substitute for hard work in swimming.”

Barnes will join fellow JP2 senior and Mt Juliet resident Alek Nochowicz at State. Nochowicz has previously qualified in 7 different events and missed the meet this weekend due to a college visit to the Coast Guard Academy.

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