Sunday, March 20, 2005

Lee wins Gold at SES Short Course Championships

Kyle Lee earns Gold Medal at Southeastern Swimming Championships

March 20, 2005……The top swimmers from the Florida Panhandle, Alabama, and Tennessee converged on Nashville this past weekend for the annual Southeastern Swimming Short Course Championships. By taking home a Gold Medal, 17 year old Hendersonville resident Kyle Lee made a loud statement that swimming was alive and well in Sumner County. Joining Lee at the Short Course Championships from the Excel Aquatics/Sumner County squad were Brittany Zobl, Nikki Fulps, Hannah Ray, Bryce Anderson, Kathryn George, Haley George, Katie Mize, Mary Catherine Binkley, and Chelsa Messinger.

Lee, participating in the Boy’s 17&Older category took home a SES Championship in the 1,000 Yard Freestyle, turning in a 9:54.01. Lee also placed in the 200 Yard Individual Medley (8th Place), 500 Free (6th Place), and the 200 Yard Breaststroke (3rd Place). “Kyle cut significant times in 3 of his 4 events, and has done great this Short Course season as a whole. As he heads into his Senior year of High School he’s set the foundation for further improvements.” Assistant Coach John Barnes noted. “He’s a true two-sport athlete. He is one of the top Cross-County runners in Middle Tennessee, and is one of the top Swimmers in the Tennessee/Alabama area.”

Messinger placed in the Top 16 in 5 of her 6 17&Older events during the meet, despite pitching 6 games during the weekend for her High School Softball Team. “Chelsa pitched on Thursday night, swam Friday morning, pitched Friday afternoon, swam Saturday morning, pitched Saturday afternoon, and swam Sundary morning.” Coach Barnes noted. “I could tell that she was exhausted, but she gutted it out and still gave it all she had. I’m proud of that effort, not too many people now a days are mentally strong enough to do that.”

Among other Top 16 Finishers in the meet from Excel/Sumner County was Katie Mize placing 4th in the 15&16 Girls 200 Yard Butterfly, 13th in the 400 Yard Individual Medley, and 10th in the 200 Yard Individual Medley. Zobl placed 10th in the 11&12 Girls 100 Yard Backstroke. Fulps placed 12th in the 11&12 Girl’s 50 Yard Breaststroke. Kathryn George placed 13th in the 11&12 Girl’s 200 Yard Individual Medley, and 10th in the 100 Yard Butterfly. Binkley placed 14th in the 17&Older Girl’s 500 Yard Freestyle.

“As coaches we’re proud of all of these kids, all of them have worked hard this season to get to this Championship meet.” Coach Barnes stated. “Bryce and Haley dropped times in their events, and Hannah was participating in her first SES Championship meet. Hannah swam well in her individual event and then had a remarkable performance in her relay leg. All of our kids from Hendersonville and Gallatin have a lot of heart and stepped up when asked to.”

Excel Aquatics will be offering a Spring Tune Up for swimmers from the local Summer League swim teams located in Sumner County. Dates will be from April 5th until May 7th. Visit www.ExcelAquatics.org for more information or contact your local summer swim club. Excel Aquatics and Sumner Regional Health Systems will be hosting the annual Tennessee School for the Blind Swim Meet on April 9th at the Gallatin Civic Center.

Monday, March 14, 2005

County Residents compete at Districts Meet

Paige Scheriger wins 8&Under Championships

March 14, 2005……The Southeastern Swimming Districts and 8 & Under Championships were held this past weekend in Memphis TN. For those older than 9, it was a chance to compete one final time to obtain qualifying times for the upcoming Southeastern Swimming Short Course Championships. For those 8 and younger, it was their last meet of the season, their Championships. Swimmers from Nashville and Memphis and all parts in between converged at the aquatics facility at the University of Memphis to race and find out who was the best 8&Under swimmer in Middle and West Tennessee.

Excel Aquatics, led by Indian Lake Elementary Third Grader Paige Scheriger, won the 8 & Under Girl’s Team Championship. Scheriger won the coveted High-Point Trophy for the Championships, dominating all 8 of her individual events, and easily distancing herself from the High-Point runner-up. Scheriger also helped the Excel Aquatics relay team to a 3rd Place finish in the 100 Yard Freestyle Relay, and a 1st Place finish in the 100 Yard Medley Relay. To add icing to the cake, Paige was able to achieve this in front of 9 family members who had flown or driven in from San Francisco, CA; Centralia IL, and Hendersonville to celebrate Paige and her brother Todd’s accomplishments in swimming this year.

Scheriger, who ages up to the 9&10 year old category on Saturday the 19th, ends the season holding two Excel Team Records in the 25 Breast and 50 Breast.

Representing Excel Aquatics in the concurrently held Districts Meet were Eric Duke, Brittany Henderson, Hannah Ray, Todd Scheriger, and Brittany Zobl.

Duke wrapped up his Short Course career for Excel Aquatics in good fashion, dropping over a second in the 50 Free, finishing 4th in the Senior Boy’s 100 Yard Butterfly, and winning the Senior Boy’s 100 Yard Breaststroke in his last event of the meet. Henderson, swimming in the 13&14 Girls Category, dropped times in 4 of her 6 events, and placed 2nd in the 1650 Yard Freestyle.

Todd Scheriger, a 10 year old in the 5th Grade at Indian Lake Elementary, took home a 7th Place in the Boy’s 10&Under 200 Yard Freestyle and a 3rd Place in the 50 Yard Butterfly. Hannah Ray, competing in the Girl’s 10&Under events, took home a 2nd Place in the 200 Yard Freestyle, 4th in the 100 Yard Breaststroke, and a 6th Place in the 50 Yard Backstroke. Ray had already qualified for the SES Short Course Championships in the 50 Yard Freestyle.

Brittany Zobl, a 11 year old 5th Grader from Sumner Academy, dropped nearly two seconds in both the 11&12 Girl’s 200 Yard Freestyle, and the 100 Yard Breaststroke. Zobl also finished 5th in the 50 Yard Freestyle, 6th in the 50 Yard Breaststroke, and 8th in the 100 Yard Individual Medley. Zobl has already achieved SES Short Course qualifying times in the 50 Yard Backstroke, and 100 Yard Backstroke.

The next meet for Excel Aquatics is the Southeastern Swimming Short Course Championships in Nashville, March 17-20th. Sumner County residents representing Excel Aquatics at the meet are Bryce Anderson, Mary Catherine Binkley, Nikki Fulps, Haley George, Kathryn George, Kyle Lee, Chelsa Messinger, Katie Mize, Hannah Ray, and Brittany Zobl. “The key here is that we are balanced among the age groups and are not top heavy. Half of our swimmers attending are 12 or younger. That’s a nice strong base of swimmers for the future we are developing to represent Sumner County for years to come”, Assistant Coach John Barnes proclaimed. “We have grown substantially this year as a team, and have had several new qualifiers for the Championships. Kudos to Coach Andreea Mitrofan and Coach AJ Miley for their accomplishments this Short Course Season.”