Success at Memphis Meet for Sumner County Swimmers

Sumner County Swimmer Excel In Memphis Swim Meet

October 16, 2005……12 members of Excel Aquatics who live in Hendersonville and Gallatin traveled to the Aquatics Center at the University of Memphis for a meet hosted by the Memphis Tigers Club, Oct. 15-16^th. Making the trip were Mary Catherine Binkley, Jimmie Joe Boone, Lauren Gilroy, Preston Johnson, Madison Kolbe, Kyle Lee, John Mainland, Chelsa Messinger, Katie Mize, Paige Scheriger, Michael Scheriger and Brittany Zobl.

Following up on her success as the top 8 year old in the region last season, Paige Scheriger of Indian Lake Elementary, now competing in the 10&Under age category, placed in the Top 8 in all 8 of her events in that age group, with top 4 finishes coming in 7 events. Her classmate, Madison Kolbe made sure that everyone knows that she is an up and coming force to be dealt with, with a 4^th place finish in the Girl’s 10&Under 50 Yard Breaststroke. These two friends also swam the 500 Yard Freestyle for the first time ever, competing in the Open category against girls that were much older than they. Also from Indian Lake Elementary was Jimmie Joe Boone, who placed 13^th in both the Boy’s 10&Under 100 Yard Backstroke, and 200 Yard Freestyle.

Several swimmers at the meet attend Ellis Middle School. Lauren Gilroy, a 7^th Grader, hit the local swimming scene in grand style. “I was pleased with Lauren’s efforts in the 200 Yard and 400 Yard Individual Medley events.” Excel Aquatics Assistant Coach John Barnes noted. “She dropped significant time in both events, and swam them just as we had mapped out beforehand. She’s a smart girl, she picked up on the strategy we discussed, and went out there and executed it.” John Mainland, another 7^th Grader at Ellis, had significant time drops in 6 of his 7 events in the 11&12 Year Old Boy’s category, and really shined in the 50 Yard Freestyle, with a 2.4 second drop. Michael Scheriger, a 6^th Grader at Ellis, dropped time in all his events, and swam the 500 Yard Freestyle for the first time and had great time drops in both of his Backstroke events.

Brittany Zobl, a 6^th Grader at Sumner Academy, dropped times in 5 events in the Girl’s 11&12 year old category, and swam the 500 Freestyle for the first time. “Brittany did very well; she’s learning that strategy is an important part of racing, as is learning to execute what she works on in practice.” Barnes stated.

5 swimmers in High School also competed in the meet. Mary Catherine Binkley and Katie Mize, both from JPII High School; Preston Johnson from Beech High School; Kyle Lee from Hendersonville High School; and Chelsa Messinger from Gallatin High School came together to compete for Excel Aquatics. “All of our swimmers performed well, and as coaches we are pleased with their progress at this point in the season. Amongst our Senior Level swimmers we are in the midst of heavy early season training, and several of them were wearing “drag-suits” for additional resistance. I’m pleased with their progress this season, with their aim being on high School State Championships, Sectional Championships, and Southeastern Championships in the Spring.” Barnes commented.

“Coach AJ Miley and Coach Andreea Ianoli-Mitrofan are doing fantastic jobs in keeping the younger kids positively motivated while continuing to improve on their technique and conditioning. Of note, the swimmers of Middle School age, Gilroy, Mainland, Zobl, and Michael Scheriger have been participating in a Dryland training routine twice a week that is designed to improve their quickness, conditioning, and ability to power themselves off the pool’s walls during a race.” Barnes concluded.

For more information on Excel Aquatics and their Tradition of Leadership and Excellence in Sumner County swimming, visit www.ExcelAquatics.org.

Placement Trial Information

Excel Aquatics is Searching for New Swimmers to Train with Sumner County Championship Swimmers!

July 26, 2005……Excel Aquatics is pleased to announce that they will be having an Open Tryout and Placement Trials for new swimmers at 5:00pm on August 8^th, at the Gallatin Civic Center; and then again for new and returning swimmers at 5:00pm on August 22^nd, at the Cages Bend Swim Club. Prospective swimmers will have two free weeks of training to decide if Excel is a good fit for them.

Excel Aquatics is a non-profit year round USA Swimming Club that had more Sumner County residents qualifying for the Southeastern Swimming Championships this year than any other club in the region. Most recently Kyle Lee, Chelsa Messinger, Katie Mize, Haley George, Kathryn George, Brittany Zobl, and Nikki Fulps from Sumner County qualified and swam in the Southeastern Long Course Championships.

For complete times and duration of Excel’s Tryouts/Placement Trials, as well as more information on Year Round swimming opportunities for Sumner County youth, visit www.ExcelAquatics.org.

Sumner County Excels at LC Championships

Sumner County Excellence At Long Course Swim Meet

July 25, 2005…..For local swimmers, the Long Course Swimming Season wrapped up this past weekend with the Southeastern Swimming Long Course Championship Meet held in Nashville TN. Continuing a legacy of excellence from Sumner County residents swimming for Excel Aquatics, Chelsa Messinger, Kyle Lee, Katie Mize, Haley George, Kathryn George, Brittany Zobl, and Nikki Fulps competed against 722 other swimmers from 41 teams representing 3 different states. The Long Course Championships is a meet in which qualifying times must be met during the season in order to for the swimmers to step up and compete against the best from other teams.

Messinger, a rising Senior at Gallatin High School, swam in 5 events, setting Personal Best Times in 4 of the events. She placed in the Senior Girl’s Top 24 in the 100 Meter Backstroke (10^th), 200 Meter Backstroke (19^th), and the 100 Meter Butterfly(21^st). “Chelsa had a terrific meet, once she swam to a best time in her first event, we knew that she would have a great meet. She’s worked hard since last summer to prepare for this summer, and it has really paid off.” Excel Assistant Coach John Barnes commented.

Mize, a rising Sophomore at JPII High School, swam in 7 events and obtained best times in 4 of them. Mize, competing in the Senior Girl’s category, placed in the Top 24 in 6 of the 7 events: 400 Meter Individual Medley (4^th), 200 Meter Butterfly (8^th), 1500 Meter Freestyle (14^th), 200 Individual Medley (14^th), 200 Meter Breaststroke (16^th), and the 400 Meter Freestyle (19^th). “Katie really had some great time drops in the 200 Breaststroke, the 400 IM, and the 400 Free. It shows what happens in those longer events where you do the little things right and it all comes together.” Barnes stated.

Lee, a rising Senior at Hendersonville High, turned in a mind-numbing performance which showed why the calls, letters, and visits to the pool have been increasing this month from college swim coaches. Lee placed in all 7 of his individual events he swam, and turned in best times in all 7 of them. He also turned in another best time as the lead off swimmer for the 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay (lead off legs are eligible as a recordable time), for a total of 8 events with best times. Lee, swimming in the Senior Boy’s category, placed in the Top 16 in all his events: 800 Meter Freestyle (4^th), 200 Meter Freestyle (15^th), 100 Breaststroke (6^th), 400 Meter Individual Medley (4^th), 200 Meter Individual Medley (6^th), 400 Meter Freestyle (5^th), and the 200 Meter Breaststroke (6^th). “Kyle was the talk of the meet, between prelims and finals, timed finals, and his lead off leg on the relay, he had 14 different swims over the past 4 days. Of those 14 swims, he lowered his previous time 13 different times. That’s nearly unheard of in a meet like this.” Barnes pointed out. “Kyle’s work ethic this past year has been unsurpassed, and a meet like this is the reward. We’ve been working the strategy part of the racing this past year as well, and he is swimming a lot smarter now, and that is a sign of his maturity.”

Haley and Kathryn George competed in the 13&14 Girl's Category. Haley placed 37^th in the 100 Meter Breaststroke, while Kathryn placed 13^th in the 200 Meter Butterfly and 29^th in the 100 Meter Butterfly. Zobl and Fulps competed in the 11&12 Girl’s category. Zobl placed 8^th in the 50 Meter Backstroke, and 18^th in the 100 Meter Backstroke. Fulps placed 18^th in the 100 Meter Breastroke, 22^nd in the 50 Meter Breaststroke, 23^rd in the 50 Meter Fly, and 28^th in the 100 Meter Fly. “Both Brittany and Nikki are on the younger side of their age group, and vast majority of the girls that beat them were a year older, and a good bit stronger.” Barnes said. “If they keep listening to their coaches, practicing like they did this year, and keep their smiles going, then next year when they are on the top side of the age group bracket they should place even higher.”

Excel Aquatics will be offering a Placement Trials for new and interested swimmers starting August 8^th at the Gallatin Civic Center. Start time is 5:00pm. Swimmers should be able to complete one length of the pool unassisted. A second Placement Trial will be held at the Cages Bend Swim Club on August 22^nd at 5:00pm. Visit www.ExcelAquatics.org for more information.

Stars and Stripes Swim Meet

Kyle Lee Excels at Stars and Stripes Swim Meet

May 29, 2005……In a fitting tribute to Memorial Day Weekend, 520 Swimmers from 28 teams spreading over 4 States converged on the annual Excel Aquatics’ Stars and Stripes Meet in Brentwood TN. Leading a contingent of 12 swimmers from Excel’s Sumner County training squads, Kyle Lee, a rising Senior at Hendersonville High School, placed in the Top 8 in 7 of his 8 events entered.

Lee took First Place in the Men’s Senior 400 Meter IM. He also placed ^2nd in both the 200 Meter Breaststroke and 400 Meter Freestyle; 3^rd in the 200 Meter IM; 4^th in the 100 Meter Breaststroke; and 6^th in both the 200 Meter Freestyle and 200 Meter Backstroke. “Kyle has had a series of successful meets dating back to the State High School Meet in February, and Southeastern Swimming Short Course Championships in March.” Assistant Coach John Barnes commented. “He’s getting interest from colleges who are interested in his versatility, he’ll have another four years of swimming in college ahead of him if he keeps focused and on track.”

Four Girls in the 11&12 Year Old Category were part of the Excel contingent, Kathryn George, Nikki Fulps, Brittany Zobl and Logan Sorrells; and all continued to improve on their successful short course season performances.

Kathryn George of Gallatin placed in the Top 8 in four events, and improved in 5 of 6 events. A notable performance was turned in while swimming in the Senior Division for the 200 Meter Butterfly where she turned a 2:39.61. Nikki Fulps, of Hendersonville, had three Top 8 finishes, and improved in 6 of her 7 events. Zobl, of Hendersonville, turned in two Top 8 finishes and improved in all six events. Sorrells, of Gallatin, also succeeded in improving in all three of her events. All 4 girls train with Coach Andreea Ianoli-Mitrofan.

In the Girl’s 10&Under category, Gallatin’s Hannah Ray and a student of Coach Andreea’s, dove in and improved on all 3 of her events, while placing 8^th in the 100 Meter Freestyle.

Nathan Fulps, a rising Freshman and future teammate of Lee’s at Hendersonville High, improved in 6 of his 7 events. “Nathan had a good meet, he swims for Coach Andreea and has stepped up lately in his practice efforts.” Coach Barnes noted.

Madison Kolbe, a 9 year old Hendersonville swimmer competing in her first Long Course meet, showed considerable heart and courage as she swam in 8 events, and showed great determination, excellent stroke technique and competitiveness. Kolbe trains with Coach and Hendersonville resident AJ Miley.

In the 13&14 Year Old Girl’s category, rising Sophomores Brittany Henderson of Gallatin High School and Haley George of JPII took to the water. Henderson had time drops in 3 of her 5 events. Haley George had considerable time drops in her 400 Meter Individual Medley (8^th Place) and 800 Meter Freestyle (5^th Place).

In the Senior Girl’s category, Katie Mize, a rising Sophomore at JPII HS, and Mary Catherine Binkley, a rising Senior at JPII HS represented Excel. Mize placed in the Top 8 in 4 events and improved in 6 of her 10 events. “Regarding Mary Catherine (MC) Binkley, I want to note that she has responded very well to a heavy academic workload this past month and stepped up on Sunday and turned in some gutsy performances in the 200 Meter Back and 50 Meter Free. They were not personal best times, but were close and it is a good indicator of how competitive she can be when she puts her mind to it.” Coach Barnes explained. “I am proud of all of our swimmers this weekend, across all age groups. The younger ones continue to improve in their stroke work, while the older ones are on path to accomplish their goals for this long course summer season.”

For more information on Excel Aquatics, visit www.ExcelAquatics.org.