SSSs  lkadjlkjlakjf   Sixteen BWB swimmers travelled north to Knoxville TN this past weekend to compete in the 2010 Southeastern Championships.  The meet brings the best swimmers from Tennessee, Alabama, and Northwest Florida together to compete for four days.  While qualification alone is an honor, the Barracudas wanted everyone to know they were not "Just happy to be there!"

Tatum Hackler led a very strong group of 10 and under girls by making the championship final in four of her seven events.  Hackler achieved a USA Swimming "AAAA" time of 31.73 in the 50 free and achieved "AAA" times in her remaining finals. Rhiannon Thompson continued to show rapid improvement dropping time in five of her seven events including an almost 15 second improvement in her 400m free.  Evy Brechler, Sarah Markwardt, and Payton Antonnaci rounded out the BWB relays that finished 19th and 21st respectively.

In the 11-12 age division Sammie Antonacci and Kellen Broaderick were the "lone rangers" from BWB.  Antonacci continues to show awesome ability that will soon make her a swimmer that everyone at this level will have to be aware of. Sammie went best times in all five of her events with some big drops that had just been achieved two weeks prior to Southeasterns.  Kellen continues to progress back to the form that made him one of the best 10 year olds at this meet a year ago.

In the 13-14 boys the group of Chase Turner, Chaz Brechler, Matthew Markwardt, and Austin Fairchild had a strong showing.  Turner had a great meet going best times in each of his events and finishing in the top 25 in three of his seven events.  Chaz Brechler also showed that he can perform on the largest of stages with best times in four of his five events.  Markwardt and Fairchild turned in some fine individual performances and rounded out the relays that finished 13th in the medley and free relays.

In the 15-16 age group Haley McWilliams has a tremendous weekend going best times in nearly every event she competed in.  Her performances in the 400 free, 400 im, and 200 breast position her to be an SES championship finalist in the very near future.  Justin Hunt made the trip to swim the 100 and 200 breast, and swim them he did.  Hunt made good use of his opportunity dropping 4 seconds in the 100 breast and nearly 10 seconds in the 200 breast.  Levi Wilke turned in very solid performances in the distance frees and bested his own team record in the 200 fly by seven seconds.  Frank Bruechner and Justin Broaderick rounded out the group with very good swims as well.

In all it was a very successful weekend with 10 new team records and a great experience for all that attended.  We have made great strides during this very short season and I am incredibly excited about the upcoming season.  In February I would like to have at least 25 swimmers attending the meet in Nashville and swimmers making finals in every age group.  Swimmers enjoy your break next week, it is well deserved, and lets hit the ground running.....or swimming this fall!!!