The short course (25-yd pool) championship season kicked off in Chattanooga February 20 and 21 with the Southeastern District East Championships held at the Baylor School Aquatic Center. Better known as the “Eight and Under Championship” the meet also served as last chance for all age-group swimmers to obtain Southeastern Swimming qualifying times and a ticket to compete in one of the jewels of regional USA Swimming events: The Southeastern Championships hosted by Nashville Aquatic Club held at the Centennial Sportsplex February 25-28.

This qualifying-time required, prelim/final-styled event attracted the cream of the crop from year round USA Swimming programs from across TN, Alabama and the panhandle of Florida. A grand total of 1,022 swimmers registered for the event representing a total of 64 teams.

ACAC head coach Mike Bowman, along with age group assistants Betsy Hondorf and Hanah Haggard, had ACAC?s 22 time qualified swimmers focused and ready for the challenge. Training hard since August, the team was ready to prove they could swim with the best of the best.

The atmosphere in the Centennial Sportsplex was electric during the entire weekend and the swimmers fed off the energy. Starting out fast and furious for the ACAC boy?s was 10 year old Nathan Benko. Cutting huge chunks of time in every event, Nathan finaled in 5 out of 7 events swum. A big highlight was placing 4th place overall in the 50 butterfly finals. He went the distance in 31.17 seconds which was good enough to place him at a AAAA USA Swimming time amongst all 10 and under boys in the country. Nathan added a 5th overall finals swim in the 100 butterfly, cutting 8.48 seconds off his previous best time. Rounding out his scoring was a 5th overall in the 500 free, where he cut 25.88 seconds, and overall 7^th place finishes in both the 100 IM and 200 IM events. For the weekend, Nathan finished 10th overall out of ninety-one of the best 10 and under swimmers Southeastern Swimming offers.

Erica Laning (10) was another ACAC swimmer rising to the occasion. She cut time in all events swum during the weekend and finaled in 5 out of 7 events that she competed. Erica?s personal highlights were a 2nd place overall finals finish in the 100 free stroking the distance in 1:01.68. She added a 4th overall in the 500 free, where she cut 13.09 seconds off her previous best time. Erica completed her scoring with a 5th place finals finish in the 200 free and a 6th place finish in the 50 freestyle event. Like Nathan, Erica finished in 10th overall place among all 10 and under girls.

Sydney Ragsdale, yet another talented and motivated 10 year old swimmer for ACAC, notched a great weekend herself. En route to a 25th overall finish among all 10 and under girls, Sydney finaled in the 50 backstroke event taking home a 7th place overall finish. She cut time in 5 out of 7 events swum and was also the first alternate for finals in the 100 back event where she took an overall 9th place finish.

Nathaniel Laning (15), competing in the very competitive senior boy?s division (15 and over) finished the weekend in 77th overall position out of 200 total competitors. Nathaniel cut time in 6 out of 8 events swum. A personal highlight was a 13th overall finals finish in the 400 IM event. Gaibo Zhang (13), always consistent, had his usual outstanding, workman-like performance. Cutting time in 5 out of 6 events swum, Gaibo scored an overall 13^th place finish in the 200 breast and an overall 14th in the 100 breast.

Samantha Starnes (14) had herself a very productive meet. Samantha cut time a perfect 5 out of 5 events swum. Her two best performances came in the 200 free, where she finished 13th overall, and the 100 free landing an 11th overall finish. Mason Laning (12), continuing in the family tradition of swim excellence, cut time perfectly in 7 of 7 events swum. His overall best was securing a 13th overall finish in

the 100 fly, where he cut 3.13 seconds from his previous fastest time. 

Special mention goes to the 13-14 ACAC girl?s relay team consisting of Kalie McMahan, Chandler Ott, Margaret Stansberry, and Samantha Starnes. Amongst very stiff team competition, this foursome swam their fastest splits ever and scored a 9th overall finish in the 400 freestyle relay and also nailed down a 13th overall in the 400 medley relay.

Excellent individual swims also came from Jacob Gump (12), finishing 20th overall in the 200 free (cut 6.04 seconds) and in the 500 free where he finished 26th. Elisabeth Gallmeier (11) scored a 19th overall finals finish in the 500 free (cut 4.48 seconds), and a 23rd overall finish in the 200 IM. Chandler Ott (14) cut time in 4 out of 5 events with her best finishes coming in the 200 IM (18th overall), 200 back (20th), and 200 breast (20th).

Rounding out the strong ACAC contingent in Nashville were swimmers Christopher Barnes, Abraham Gale, James Gault, Luke Johnson, Griffin Koch, Sydney Nunley, Brittany Rooney, Jessica Scott, and Marikate Walker.

Next championship meet on deck for the ACAC swimmers is age-group sectionals to be held in Charlotte, NC. this weekend. For some young swimmers, this will be their first experience competing at this advanced level in a USA Swimming event.