Ten Commerce Tigersharks qualified for state competition this weekend with their performances in the District Championships at the Habersham Aquatic Center.
Twenty-five members of the Commerce team traveled to the center, which is just outside of Clarkesville. Each swimmer could compete in a maximum of four events – two individual events and two relays – with the top three finishers in each event qualifying for the state championships.
Taylor Lacey led the qualifiers by making four events. She finished second in both the girls’ 14-and under freestyle and the girls’ 50-yard butterfly. She also finished third in both the medley relay and the freestyle relay.
Other qualifiers included Hannah Lacey, who placed second in the 12-and under 50-yard butterfly and third in 100-yard individual medley, and Emmie Burley, who placed third in the 12-and under 50-yard freestyle.
The team of Hannah McRee, Hayden McRee and Tori Smallwood placed third in both the 14-and under freestyle relay and the medley relay.
Qualifiers for the boys include Brandon Lyle, who placed third in the boys’ 10-and under 25-yard freestyle and 25-yard butterfly; Quincy Mashburn, who finished second in boys’ 14-and under 50-yard backstroke and second in 100-yard freestyle; Dalton Dean, who finished third in the boys’ 12-and under 50-yard backstroke and second in 50-yard butterfly; and Dawson Knick, who finished third in the boys’ 12-and under 50-yard breaststroke.
“I am very excited and pleased that we have swimmers going to Tifton in so many individual events,” said Commerce Parks and Recreation aquatic center coordinator Pam Minish.
“Beside the swimmers going to Tifton, even the swimmers that did not qualify for state swam their personal bests in almost every event.”
The Tigersharks were back in action on Tuesday, as they played host to the Winder Barracudas in Commerce. Results of that meet were not available at press time.
The qualifiers will travel to the State Meet on July 25 and 26 in Tifton.
