It was another competition and another quality showing for the Winder-Barrow High School Swim Doggs Saturday.
Competing at the University of Georgia in Athens, team members established more personal records and posted state qualifying performances. All in all, it was a standout day for coach Jennifer Blevins’ program.
“The team was absolutely amazing,” the coach said. “I really enjoy watching their hard work pay off. They are definitely a great group of kids. They support each other, look out for each other, cheer each other on and are great representatives of Winder-Barrow High School and their families.”
The 200 medley relay team of Mitchell Buttler, Quinn McDaniels, Alex Hentenaar and Jake Hester won their heat with a time of 1:53.85. That mark is just 1.85 seconds shy of meeting a state qualifying time of 1:52. It was also a new school record.
In the 200 free, four of five Swim Doggs set personal records including Nelson Lofton (seven second improvement), Skyler Lowe (eight second improvement), Ryan Nowakowski (three second improvement) and Ashley Cook (18 second improvement to win her heat.)
McDaniels also swam a state qualifying time in the 200 individual medley while setting a school and personal record.
Forest Nelson, Katie Ginsberg and Nowakowski each swam personal bests in the 50 free while Hentenaar swam a personal best in the 100 butterfly and 500 free, where he continues to lower his state qualifying entry time.
Nelson had a personal record in the 100 free while Buttler had a .59 to earn a personal best and school record in the 100 back.
Hester swam a personal best in the 100 backstroke topping his previous time by more than two seconds.
Jared Glenn set a personal record in the 100 breaststroke as did McDaniels,. who dropped over 2.5 seconds while swimming a new school record and qualifying for state.
McDaniels needed a 1:08.5 or faster and turned in a time of 1:06.24. That performance earned high praise from his coach.
“It was absoluteluy awesome,” Blevins said. “he swam that race so strong and smart. I could not be more proud of him for finally getting his state qualifying time.”
Caitlin Connell swam almost five seconds faster in the 100 breaststroke race to set a personal record.
The boys 400 free relay of Buttler, Paul King, Hentenaar and McDaniels also qualified for the state meet. The team broke the mark of 3:46 in 3:44.29.
“It makes me so proud to see their efforts constantly improving,” Blevins said. “All I ever ask of each of them is to work hard, to improve and to represent themselves, their families, our school and me well. If they do that, then I am happy. I was definitely extremely happy after this meet. Being able to write personal record next to swim after swim, to mark new school record next to five events and to label three races with state qualifying time was absolutely the best part of the meet.”
