Ashley and Gandy Become District Champions!

PCST Sends Largest and Strongest Team to District Championships in Pensacola!

Before this meet, the most swimmers PCST had ever sent to the District Championships was 38 in 2009.  So when I saw that we had 46 competing this year, I knew it was going to be good.  Then, when I looked at the names of the swimmers competing, I REALLY knew it was going to be good!  This was definitely the strongest team we have ever taken to the District Championships and that is always a good sign because so many of those swimmers move on to become Southeastern Championship swimmers within the next year.

Gandy and Ashley Both Finish Top 3 For 8 & Under District High Point!
Many times, families reading this may not fully understand just how impressive it is to win a "high point" award, especially at a championship level meet.  The District Championships are the actual Southeastern Championships for the 8 & Under age group because there is no 8 & Under age group at Southeasterns.  In order to win a "high point", you must finish in the top 8 in an individual event to score points.  Then, they total up your points from all of your events to determine who has the most.  So when one of our young Tsunamis finish in the Top 3 overall for scoring the most points in their age group, we make a big deal out of it because, well............it IS a big deal!  Congratulations to Tristan Gandy for going home with the Runner Up High Point Trophy as well as Marisa Ashley for finishing 3rd overall!

Tristan Gandy (8 & Under Boys) 2nd Overall
Marisa Ashley (8 & Under Girls) 3rd Overall

Tsunamis Finish 4th Overall For 8 & Under District Championships
At the District Championship, there is only scoring for one age group and that is the 8 & Under age group.  If they did score out the rest of the meet, I can tell you that the Tsunamis would have been one of the best without a doubt!  However, since they don't, all I can tell you is that all of you did an amazing job and our 8 & Unders finished 4th overall, which is a very impressive finish!  Hopefully this time next year we will have even more awesome 8 & Unders on the team so we can move up in the team rankings.

6 PCST Swimmers Bring Home Southeastern Championship Medals!
Have you ever seen the Southeastern Championship medals?  They are small and there is not much to them............and yet they are incredibly special to receive because it is so difficult to get and they represent great hard work!  We had 2 swimmers earn medals for their top 8 finishes in the 8 & Under division while 4 other swimmers earned medals based on their relay performances.  Well done Tsunamis!

Marisa Ashley: 50 Breast (T-1st), 25 Free (2nd), 100 IM (2nd), 50 Free (2nd), 25 Breast (3rd), 50 Fly (4th), 100 Free (6th), 25 Fly (7th)
Tristan Gandy: 25 Breast (1st), 50 Breast (1st), 100 IM (2nd), 50 Free (2nd), 50 Back (2nd), 25 Free (3rd), 25 Back (3rd), 100 Free (4th)
8 & Under Girls 100 Free Relay: (4th) Marisa Ashley, Valeria Veras, Kathryn-Annette McKinney, Lizzie Brady
8 & Under Girls 100 Medley Relay: (3rd) Lizzie Brady, Marisa Ashley, Kathryn-Annette McKinney, Lily Bradford

9 Swimmers and 1 Relay Become District Champions!
Champions............isn't that a great word to hear in a title?  I love saying that we have District Champions!  All you can do at a meet is race who your competition is and there is nothing better than being able to say you were the best.  I'm proud to say that 9 of our Tsunami swimmers were the best in Pensacola because that means they are one step closer to being the best all around.

District Champions!
8 & Under Girls: Marisa Ashley (50 Breast)
8 & Under Boys: Tristan Gandy (25 Breast, 50 Breast)
11-12 Girls: Michaela Ashley (100 Breast)
13-14 Girls: Fallon Gelsleichter (200 Breast, 400 Medley Relay), Taylor Wilder (200 Back, 400 Medley Relay), Shannon Doyle (400 Medley Relay), Kylie McKinney (400 Medley Relay)
15-16 Girls: Kristen Ratliff (100 Back, 200 Back), Alysiah Stock (400 IM), Lindsey Gurganus (100 Breast)
15-16 Boys: Bryant Clayton (100 Breast, 200 Breast, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 500 Free)

New Age Group All-Time Top 10 Swims
More and more and more new all-time top 10 swims for each age group!  They just keep coming don't they?  In case you haven't noticed, Marisa Ashley and Tristan Gandy have secured their place in team history as two of the greatest 8 & under swimmers our team has ever seen!!  I have a feeling you'll be hearing from them for a long time to come!  Congratulations to all of you who have moved into the elite group of swimmers for your age!

8 & Under Girls: Marisa Ashley 25 Free (4th), 50 Free (4th), 25 Breast (3rd), 50 Breast (3rd), 100 IM (3rd); Kathryn-Annette McKinney 50 Fly (10th)
8 & Under Boys: Tristan Gandy 25 Free (4th), 50 Free (2nd), 100 Free (4th), 25 Back (3rd), 50 Back (2nd), 25 Breast (3rd), 100 IM (3rd)
11-12 Girls: Michaela Ashley 100 Breast (10th)
13-14 Girls: Shannon Doyle 50 Back (6th); Taylor Wilder 50 Back (7th), 100 Back (8th), 200 Back (10th); Fallon Gelsleichter 50 Breast (8th), 100 Breast (8th), 200 Breast (8th)
15-16 Girls: Alysiah Stock 200 Breast (7th); Lindsey Gurganus 50 Fly (9th)
Senior Boys: Bryant Clayton 50 Breast (8th), 200 Breast (10th), 200 Fly (9th); Brandon Templeton 50 Breast (9th)

As many of these swimmers strive to move forward in their swimming, they aspire to reach the next level which is the Southeastern Championships.  This summer is going to be a terrific Southeastern Championships in which many of the District swimmers will participate, but in the meantime, we have one heck of a Short Course Southeasterns to tell you about.  Stay tuned because incredible news is on the way about our meet in Nashville!

CATCH THE WAVE!

Coach Jonathan