The Brewton Local Area Swim Team Tigersharks ended their season on a definite high note this past week as they swam at the Gulf Coast Area Aquatic League (GCAAL) End of Summer Championships Friday and Saturday, July 26-27, in Fairhope.
The meet was comprised of seven teams with over 400 total athletes throughout the Gulf Coast area, including Bay Minette, Foley, Fairhope, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Daphne and Brewton’s own Tigersharks.
Tigersharks in attendance were: Nolan Atkinson, son of Rob and Lisa Atkinson; Mac Baxter, son of Chris and Angel Baxter; Jocelyn Carpenter, daughter of Brant and Carla Carpenter; Elizabeth Glass, daughter of Dewayne and Brooke Glass; Addison Heath, daughter of Duane and Dr. Melissa Heath; Emerson Heath, daughter of Duane and Dr. Melissa Heath; Cole Jernigan, son of Lee and Felicia Jernigan; Callie Kent, daughter of Danny and Phyllis Kent; Caleb Kent, son of Danny and Phyllis Kent, Aleigh Lanier, daughter of David and Mandy Lanier, Colby Morris, son of Brandee Chase Morris, Patrick Noble, son of Hal and Trisha Noble; and Riley Surles, son of Stacey Fuqua and Mark Surles.
“The Tigersharks blew up the blocks with every dive into the pool,” head coach Angel Boyd said. “I am extremely proud of how well my team performed this weekend.”
Addison Heath, won high point as the highest-ranking 7-year-old girl at the meet. Heath won four individual medals and brought home the high point trophy.
“This was her first year winning high point at this level of competition,” Boyd said. “Addison has been working hard this summer and this performance showed how much.”
Nolan Atkinson also won high point as the highest-ranking 9-year-old boy at the meet. Atkinson won five individual first place medals and three relay medals, while breaking a meet record that had held for seven years in the 25-year Butterfly event.
“Nolan brought home the high point trophy for his efforts and a plaque is being made for him in honor of his record breaking swim in the fly,” Boyd said. “Nolan has won high point at this meet since he was 6, making this the fourth year winning his respective age group. Nolan, a national level freestyler, has been working hard to improve his weaker strokes, and as you can see, his hard work paid off in a big way, as he broke a record in the Butterfly.”
Mac Baxter won high point as the highest-ranking 10-year-old at the meet. Baxter won five individual first place medals and three relay medals.
“Mac Attack was on fire at the championships, leaving no doubt who owned the 10-year-old boys division,” Boyd said. “Mac is a distance swimmer, but proved that he could sprint with the best of them this weekend. Mac has won this high point award in his respective age group for the past four years.”
Cole Jernigan also had a good showing in Fairhope.
“Cole blew away the competition this weekend in Fairhope, leaving no doubt that this National Level swimmer owned the 11-year-old boys division,” Boyd said. “Cole won high point winning five individual first place medals and two relay medals. Cole is my backstroker, but this weekend there wasn’t any doubt that he was a beast in the water in all four strokes. Cole sprinted his way to another high point trophy and continued his streak of high point wins at Summer Championships.”
Boyd said Colby Morris and Elizabeth Glass picked up some good wins as well.
“Colby Morris was on fire this weekend as well, taking third overall and bringing home a high point runner-up trophy,” Boyd said. “Colby won five individual medals and two relay medals, and broke into the 27-second time standard in the 12-year-old boys division securing his spot at the fastest Tigershark freestyler on the team. Colby, who has trophied at this meet for four years straight, didn’t fail to perform this weekend. Elizabeth also blew up the blocks in Fairhope winning five individual medals, placing fourth overall in the 11-year-old girls division. Elizabeth is a true freestyler who proved she could step up to the challenge in all four strokes this past weekend at the Summer Championships earning quality points for Team Tigersharks.”
Caleb Kent and Aleigh Lanier earned points for the Tigersharks in Fairhope.
“Caleb, another fast 9-year-old boy in the Tigershark arsenal, blew up the blocks as well winning four individual medals, an individual ribbon and a relay medal at the championships,” Boyd said. “Caleb, who is partial to Butterfly, really stepped up to earn major points for our team in every event he swam. Aleigh, a strong 12-year-old swimmer, also earned medals and ribbons in all of her individual events. Aleigh earned crucial points for our Tigersharks. Aleigh, who is a natural breaststroker, stepped up to the challenge this weekend winning several individual races. Aleigh has improved so much and will continue to be a strong member of our Tigershark team.”
Other stand out Tigersharks this past weekend included:
• Callie Kent, 6, brought home two individual medals and four ribbons.
• Patrick Noble, 8, and the newest member to the Tigershark team, won two individual medals and one relay medal, as well as several ribbons.
• Jocelyn Carpenter, 10, swam one day of the two-day meet, medaled in 3-of-3 individual events and was a member of 10 girls relay team.
• Riley Surles, 7, swam only one day of the meet, won two individual medals and ribboned as well.
• Emerson Heath, another 6U Tigershark, won five individual ribbons and was a member of the 10Ugirls relay team.
“As a whole, we were the smallest team at the championships, but we racked up 639 total points and brought home the third place team award for 2013,” Boyd said. “Our team is a close knit group of kids who support each other completely. They have excellent sportsmanship and even cheer on swimmers from other teams that they meet throughout the season. Because of this, we were recognized and award the team Spirit Award for the 2013 summer season. We had more high point award winners than any other team represented with four high point awards and one runner-up award. Each member of our team who swam earned points towards our team award, and as a coach, I couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of them.”
The Tigersharks are coached by Boyd, Brandee Morris, and Brooke Glass.
You can check out pictures from the championship weekend on their Facebook page: Brewton Local Area Swim Team.
The Tigersharks are currently taking registration for the Fall Session, which will begin Monday, Aug. 19.
Contact Boyd (334-303-1171) or Morris (251-236-0357) for more information, or email aboyd337@gmail.com.