Gilmer Swimming Makes Impact in Calhoun

Despite only taking 10 swimmers to the 2015-16 Northwest Georgia Swim and Dive Championship last Saturday in Calhoun, the Gilmer High School swim team left a significant mark on the event.

David Brown won the 100-yard backstroke event, clocking in with a time of 58 and 54-hundredths of a second (58.54). In the 100-yard butterfly, he finished with a fourth-place time of 57.52.

James Maxwell took seventh in the 100-yard backstroke, with a time of one minute, seven and 62-hundredths of a second (1:07.62). Jared May had a 14th-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle event, turning in a time of 2:29.21.

Evan Minter finished 14th in the 50-yard freestyle, with a time of 25.67. He later took 12th in the 100-yard freestyle, with a time of 57.55.

The team of Brown, Maxwell, Minter and Landon Bryan took seventh place in the 200-yard freestyle relay, posting a time of 1:43.04. In the 200-yard medley relay, Gilmer placed fourth with a time of 1:55.02. Bryan also competed in the 100-yard freestyle, finishing with a time of 1:01.97.

In girls events, Grace Pleasant turned in a ninth-place time of 2:22.84 in the 200-yard freestyle and a 12th-place time of 1:04.67 in the 100-yard freestyle. Rowe Fowler took 13th place in the 50-yard freestyle by posting a time of 29.16. She also competed in the 100-yard backstroke event, placing 10th with a time of 1:17.04. Leila Farist placed sixth in the 500-yard freestyle and 13th in the 100-yard freestyle events as well.

“I’m proud of these guys,” said GHS head coach Mary-Melissa May. “We show up with 10 swimmers and kicked tail, competing against teams with 40-plus swimmers. This program has strength and we are excited about our future! A great day to be a Bobcat!”

GHS heads to the North Georgia Regionals at Dalton Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, the JV swim squad heads to Baylor in Chattanooga for the middle school league championship Saturday.