Local team wins Chattanooga league, prepares for GRPA State
The Calhoun Blue Barracudas completed an undefeated season with their victory over Ridgeside ( Chattanooga) on July 7.
With the victory, the Blue Barracudas won the White Division of the Chattanooga Area Swim League, which was their second championship in the last three years.
Earlier this season, the Blue Barracudas won the North Georgia District 5 Georgia Parks and Recreation Championship, which was held at the Calhoun Recreation Department.
The Blue Barracudas are now getting ready to compete in the GRPA State Swim Meet in Tifton July 17-18.
At the District Meet, several team members set district records. Allie Workman set new records in the girls 12-under 100yard freestyle and 50-yard butterfly.
Cal Parker set a new district record in the boys 14-under 50-yard and 100yard freestyle, and Bryant Mathis set a new record in the boys 15-over 100yard Individual Medley.
The team will send several individuals and relay teams to the State Meet and is excited about their prospects.
At the District Meet, the team had 23 firstplace finishes. Top individual finishers were: Parker ( boys 13-14 100 yard freestyle, boys 13-14 50 yard freestyle), Cassie Workman (girls 15-18 100 yard freestyle, girls 1518 yard butterfly), Allie Workman (girls 11-12 50 yard freestyle, girls 11-12 50 yard butterfly), Luke Driscoll (boys 7-8 25 yard breaststroke, boys 7-8 25 yard butterfly), William Eickman ( boys 9- 10 25 yard breaststroke), Nena Marcus (girls 1112 50 yard breaststroke), Micah Klingbeil (boys 1112 50 yard breaststroke), Mathis ( boys 15- 18 50 yard breaststroke, boys 15-18 100 yard individual medley), Brandon Webb (boys 7-8 yard individual medley) and Kailey Klingbeil (girls 15-18 100 yard individual medley, girls 15-18 50 yard backstroke)
Relay teams with first place finishes were: girls 12-under 200 yard medley relay, boys 14-under 200 yard medley relay, girls 15-18 200 yard medley relay, girls 12-under 200 yard freestyle relay, boys 12-under 200 yard freestyle relay, boys 14-under 200 yard freestyle relay and girls 15-18 200 yard freestyle relay.
The Blue Barracudas are coached by Mike Beeler, Will Beeler and Ryan Swift.
This season, the Barracudas program recorded it’s largest membership ever with over 120 swimmers signing up.
The Blue Barracudas and the community is excited about the opening of the new Indoor Aquatic Center at Calhoun High School and the formation of a new community yearround swim team program. — Rodney Mathis contributed to this report.