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The Region 1, AAAAA region swim meet was held at the Harris County Community Center on January 28. The Lady SwimCats placed second (one point behind Harris County) making them Region Runnerups. The SwimCats placed third behind Harris County and Veterans High School.

Prior to the meet, seniors from the region were recognized. Bainbridge High School recognized eight seniors: Austin Aldridge, Sandy Baker, Joe Emmons, Tom Emmons, Blake Lowe, Brenden Mitchell, Stokes Moore, and Garrett Sigman. Jonathan Farrington was not present but is a Senior SwimCat.

Individual swimmers who were region runner-ups were Maloree Inlow in the 100 breaststroke, Ramsey Mathews in the 200 freestyle, and Paige Overman in the 500 freestyle. The girls 200 freestyle relay of Paige Overman, Maloree Inlow, Sarah Grace Ferrell, and Alex Riche and the boys 200 freestyle relay of Austin Aldridge, Stokes Moore, Blake Lowe, and Dax Willis were also Region Runnerups.

Point scorers for the SwimCats were Austin Aldridge, placing 7th in the 50 freestyle and 7th in the 100 backstroke; Joe Emmons, placing 8th in the 200 freestyle, Tom Emmons, placing 6th in the 200 freestyle; Josh Fillingame, placing 6th in the 200 IM and 6th in the 100 butterfly; Blake Lowe, placing 6th in the 500 freestyle; Hayden Martin, placing 8th in the 100 breaststroke; Brenden Mitchell placing 8th in the 500 freestyle; Griffin Perkins, placing 4th in the 200 IM and 5th in the 100 butterfly; and Dax Willis, placing 5th in the 100 backstroke and 7th in the 100 breaststroke.

In relays for the SwimCats, the Boys 200 Medley Relay A team of Dax Willis, Hayden Martin, Griffin Perkins, and Blake Lowe placed 5th and the B team of Brenden Mitchell, Stokes Moore, Josh Fillingame, and Joe Emmons placed 7th. In the 200 freestyle relays, along with the aforementioned A team’s second place finish, the B team of Brenden Mitchell, Garrett Sigman, Tom Emmons, and Hayden Martin placed 5th. In the 400 freestyle relay, the A team of Stokes Moore, Griffin Perkins, Joe Emmons, and Austin Aldridge placed 3rd while the B team of Brenden Mitchell, Tom Emmons, Josh Fillingame, and Hayden Martin placed 6th.

Point scorers for the Lady SwimCats were Sandy Baker, placing 5th in the 100 butterfly and 3rd in the 100 backstroke; Rylan Bland, placing 7th in the 500 freestyle; SarahGrace Ferrell, placing 7th in the 100 freestyle; Maloree Inlow, placing 2nd in the 100 breaststroke and 7TH in the 200 I.M. ; Ramsey Mathews, placing 2nd in the 200 freestyle and 4th in the 100 backstroke; Jaycee Maxwell, placing 6th in the 200 freestyle; Madison Mills, placing 3rd in the 50 freestyle and 4th in the 100 freestyle; Paige Overman, placing 5th in the 200 IM and 2nd in the 500 freestyle; and Alex Riche’, placing 5th in the 50 freestyle and 6th in the 100 butterfly.

In relays for the Lady SwimCats, the Girls 200 medley relay A team of Ramsey Mathews, Maloree Inlow, Sandy Baker, and Madison Mills placed 3rd while the B team of SarahGrace Ferrell, Kaitlyn Bennett, Alex Riche’, and Rylan Bland placed 6th. Along with the aforementioned A team’s 2nd place in the 200 freestyle relay, the B team of Rylan Bland, Jaycee Maxwell, Kaitlyn Bennett, and Madalyn Yancey placed 4th. In the 400 freestyle relay, the A team of Ramsey Mathews, Sandy Baker, Paige Overman, and Madison Mills placed 3rd, and the B team of Rylan Bland, Jaycee Maxwell, Kaitlyn Bennett, and SarahGrace Ferrell placed 5th.

Coaches Chambers, Durham and Connor were so excited about the meet results. It has been an unusual season filled with injuries and scheduling conflicts, yet both teams performed extremely well. According to Coach Chambers, “We knew we were the underdogs. We have no swimmers who swim year round with a club like many of these other schools. Therefore, it is phenomenal that we performed this well. These athletes left it all in the pool, giving 110%, and we couldn’t be more proud.”