RECREATION: Barracudas make
waves at swim nationals
By Davita M.
Cade • Special to the Advertiser •
May 16, 2008
"A Stroke of Success" is a quote
used by the Montgomery YMCA
Barracuda Swim Team. Recently,
that motto was put to use while
the team took nine competitors
to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to
compete in the YMCA National
Championship.
This elite team
of nine competed against about
260 other teams and 1,600 other
swimmers from across the nation
and out of all of those teams,
the Barracudas
placed 8th in the
nation. Along with that two
members of the Barracudas
won
big at nationals -- Laura
Johnson and Woody Joye.
Coach Paul Mielke gave rave
reviews for his swim team,
acknowledging their expertise in
swimming and dedication to the
sport.
"I believe that we have some
of the best high school swimmers
in the country," said Mielke, a
former member of the Auburn
University swim team who had
coached the Barracuda Swim Team
for about five years. "Almost
all of our kids in the program
get swim scholarships."
He emphasizes that this is
one of his top priorities as a
coach is to get his swimmer s
scholarships. Among some of the
colleges that show interest
and/or recruit his swimmers are:
Georgia Tech, Auburn University,
University of Alabama, Missouri
University, Colorado State and
Cleveland State. "I stress that
they should work on the little
things and make them better,"
said Mielke.
Johnson, 17, a junior at LAMP
High School followed her
coaches' advice because she says
that in her opinion her swimming
did not improve for a year but
she continued to work hard. She
defines her win at nationals as
excited.
"I really worked hard all
year and all the hard work paid
off," said Johnson.
Her interest in swimming
began at the age of eight. She
accredits her parents and swim
coaches as the inspiration that
keeps her going and excelling in
the sport of swimming.
"Some people don't think that
swimming is as hard as it seems
but it takes a lot of dedication
and practice," said Johnson.
The Barracudas practice daily
from anywhere from 90 minutes to
21/2 hours. Their practices
include -- but are not limited
to -- lifting weights, running,
abdominal work and yoga. There
are 11 different workout
programs offered a week. The
Barracudas best swimmers usually
participate in eight or nine of
those workouts.
Before a swim meet, Johnson
listens to music, warms-up and
eats pasta the night before.
Advice that Johnson offers to
future and current competitive
swimmers is that you should
stick with it, even though there
are hard times because hard work
pays off.
Her fellow teammate agrees
with Johnson's emphasis of hard
work.
"My initial reaction to
winning at nationals was
surprised, I knew I was ahead
but didn't expect to win," said
Joye, a 16-year old sophomore
from Stanhope Elmore High who
began swimming at the age of 5.
"My parents put me in a swim
program and I turned out to be
good, so I just stuck with it."
Joye listens to rap music
before a swim meet -- it gets
his adrenaline going and heart
rate up, he says.
Both swimmers say that
although they have to juggle
practice, school and family that
each makes sure to devote enough
time for all, stressing the
importance of making time for
school. Johnson says that
swimming helps her with time
management.
Work and competition aside,
Mielke insists there is also
time for fun and games.
"After any competition, we
take the team somewhere to just
relax and celebrate, we have
done such things as snorkeling
and surfing," he said.
Still, Mielke's goal is for
his team to become one of the
top YMCA teams in the country.
With continued work and
dedication, he believes the
Barracudas can get there ... one
stroke at a time.
Woody Joye and Laura Johnson were big
winners for the Montgomery Barracudas at
the YMCA National Championship in Fort
Lauderdale, Fla.
Local teen swims his way to the top
By Hamilton Richardson
Progress staff writer
Woody Joye, a Coosada resident who has broken
several swim records and won many awards, has
hopes of going to the 2012 Olympics.
Woody Joye is a Stanhope Elmore High School sophomore
who loves to swim. More specifically, he's a student
who loves to swim and has proven it by winning multiple
awards and broken multiple swim records over the last
several years.
Joye, who lives in Coosada with his family, has been
swimming since he was little.
"I started with the Flying Fish," Joye said.
Linwood Joye is Woody's father. "I started him
swimming at five years old. It was natural for him to
swim," he said.
Woody started swimming with the Prattville Flying
Fish at age 5, where he won five straight years in three
different events. Joe Reynolds coached Joye while he was
with the Flying Fish.
"I remember a crying kid who was scared to death,"
said Reynolds.
By the time he was 8, he'd moved to the Montgomery
YMCA Barracudas, where Reynolds serves as an assistant
coach.
"At 10 or 11, I saw his talent emerging," commented
Reynolds. "He was swimming part-time for a while but at
13, he was full-time, year-round," said Joye.
Woody's swimming successes have only improved over
the years, as he was recently chosen to be part of the
National Select Camp to go to the Olympic Training
Center in Colorado Springs.
Also, Joye just returned from the National Short
Course Championship held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where
he won first place in the 200- and 400-yard individual
medleys, third place in the 100-yard backstroke and
fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle. In this
particular event, Joye beat out 221 YMCA teams and
1,611 athletes.
Coach Reynolds saw Joye compete in the nationals and
was very impressed.
"It was one of the great swims I've seen," said
Reynolds.
According to Linwood Joye, Woody has his sights set
on the Olympics.
"He wants to go to the Olympics. He's just a few
seconds shy for the Olympics trials in some events,"
said Joye. "He's shooting for 2012."
Woody Joye however, is still unsure about his Olympic
hopes.
"The Olympics are nice but I know it's a long shot,"
said Joye.
But Reynolds believes Woody could easily go to the
Olympic trials.
"Woody's on the right track," he said.
Joye's plans for the future include swimming but
also college and a career.
"I'm going to swim through high school," Joye said.
But he also hopes for a swimming scholarship.
"I'd like to go to the University of Florida in
Gainesville," said Joye. "I want to go to college and
get a good career and maybe be an engineer. But my
opinion changes once a month."
Woody is currently working as a lifeguard for the
Prattville City Pool and also coaches his previous team,
the Prattville Flying Fish.
January 2008
USA Swimming
Master Coach visits MYB
Bob
Steele, a Master Coach with USA Swimming, visited the Montgomery YMCA Swim
Team for a 4-day practice session. He spent time with swimmers,
coaches, and parents sharing years of valuable information.
As a Master Coach, Steele visits clubs and coaches around the country where
he spends a few days with each club, observing practices, meeting with the
coaching staff, answering questions, and
offering advice. He shares
information and ideas on training and team management.
Bob Steele is presently a Master
Coach Consultant with USA Swimming. He was a very successful college coach
at Southern Illinois University and a club development staff member at USAS
prior to serving as Head Coach at the Wichita Swim Club from 1995-97. After
leaving WSC, he was again a successful college coach at UC-Bakersfield prior
to returning to USAS in his present position.
LAMP swimmer Laura Johnson doesn't have time to hit
the snooze button on her alarm clock. Over the past two
weeks, she has seen the benefits of her discipline.
Two weekends ago, Johnson competed in a short-course
international meet -- which included competitors such as
six-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps -- and
placed 14th in the 200-breast stroke and 12th in 200-IM.
She didn't let down last weekend either. At the high
school state meet, Johnson set state records in both
events in which she competed, winning both.
"Over the last two weekends, Laura's gone from being
a really good breaststroker to a great breaststroker,"
said Paul Mielke, coach of Johnson's club team, the
Montgomery Barracudas.
The only reason Johnson didn't have a better day was
because the state meet rule regulates that each swimmer
may only compete in two events. So she responded by
setting state records in both.
It was a testament to Johnson's long days of hard
work.
Johnson's days begin with 5 a.m. swim practices.
During the summer those practices are in Prattville,
which means half an hour of driving before practice.
After practice she goes to school and then practices
again after school, training approximately 10 times per
week.
During the fall, Johnson has even busier days. She
competes on LAMP's cross country team, which practices
during seventh period.
With class and three practices every day, how does
Johnson maintain?
"It is strenuous, but it really helps with time
management skills," Johnson said. "And I've done it for
so long that it's not as hard as it might sound. I've
done it all my life."
Johnson has been swimming competitively for eight
years and is enjoying great success this year. In the
state meet, she broke her own record in the 200 IM and
broke former Trinity star Amy Wheatley's record in the
100-breaststroke.
"Laura was extremely talented at a young age," said
Mielke, who has coached Johnson for four years. "She had
gone through 16 months where she hasn't made much
improvement, but she still kept working hard and broke
through this year to the next level. She's being
recruited by everyone now."
Well, technically she isn't being "recruited" by
anyone. But that's only because Johnson's a junior and
college recruiters haven't been allowed to contact her.
Instead, virtually every school, including Ohio State
and Auburn, has sent Johnson letters.
"I love getting the letters because it makes you feel
like you're doing something," Johnson said. "We've had
some swimmers go on to college and come back and it
makes you want to improve even more."
Johnson has improved over the past few years, but as
Mielke said, she has always been great for her age. In
fact, USA Swimming has a program, National Select Camp
program. USA Swimming invited Johnson to train at the
Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Johnson said she hasn't thought about competing in
the Olympics. She's more focused on finishing her high
school career strong and being able to swim in college.
Mielke, on the other hand, thinks Johnson has a
chance to represent the United States. "Absolutely,"
Mielke said. "If she keeps improving, by her senior year
she'll be on one of the U.S. national teams."
Perhaps by then she will have been allowed to press
the snooze button just once.
Eight-time NCAA coach of the year and
two-time United States Men's Olympic
Team swim coach Eddie Reese instructs
the Montgomery YMCA Barracudas at the
East YMCA on Thursday.
-- Tammy McKinley
Eddie Reese looks like a man
who could still swim a fast lap in the local swimming
pool. He talks like a man who could do stand-up comedy
on stage.
"A cousin asked me if I wanted
to be a swimmer. I mistakenly said yes," Reese said.
At an age (65) where many are
considering -- or are already enjoying -- retirement,
the renowned swimming coach is still going strong. Reese
arrived in Montgomery on Thursday to conduct a swimming
clinic at the Montgomery East YMCA. He was full of the
life that he has breathed into two college programs as
well as the national men's team.
The clinics, though, are just a
side job -- almost a hobby. His day jobs -- yes, more
than one -- include running the United States Men's
Olympic Team and also coaching the University of Texas
men's swimming program.
Still, there was no apparent
lack of energy from Reese, who gladly shook hands, told
stories and ran the 90-minute clinic as if he were a man
in his mid-20s.
"I just try to get better. I'm
not satisfied with the job I do. I'm always trying to
find ways to get swimmers to go faster," Reese said.
He has always been able to
accomplish that feat. Prior to his arrival at Texas in
1978, he conducted a six-year revival of the swim
program at Auburn.
When he took the job 1972, he
inherited a team that had not qualified a single swimmer
for the finals or consolation finals of the Southeastern
Conference Championships during the previous season. Six
years later, the Tigers had produced four consecutive
top-10 showings at the NCAAs, with the best being a
second-place finish in 1978.
One of those swimmers at Auburn
was Paul Melke, who currently heads the Montgomery YMCA
Barracudas swim team and was instrumental in Reese
coming to the Capitol City.
"When he coached me, he had the
same enthusiasm, the same energy. He's still searching
for knowledge and getting kids to work harder," Melke
said. "He's the most respected swim coach in the world."
Reese's honor roll includes 132
college All-Americans and 22 Olympians who have won 21
gold medals. That easily caught the attention of the
nearly 100 swimmers, coaches and parents in attendance,
some of whom came from as far as Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.
"My goal is to get to college
and swim at the national level," said 13-year-old
Winston Waters, now in her sixth year with the
Barracudas. "He's the best college coach there is."
During his lifetime of swimming
that has seen him inducted into the International
Swimming Hall of Fame, Reese has witnessed a lot of
changes in the sport.
"Swimmers do a better job in
getting stronger," Reese said. "They even have suits
that go from the neck to the ankle, which allows them to
go faster."
While Reese has the Midas touch
with swimmers, he was quick to point out that it is not
as easy as jumping in the pool and taking his
instruction.
"I don't believe anyone chooses
a sport. I think a sport chooses them," Reese said.
"Swimming is so different because it's like being in the
real world. If you want to get better, you have to work
hard."
Woody Joye, 14, of Millbrook
was in the group of intent listeners.
"He's motivational for most
kids and it's an honor to have him here," said Joye, who
swims the 200-meter backstroke and the 400-meter
freestyle for the Barracudas. "He has years of
experience. He knows what he's talking about."
August 2006
Joye swims
his way to the top
Special to the Progress
Woody Joye fared well in a recent
competition.
Woody Joye recently competed in the Southeastern Long
Course Championship in Knoxville, Tenn., and the USA
Southern Zone Championship in Atlanta. Joye is a member
of the Montgomery YMCA Barracuda swim team.
Joye, won the 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle, 800
freestyle, and the 200 individual medley (IM) at the
Southeastern Championship. He finished second in the 100
freestyle, 100 backstroke and 200 backstroke.
With these swims, he broke five Barracuda team
records for the 13 - 14 age group, and had four US
National Top-16 Consideration Times. After the meet,
Joye was selected to the Southeastern All-Star Zone
Team, and he was the high-point winner for the 13 -14
male age group.
The USA Southern Zone Championship Meet was held at
the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, home of the 1996
Olympic swimming competition. Joye finaled in all six
events in which he competed in.
He was the Southern Zone Champion in the 200 IM and a
member of the first place 200 freestyle relay team. He
finished third in the 200 freestyle, fourth in the 400
freestyle, fifth in the 100 and 200 backstroke, and
tenth in the 100 freestyle. Joye broke two additional
Barracuda team record and had one additional US National
Top-16 Consideration Time.
Joye, a freshman at Victory Baptist School, is the
son of Linwood and Terry Joye of Coosada
May 2006
Caro inks deal with
Delta State
By Jimmy White
Progress writer
Chris Caro, senior at
Prattville High School, has signed a letter of intent to
attend Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss., on a
swimming scholarship.
Caro is a four-year letterman
for the swim team, as well as being a member of the
Montgomery YMCA Barracudas, where he swam for Coach Paul
Miekle. He also swam two seasons for Coach Joe Reynolds
and the Prattville Department of Leisure Services Flying
Fish team.
As a member of the Prattville
High School swim team, Caro placed in the top three at
the state high school swim meet.
At the YMCA National Swimming
Championship, Caro placed in the top five. He is also a
YMCA state champion and a YMCA All-American.
He holds a champion title from
the Southeastern Swim Meet, and is currently ranked in
the top 100 for breaststrokers in the United States.
"I really liked the school when
I took my official visit," Caro said. "The city reminds
me a lot of Prattville; it is not too large and the
school is smaller. I just feel I can do better at a
smaller school. With Delta State being a Division II
school and its swim team competing in meets against
similar schools, I felt I would have a better
opportunity to win a title."
Delta State University built
new aquatic facilities three years go.
Caro was recruited by Delta
State head coach Bryan Hien. He was also recruited by
Florida State University, Louisiana State University,
Western Kentucky University and the University of
Alabama.
Caro is the son of Rusty and
Lisa Caro of Prattville.
March
2006
Boutwell, McClendon
lead Barracuda team
By Wesley Lyle
Special to the Advertiser
Clint
McClendon and Luke Boutwell have been steady leaders for
the Montgomery YMCA Barracuda swim team.
The two University of Alabama
signees recently added to their list of accomplishments
with the local swim team. In their last major meet as
Barracudas, the duo combined for three championships and
one second-place finish at the YMCA Nationals in Fort
Lauderdale, Fla.
"Both of those boys deserve
it," second-year Barracudas coach Paul Mielke said.
"They've put in the time, and the work to get where they
are. They'll swim with us this summer before going off
to college but this was their last big event."
McClendon, a senior at
Montgomery Academy, won the 100 backstroke and the 200
backstroke. Boutwell, a senior at Alabama Christian, won
the 100 breaststroke and finished second in the 200
breaststroke.
The two swimmers sparked the
boys team to a fourth-place finish -- the highest in the
program's history according to Mielke.
"I felt like this group was
capable of doing well," Mielke said. "They're in the
pool at 5 a.m. and they (usually) put in 10 or 11
workouts a week. When you work with a group of kids like
these, you see how hard they work and how much they want
it."
Overall, boys and girls
combined, the Barracudas finished 12th in the meet. The
team carried just 10 swimmers (seven boys and three
girls).
"We were one of the smallest
teams there but we had a good meet," Mielke said. "Some
teams carry 40 or 50 swimmers. Our program is not that
big. Of the teams in the top 20, we had the least number
of swimmers competing."
Laura Johnson, a freshman at
LAMP, led the girls in the meet. Johnson took third in
the 100 breaststroke and the 200 breaststroke.
Boutwell
overcomes adversity to win title By Wesley Lyle Special to the
Montogmery Advertiser (April 20, 2005)
Luke Boutwell was confident a
national swimming title was within his grasp.
He just thought it would be in
a different event.
The 16-year old member of the
Montgomery YMCA Barracudas captured the 200-yard breaststroke national
title earlier this month at the YMCA Nationals in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
In 2004, Boutwell was second in
the nation in the 100 breaststroke.
"I came in this year expecting
to win the 100, not the 200," Boutwell said. "I took it easy in the
morning and rested in between swims. I had a good race and led every lap."
Boutwell's performance
highlighted a 12th-place finish by the Barracudas. But it also served as a
momentary distraction from what has been a difficult time for Boutwell,
his family and his team.
Following a long battle with
brain cancer, Boutwell's mother Angie passed away on March 11.
"It's been a trying time for
everyone," Barracudas head coach Paul Mielke said. "We look at this team
as a family and we've prayed a lot for Luke and his mom. This team is
strongly behind him and supportive of him. Because every swimmer knows if
the situation was reversed, Luke would be the first one trying to help
somebody else."
Mielke praised Boutwell's
courage throughout the ordeal. He said the Alabama Christian Academy
junior has always been a natural leader.
Even with the loss of his
mother and physical illness the night before nationals, Boutwell remained
focused.
"The night before he was to
compete, he was violently sick," Mielke said. "He had these bad headaches
that kept him up until 2 a.m. I don't know, maybe it was just the pressure
of the past month."
Boutwell downplayed the
headaches at the national meet. But there is no doubt the previous month's
events had an impact on him. He said his father (Robin) has been a source
of encouragement.
"When I was competing, I didn't
have time to think about anything else," Boutwell said. "But this was the
first time (Mom) wasn't there. After I would swim, Dad would tell me 'good
job. Mom would have been proud.' "
Boutwell and the Barracudas
have a little down time with the completion of the national competition.
But Boutwell's mind is already focusing on future competitions.
"His goal is to be the best
swimmer in the world," Mielke said. "His immediate goal now is to qualify
for the Junior National team."
To reach that goal, Boutwell
needs to meet a qualifying time later this summer.
"It will come down to late July
or early August," Boutwell said. "We've got a major meet in Auburn. If I
swim under my qualifying time, I can make the team. If I'm selected, I
would get to compete internationally."
At the same time, Boutwell is
already looking at his college future. With offers from schools across the
nation, Boutwell's decision won't be easy.
"I'm trying to keep my options
open," Boutwell said. "The schools aren't allowed to make scholarship
offers until after July 1. But there's an early signing period in
November. Depending on how I do this summer, I'd like to sign then."
Jeff Shearer,
Sports Anchor at WSFA Channel 12, on the WSFA website - Jeff's Journal -
4/15/05,
By the time you got up
this morning, chances are Luke Boutwell was already in the pool at the East
YMCA.
Luke, a 16-year-old
junior at Alabama Christian Academy, leaves home every weekday morning at 4:30
so he can be in the water by 5 a.m.
After two hours of
training (his "short" workout), Luke's on his way to school. When school's out,
it's back to the East Y for three more hours of practice.
That's the price you
pay to be a national champion.
Last weekend at the
YMCA National Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Luke finished first in the
200-meter breastroke. Some of the guys he beat will be swimming for powerhouse
college programs like Stanford and Tennessee next year.
Competing against more
than 200 teams from all over the country, Luke's team, the Montgomery YMCA
Barracudas, finished 12th.
So what goes through
your mind when you're underwater five hours a day?
"Sometimes you get a
song stuck in your head," Luke tells the Journal. "Sometimes you write songs.
Sometimes all you can think about is how much it hurts you to keep going."
Luke knows what it's
like to hurt. And to keep going.
One month before his
national title, Luke lost his mother. Angie Boutwell battled two brain tumors
for 15 years, practically all of Luke's life.
When you're
underwater, no one can see your tears.
"It was definitely
stressful," Luke says of competing so soon after her death. "I know she would've
wanted me to keep swimming."
Angie's illness
prevented her from attending many of Luke's meets. With her condition worsening,
the Boutwells were not planning for Angie to make the trip to Florida for
Nationals.
Luke believes his
mom's eternal residence affords a front-row seat of his accomplishments.
"After I'd race, dad
would say, 'she's proud of you.' That was real comforting," Luke says.
From swimming, Luke
says he's learned about discipline, time management and responsibility.
He's attracting
attention from 40 colleges. Auburn, Stanford, Kentucky and Virginia are on his
radar screen. If Luke gets the right offer, he'll consider signing in November.
But college swimming
is just the next step to an even bigger stage.
"I want to represent
the United States internationally," Luke says. "I'd love to swim in the
Olympics."
Is that realistic, I
wondered?
"Absolutely," Luke
replied.
If you're skeptical,
drive by Pelzer Avenue some morning and pop into the East Y.
Around 5 a.m.
YMCA Nationals
Luke
Boutwell is National Champion in the 200 breast! Luke also finished 2nd in the
100 breast and broke his own team record. Chris Caro dropped over 3 seconds and
finished 5th in the 200 breast and won the Consolation heat (9th). Clint
McClendon finished 2nd in 200 back , 3rd in the 200 fly, 3rd in the 100
back--breaking Matt Figh's team record, and 11th in the 100 fly--breaking his
own team record. The Relay Team of Andrew Walsh, Boutwell, McClendon, and Caro
finished 8th in the 400 Medley relay.
Laura Johnson finished 4th in both the 100 and the 200 breast. Summer Knight
finished 7th in the 100 back and 12th in the 200 back (breaking her own team
record). Summer also broke her own record in the 100 back leg of the medley
relay. Seniors Aimee Hukill and Katie Bellew participated in their last YNats
and will be swimming for Missouri and Cleveland State this fall.
There were over 200 teams participating. MYB (East Branch) finished 12th
overall
March 2005
BARRACUDAS WARM UP FOR NATIONALS WITH TOP
10 FINISH
Nashville, TN.
The Montgomery YMCA Barracuda Swim Team prepared for next week’s YMCA National
Championships by posting a top 10 finish among 55 teams at the Southeastern
Championships in Nashville last weekend.
Led by Clint McClendon with
six and Summer Knight with five finals, 14 different Barracudas scored points
during the three day meet. McClendon, a junior at Montgomery Academy, won the 200 butterfly and finaled in the 200 free, 200back, 200IM, 100
fly and the 100 backstroke. Knight, a freshman at Wetumpka High School, won the 100 backstroke and made finals in the 200 free, 200 back, 200IM
and the 100 butterfly events. Laura Johnson turned in two wins taking home the
100 and 200 breaststroke events and also finaled in the 400IM. Luke Boutwell
brought home the 100 breaststroke and finished second in the 200.
It was a family affair for
MYB as the brother- sister team of Sara and Jake Reynolds scored in three events
each and brothers Chris and Andrew Caro each finaled in two events. Rebecca
Young and Winston Waters also posted two finals while Danny Luehers, Kattie
Bellew, Bryful Sun and Chrissy Parsons also scored points for the Barracudas.
The MYB Gold Team heads for
Ft.Lauderdale April 4-9 to compete
in the YMCA National Championships as Coach Paul Mielke makes his first trip to
Nationals as head coach. He replaced long time Barracuda Coach Chris Snyder
after last year’s Championships.
Just a quick note on how the team
did at Raleigh. Summer Knight broke team records in every event she swam
in! Summer got 13-14 girls' team records in the 100 back, 200 back,
100 fly, 50 free, 100 free, and the 200 IM. Laura Johnson broke team
records in the 100 and 200 breast. Clint McClendon broke the Senior 100
fly team record. Results for Top 8 (finals) The girls' relay team of
Aimee Hukill, Katie Bellew, Summer Knight, and Laura Johnson came in
second in the 200 and 400 Medley relays. The boys' relay team of Andrew
Walsh, Luke Boutwell, Chris Caro, and Clint McClendon also placed second
in the 200 and 400 Medley relays, 7th in the 400 free relay and 8th in
the 200 free relay.
Andrew Walsh and Jake Reynolds
had personal best times in every event they swam! The team finished
5th overall out of 36 teams.
MYB had an exceptional
Sectionals Meet. Some highlights from one of the fastest Sectional
Meets in the country include (swimmer/ event / place):
Laura
Johnson/100 Breast/16
Sara
Servold/200 fly/5
Aimee
Hukill/ 200 breast/22
Luke
Boutwell/200 breast/ 5
Clint
McClendon/ 200 fly/ 20
John
Scott/200 fly/ 3
Relays: Women's relay--Knight, Johnson, Servold, Hea---(400
Medley) placed 15th taking 6 seconds off their entered time.
Men's
relay--McClendon, Boutwell, Scott, Hunter--(400 Medley) placed
4th (better than any other Southeastern team) and took 4.5
seconds off their best time.
And
shattering MULTIPLE Team Records:
Summer
Knight--100 back--1:09.33
Laura
Johnson--200 breast--2:45.24
Sara
Servold--100 fly--1:05.07
Sara-200 fly--2:20.18
Sara--400 IM-5:06.47
Luke
Boutwell---100 breast--1:06.62
Luke------200 breast--2:25.46
Clint
McClendon--100 back---59.78
John
Scott----100 fly----56.07
John
Scott got a National cut in the 100 fly---he will be swimming this
in addition to the 200 fly in the Summer National meet in
California .
This
was was one of the fastest sectional meets in the country--just to
make it back at night was an accomplishment! GO MYB!!
2004 Southeasterns:
MYB-ers "Ripping thru the water"!
Team Records fall at 2004 LC Southeasterns:
Summer Knight --Team Record in the 100 back
Sara
Servold--Team record in the 100 fly, 200 im, and the 400 IM
Sara
also won High Point for 17-18 girls
2004 Summer Nationals
John
Scott got a National cut in the 100 fly---he will be swimming this
in addition to the 200 fly in the Summer National meet in
California .
Jubilee 2004 Photos (click to enlarge thumbnails!)
Barracudas swimmers Sara
Servold of Prattville (left) and Luke Boutwell of Alabama Christian
helped lead the Barracudas to high finishes as the YMCA Nationals last
month.
-- Photos by Mickey
WelshAdvertiser
The 2004 YMCA Nationals
won't soon be forgotten by the Montgomery Barracudas.
The local swim team
turned in another solid team performance and had a number of impressive
individual efforts. But the meet will hold a special memory for many
swimmers because it was the last nationals under long-time coach Chris
Snyder.
Snyder, who has coached
the Barracudas since 1991, is moving to Asheville, N.C.
"Asheville is a place my
wife and I have gone on vacation and we've fallen in love with the area,"
Snyder said. "It's a place we feel is right for us. The Asheville YMCA has
offered me a coaching position and I think it will work out well."
Snyder added that the
challenge of building up another program is appealing.
"It's a little bit of a
similar situation to how the Barracudas were when I took over in the early
1990s," Snyder said. "They have a small but growing program."
In his time in
Montgomery, Snyder helped the Barracudas grow from around 30 swimmers to
more than 500. What's more, when he arrived, critics told him he would never
make the Barracudas into a national contender.
"Montgomery has been a challenge. Knowledge of the sport was somewhat
limited when I got here," Snyder said. "I had people tell me that we would
never have any kids qualify for nationals. That always served as motivation
for me. Over the past few years we've had about 13 swimmers a year qualify."
Barracudas coach Chris Snyder, who has led the program since 1991, has
accepted a job at the Asheville (N.C.) YMCA.
Snyder said the
nationals were a great sendoff. The men's team tied for 12th and the women
placed 37th. Combined, the Barracudas placed 17th overall out of 208 teams.
"We did well," Snyder
said. "We had super-high expectations. We've done so well over the last few
years that our expectation level gets higher and higher each year. The last
night was almost set up to be a fairy tale finish for me. The relay team
(400-yard medley) qualified first in the morning and Luke (Boutwell)
qualified first in the morning. They both swam great that night."
Boutwell, a sophomore at
Alabama Christian, took second in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of
57.45 seconds. Boutwell had turned in a 57.39 to place first in the
preliminaries.
"In warm up, I felt
really good and it gave me confidence," Boutwell said. "But I still didn't
expect to place that high. It was one of the most enjoyable races I've ever
had. It was great a race at the end and I just barely lost."
Boutwell was also part
of the 400-yard medley relay. Boutwell teamed with Ben Reynolds, Clint
McClendon and Matthew Ison to place first in the preliminaries with a time
of 3:32.01 and third in the finals with a 3:29.64.
"We had two sophomores,
a freshman and a senior on that relay so we're going to have some good relay
teams for the next few years," Boutwell said.
On the girls side, Sara
Servold led the way with a pair of Top-12 finishes. The Prattville senior
and Colorado State signee took ninth in the 400 IM and 12th in the 200-yard
butterfly.
"We trained so hard this
year, we were expecting good results," Servold said. "I swam in four events
but the 400 IM and the 100 butterfly were my best."
Both Boutwell and
Servold said the team is going to miss Snyder.
"There are swimmers here
who have grown up with coach Snyder," Servold said. "It was devastating when
we first found out because he is our coach. We've spent five hours a day,
almost every day over several years with him. This team is kind of like a
second family."
Long time assistant
coach Paul Mielke has been selected as the new head coach and former
assistant Robyn Williford is rejoining the team.
"I have a lot of
confidence in Paul and Robyn," Snyder said. "I'm leaving the Barracudas in
very capable hands."
Mar
2004
Nashville,
TN March
11-14 Southeastern Championships
2004
Qualifying Team:
Katie
Bellew, Teresa Hea, Aimee Hukill, Amanda E James, Laura
Johnson, Summer L Knight, Sarah Reynolds, Madi Rupp, Sara E
Servold, Kayla E Teague, Taylor Washington, Rebecca A Young,
Austin Abigt, Charles F Ballard, Andrew J Caro, Chris Caro,
Bradley Charlesworth, Dewey Davis, Chris Douglas, Bryant
Hunter, Matthew Ison, Woody Joye, Clint M McClendon, Dawson
Morris, Brad Powell, Ben Reynolds, Jake Reynolds, Colton D
Rupp, Bryful Sun,
Special
congratulations to 13 year old MYB Swimmer Laura Johnson for
making not just ONE but TWO "Top 16 NATIONAL
Times"
First
her 13-14 100 Yard Breaststroke with a 1:05.11 and then 13-14 200 Yard Breaststroke with
2:20.61 - way
to go Laura!
As
perspective for this achievement, Laura's times were also
U.S. Open cuts and would have qualified her for this past
Spring's Senior Nationals.
MYB Swimmers Make USA Swimming's National 2002-2003 Top 16 Final List
- Amy Wheatley, Luke Boutwell and Matthew Ison.
nd
year in a row for MYB to make
National Top 16 (Amy
Wheatley was second in the 2001-2 rankings for Breaststroke).
st
time, first place ranking for MYB swimmer! Luke
Boutwell is number 1 in the 2002-2003 13-14 Boys, Top 16 100 breast.
Wonderful
Swims from all at Regional YMCA Championship Meet held Feb. 28-29
Is
that the Auburn game?
Our
Head Coach hard at work
Coach Joe Looks So Lonely - anyone seen his swimmers?
Barracuda Boys - what else can you say!
And
the "behind-the-scene" folks who make these meets happen
- The parents!
MYB-ers
prove "Hard Work Works!" Lots of new "personal best"
times set at Tuscaloosa Meet Feb 2004
Little Barracudas all in a
row
If we clap really loud,
think we can make her jump off the block?
click
photos to enlarge
The Roving Photographer Strikes
again, this time at the Orange and Blue Classic Meet (Jan 23-25) at
Auburn (thanks AGAIN to Mr. Vorobiev)
click photos to
enlarge
Great Photos from 2004 January Tri-Meet at
Huntsville (thanks to Mr. Vorobiev)
click photos to
enlarge
Barracudas
Place 8th overall in the Dec. 5-7, Speedo Capital Classic in Raleigh, NC.
Men's team makes 6th place, women's team makes 10th! Great results for our
MYB group - that's over 20 points PER swimmer! Big
MYB Cheers to Summer Knight for making her 100 backstroke
National cut and Laura Johnson for making her cuts in both the
100 and 200 breaststrokes. In doing so she broke Amy Wheatley's
(Former MYB Swimmer) MYB 13-14 200 breast record. Results at
Capital
Classic
Dec 13-14, 2003 Photos (Birmingham
B/C Meet)
Oct. 10-12 War Eagle
Invitational, Auburn and Oct. 18, 2003 Developmental meet, East YMCA
Montgomery AL
Sept 2003
Barracudas Score Big
at State Championships
Auburn,
AL.All eleven Montgomery YMCA Barracudas scored points for
their schools by reaching finals in the State of Alabama High School Swim Meet
held here last Saturday. The State Championship Meet is the one event of the
year where the Barracudas swim against each and compete for their respective
schools instead of the team. MYB swimmers represented Alabama Christian Academy,
Montgomery Academy, Prattville High, Stanhope Elmore, St. James, Tallassee and
Lamp School and performed well against bigger teams from
Birmingham,
Mobile and Huntsville.
ACA’s Luke Boutwell brought home a State Championship for the Eagles in
the 100 breaststroke and also finaled in the 200IM while fellow sophomore Clint
McClendon took 2nd in the 100 backstroke and 4th in the
200IM for Montgomery Academy. Five Barracudas reached finals swimming for the
Prattville Lions.Sophomore Teresa
Hea scored in the 50 and 100 freestyle and Chris Caro also recorded two top ten
finishes; fifth in the 100 breaststroke and 10th in the 50 freestyle.
Junior Chris Douglas finaled in the 100 breaststroke and 200IM while Seniors
Sara Servold and Bryant Hunter also scored in their last meet for the Lions.
Hunter finished 5th in both the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke;
Servold came in 5th in the 100 butterfly and 4th in the
200IM events.<
Bob
Steele, a Master Coach with USA Swimming, visited the Montgomery YMCA Swim
Team for a 4-day practice session. He spent time with swimmers,
coaches, and parents sharing years of valuable information.
offering advice. 
Clint
McClendon and Luke Boutwell have been steady leaders for
the Montgomery YMCA Barracuda swim team.
