The Whitefield varsity swim team continues to make its mark. On Saturday, December 20, the Whitefield swim team participated in the Madeline Brown Invite against 1,000 other swimmers and some of the best swimmers in the Atlanta area. The team rose to the occasion with Naomy Grand’Pierre (12th) placing eighth in the 100m breaststroke and sixth in the 50m freestyle. Naomy dropped two seconds off her seed time in both events. Her sister, Audree (10th) competed in the 100m backstroke and the 100m freestyle, placing 11th and tying for 15th, respectively. Rounding out the girls team was Kaitlyn Stewart (9th) who held her own against fierce competition at the invitational.
Brooks Merkle (9th), the only boy swimmer on the team, had an amazing day at the invitational, dropping three seconds off his previous PR on the 200m individual medley, giving him another state cut, and matching his PR on the 100m breaststroke, placing third overall.
Upon return from break, the swimmers went back to the Lovett pool on Wednesday, January 7, and faced Lovett and the Atlanta International School (AIS). The girls had a relay team for the first time this season thanks to Katie Cella (9th) joining the team. The relay team, which included Katie, Naomy, Audree, and Kaitlyn fell just shy of a state cut in the medley relay, won the medley relay, and came in second in the free relay. Naomy dominated the 50m and 100m freestyle race. Audree beat out her competition in the 100m butterfly by five seconds and by 11 seconds in the 100 backstroke. Brooks soundly defeated his competition as well in both the 100m butterfly and 100m breaststroke, leaving them almost a length behind.
Brooks Merkle (9th), the only boy swimmer on the team, had an amazing day at the invitational, dropping three seconds off his previous PR on the 200m individual medley, giving him another state cut, and matching his PR on the 100m breaststroke, placing third overall.
Upon return from break, the swimmers went back to the Lovett pool on Wednesday, January 7, and faced Lovett and the Atlanta International School (AIS). The girls had a relay team for the first time this season thanks to Katie Cella (9th) joining the team. The relay team, which included Katie, Naomy, Audree, and Kaitlyn fell just shy of a state cut in the medley relay, won the medley relay, and came in second in the free relay. Naomy dominated the 50m and 100m freestyle race. Audree beat out her competition in the 100m butterfly by five seconds and by 11 seconds in the 100 backstroke. Brooks soundly defeated his competition as well in both the 100m butterfly and 100m breaststroke, leaving them almost a length behind.