It was an early start this past Friday morning when WolfPack swimmers arrived at Georgia Tech’s recreation center for the GHSA state championship meet (1A - 5A). Over 1,200 qualifying swimmers participated from 126 teams. Qualifying for state is based on a time standard, which is a hurdle not many swimmers are able to surpass. The preliminary rounds of competition began on Friday; only 20 from each event proceed to finals. The first event for the Pack was the boys’ 200 yard individual medley. Sophomore Brooks Merkle wrecked his previous PR, dropping over four seconds for a 2:00.46. Freshman Emilie Grand’Pierre also swam the 200 yard individual medley but came up shy of her personal best. A veteran to the state meet, Audree Grand’Pierre (11th) had an excellent meet, dropping 1.85 seconds in her 100m free for a PR of 55.79. She was edged out to 22nd place and became an alternate for finals. Her performance in the 100m backstroke was also stellar - dropping 2.63 seconds for a new PR of 1:01.74. Sadly, even with this amazing swim, she did not make finals. Up again for the 100m breaststroke was Brooks who dropped 1.49 seconds off his best high school time which placed him as the fifth seed for finals with a 58.80. Emilie, who also dropped 1.79 seconds off her PR for a 1:09.94, earned the 15th seed in finals.
Tensions were high for the championship races on Saturday. Brooks qualified to swim in both of his
events at finals - the individual medley and breaststroke. The individual medley was first and a bit discouraging as he added a few tenths of time, but he did not let that hiccup get in his mind. He got back on the blocks for the 100m breaststroke, his best event, racing against boys who had already signed with UGA and Princeton. It was a tight race with only tenths and hundredths of seconds separating most of the top 10, but Brooks had the best race of his career placing fourth and setting a new PR of 58.09! Emilie’s race followed. The only freshman in the top 20, Emilie held her own and was not intimidated by the challengers. Coming very close to her new PR, she placed 16th overall. With only one member, the WolfPack boys team beat out 21 other teams including Kell, Walker, North Cobb, Greater Atlanta Christian, and Grady. The girls team beat out South Paulding, Pinecrest and King’s Ridge.