By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Sports Editor

The Southern Crescent Aquatic Team and the Peachtree City Pacers have exercised their dominance in the sport of swimming for a while now. Every few months their long list of accomplishments and accolades grows, and with it a reputation that opponents fear but also admire.

Recently, several members of the team earned top eight finishes at the Georgia Parks and Recreation State Swim Meet in Athens. Those who earned two top eight finishes in two individual events were Jerry O'Hara in the boys' 7- and 8-year-old group, finishing fourth in the 25-yard backstroke and seventh in the 25-yard freestyle; Christopher Lee in the boys' 11- and 12-year-old group, finishing second in the 50-yard freestyle and eighth in the 50-yard butterfly; Brittany Stevens in the girls' 13- and 14-year-old group, finishing second in the 50-yard butterfly and fourth in the 100-yard individual medley.

In the girls' 15- to 18-year-old group, Calle Fielden finished fifth in the 100-yard freestyle and sixth in the 50-yard butterfly; Kelly Ireland finished sixth in the 100-yard freestyle and eighth in the 50-yard breaststroke, and Bridgette Farley finished seventh in the 100-yard freestyle and fourth in the individual medley. Chris Jobson, swimming in the boys' 15- to 18-year-old group, placed fifth in the 100-yard individual medley and in the 50-yard breaststroke.

Other top eight finishers for the pacers were Jessica Betts, girls' 15-18, second in the 50-yard breaststroke; Katie Ham, girls' 11-12, eighth in the 100-yard individual medley; and Emily Maple, girls' 15-18, eighth in the 50-yard freestyle. The relay team of Calle Fielden, Kelly Ireland, Jessica Betts and Bridget Farley placed second in the girls' 15-18 medley relay and third in the 200-yard freestyle relay.

The relay team of Casmir Lukjan, Drew Duncan, Steven White and Phillip Hesser claimed sixth place in the boys' 11-12 100-yard freestyle relay and the team of Jerry O'Hara, Marcus Burke, Hunter Broome and David Putterbaugh finished seventh in the boys' 7-8 100-yard freestyle relay.

“Overall, the Pacers did very well,” said head coach Caren Betts. “The competition is very fast. This is our first year back in the “A” division. Now we know what to expect and what to go for.”

Betts was recently named Georgia Coach of the Year by the American Swimming Coaches Association. Betts has been involved with area swim teams since moving to Peachtree City in 1987. She has led the Pacers to eight consecutive district titles, and four state championships.

The Southern Crescent Aquatic Team has won the divisional crown the past two years.

Back to the Top of the PageBack to the Sports Home Page