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More than lucky 13 headed to state
Hammerhead swimming
Hammerhead
The talented 13 are, standing in back (l-r) Ransom Wilkes-Davis, Kevin Morris, Jimmy Arnold, Bethany Langston; sitting (l-r) Kirsten Morris, Taylor Baker, Gatlin Woods, Dakota Woods, Margaret Turner, Stephanie Hahn, Nicholas Hahn; standing in front (l-r) Joseph Owens and JD Kreutz - photo by Photo provided.
The number 13 isn’t considered lucky and for 13 Liberty County Hammerhead swimmers, it took more than luck to earn births to state competition in Tifton today and Saturday.
“The district competition, which was held in Douglas, allowed the talents of the 13 swimmers to shine through and this is the reason they are heading to state,” coach Susan Baker said. “These swimmers poured their hearts and souls into their events and earned their spots on the state team.”
The competition will begin today for the 10-and-under divisions.
The Liberty County Hammerheads team has one swimmer who qualified to swim today. Nicholas Hahn will be swimming two events, breast stroke and the butterfly. Both events are 25 yards. The competition at district was tough so Hahn will have even harder competition at state.
“Nicholas is a new addition to the swim team. He is only 8 years old but he is one tough competitor who loves to thrive on pressure for such a young age,” Baker said. “He is my go-getter and only wants to win.”
The other 12 swimmers will compete Saturday. The competition starts early and if swimmers make it through preliminaries. They will sompete after lunch in the finals.
Two relay teams girls (11-12) medley relay with Bethany Langston swimming backstroke, Kirsten Morris swimming breast stroke, Margaret Turner swimming butterfly and Stephanie Hahn swimming freestyle; and boys (13-14) medley relay with Kevin Morris swimming backstroke, Dakota Woods swimming breaststroke, Ransom Wilkes-Davis swimming the butterfly and Taylor Baker swimming freestyle have qualified for state. The boys (13-14) freestyle relay also qualified with the same swimmers.
Kirsten Morris will swim the 100-yard freestyle along with Turner. Wilkes-Davis qualified to swim in the 50-yard freestyle. Gatlin Woods, Dakota Woods and Kevin Morris qualified to swim 50-yard breaststroke. JD Kreutz, Gatlin Woods and Margaret Turner qualified for the 100-yard individual medley.
Langston qualified along with Kevin Morris, Jimmy Arnold and Joseph Owens to swim the 50-yard backstroke. Wilkes-Davis qualified in the last individual event, the 50-yard butterfly.
“The team will be traveling down to Tifton for the state competition,” the coach said. “No matter what the turnout will be in the end, these swimmers should be proud of themselves because I am.”
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