***************************************************

Dwayne Jones is now handling the distribution of stars.

Once you have accumulated 8 personal best ribbons, simply place them in an envelope with your name on it in the Jones girls folder.  Your star(s) will be placed in your folder within a few days.

         BARRACUDAS IN THE NEWS    

Thursday, December 18, 2008, 10:26 AM

Holsten breaks Barracudas record in Cary meet

CARY -- John Holsten's debut in a new age group resulted in a Wilson Barracudas Swim Team record at the WAVE Fall States Invitational at Triangle Aquatic Center last weekend.

Swimming in the Male Ages 11-12 division for the first time, Holsten registered a time of 3 minutes, 0.57 seconds in the 200-yard breaststroke, toppling the former mark of 3:02.78 set by Matthew Patty in 2001. Holsten finished fourth in that event but took second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:25.57.

Neil Blackwell scored 43 points for the Barracudas in the Male 10-under division, highlighted by a pair third-place finishes in the 50 backstroke (33.15 seconds) and 100 breaststroke (1:25.72). Blackwell also took fourth in the 100 backstroke (1:12.97), 50 breaststroke (39.57) and 100 individual medley (1:13.94) while placing seventh in the 50 freestyle (29.22) and ninth in the 100 freestyle (1:05.93).

Zechariah Chastain had a trio of third-place finishes in the Male 9-under division to finish with 37 points -- 100 butterfly (1:21.83), 50 butterfly (35.39) and 100 breaststroke (1:39.97). Chastain was fifth in the 100 IM (1:24.08), seventh in the 100 freestyle (1:12.38) and eighth in the 200 freestyle (2:44.29).

Also competing for the Barracudas in the invitation-only event were 12-year-old Josh Hunter and 10-year-old Sofia Popowitch.

The entire Barracudas team hits the pool again at the New Year Nick O'Time Invitational at the Goldsboro YMCA on Jan. 10-11.

**************************************************

Thursday, December 11, 2008

 Hunter, Jones set new Barracudas records


ROCKY MOUNT -- Shawn Hunter and Cassie Jones combined to set five new club records for the Wilson Barracudas Swim Team in the Racin' Rudolph Invitational at the Harrison Family YMCA last weekend.

Hunter established three new marks, including furthering his own record of 2 minutes, 20.18 seconds set in January in the Male 13-14 200-yard butterfly. Hunter's new time of 2:14.11 was good enough to win the heat.

The freshman at Hunt High School also erased Justin Eldridge's times in the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly, both set Mar. 20, 2004. Hunter's time of 51:05 was .2 seconds better than Eldridge in the 100 free and his 58.61 in the 100 fly enjoyed the same margin.

Hunter finished first in the 100 fly and second in the 100 free. He also had first-place finishes in the 100 backstroke, the 200 free and 500 free while placing second in the 100 breaststroke and 50 free.

Jones snapped nearly a second off Kaly Price's club record of 43.01, set in 2004, in the Female 8-under 50 back. Jones' 42.04 was good for second place.

She undercut Rachel Akers' 18-year-old record in the 50 fly with a time of 43.68 good for third place. Akers swam it in 44.51 on Nov. 11, 1990.

In her only other event, Jones was second in the 25 free.

Also enjoying an outstanding meet was 10-year-old Neil Blackwell who won all eight of his events -- 50, 100, 200 free; 50, 100 back; 50, 100 fly; 100 individual medley.

Sofia Popowitch, also 10, won the 50 breaststroke and recorded second-place finishes in the 50 back, 100 breaststroke and 100 back. She was third in the 50 fly and 50 free and fourth in the 100 free.


Zechariah Chastain, 9, was second in the Male 10-under 100 fly (his first "A" time: 1:21.01), 100 IM, and 50 fly while placing third in the 100 free, 50 back, 200 free and 100 back. He was fourth in the 50 free.

Josh Hunter was second in the Male 11-12 50 breaststroke and 50 fly while taking thirds in the 50 free and 50 back and finishing fourth in the 100 free, 100 breaststroke and 200 IM. He was fifth in the 100 back.

Misty Varnell, 16, placed second in the Female Senior 200 fly while taking seventh in the 100 fly and ninth in the 500 free.

Other top performers included: Haley Beamon (Female 10-under -- 50 back, 10th); John Benson (Male 8-under -- 25 free, fourth; 25 breast, sixth); Carrigan Chastain (Female Senior -- 100 free, 200 free, 500 free, fourth; 100 back, 50 free, fifth); Hunter Corbin (Male 10-under -- 200 free, 10th); R.J. Cosimeno (Male 11-12 -- 100 fly, sixth); Jennifer Eldridge (Female Senior -- 200 IM, 10th); Sam Johnson (Male 10-under -- 50 fly, sixth); Sarah Jones (Female 8-under -- 25 free, 10th); Danielle Matrejek (Female 10-under -- 50 fly, sixth); Shane Matrejek (Male 8-under -- 25 back, 10th); Thomas Matrejek (Male 11-12 -- 100 breaststroke, seventh; 50 back, 100 free, 10th); Carter Tarkenton (Male 10-under -- 50 breaststroke, fourth; 100 breaststroke, 100 back, sixth); Andrew Terdik (Male 10-under -- 50, 100 fly, third; 100 breaststroke, fifth; 100 IM, sixth; 50 free, eighth; 100 free, ninth; 100 back, 10th).

Barracudas coach Don Kimball was pleased with the results, noting: "The team continues to improve. We are especially strong in the 9-10 boys but need more depth on the girls side."

The next team meet will be Jan. 10-11 in Goldsboro but five swimmers -- Blackwell, Josh and Shawn Hunter, Zechariah Chastain and Popowitch -- will compete in the WAVE Fall States Invitational next weekend at Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. 

**************************************************

Thursday, November 27, 2008

More Barracudas records tumble

GOLDSBORO -- The Wilson Barracudas swim team got standout performances from 10-year olds Neil Blackwell and John Holsten at the 2008 Goldsboro Thanksgiving Open last weekend at the Goldsboro YMCA.

Blackwell continued to break team records for the Barracudas with a 32.68-second finish in the boys 10U 50-meter backstroke.

"This is an exceptionally good time and should be one of the top five in North Carolina," Barracudas coach Don Kimball said.

Blackwell also earned first-place finishes in the 50-meter breaststroke, the 50-meter free stroke and the 50-meter butterfly.

Holsten won the 100-meter backstroke, the 100-meter breaststroke and the 200-meter individual medley.

The 10U 200-meter medley team of Blackwell, Holsten, Zach Chastian and Andrew Terdick captured first place as did the 10U 200-meter freestroke team of Blackwell, Holsten, Chastain and Carter Tarkenton.

"This has always been a good meet for us," Kimball said. "This year was no exception."

Sofia Popowitch won the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:32.69.

******************************************
November 14, 2008

Hunter sets new 'Cudas mark

After watching several of his club records broken at the previous meet for the Wilson Barracudas Swim Team, Shawn Hunter did something about it last Friday at the Blue Moon Invitational in Cary. The 14-year-old established a new Barracudas record in the Male Ages 13-14 200-meter butterfly with a a time of 2 minutes, 20.18 seconds, eclipsing Justin Eldridge's November, 2003, time of 2:20.89. Hunter finished seventh overall with. "Shawn had a very good meet improving in eight out of nine events he entered," Barracuda coach Don Kimball said. Hunter had top-five finishes in the 100 freestyle, the 200 backstroke, the 200 freestyle, the 100 backstroke, the 200 breaststroke and the 100 butterfly. Also competing for the Barracudas in Cary were 9-year-old Andrew Terdik, 10-year-old Neil Blackwell, 10-year-old Sofia Popowitch and 15-year-old Lehn Terdik. The Barracudas will participate in the 2008 Goldsboro Y Thanksgiving Open next weekend. 

Copyright ©, The Wilson Daily Times, Wilson, North Carolina

******************************************

October 30, 2008

Jones, Holsten, Blackwell set new Barracudas records at ECSL meet

BUIES CREEK -- Cassie Jones, John Holsten and Neil Blackwell broke records for the Wilson Barracuda Swim Team at the East Coast Swim League Autumn Invitational at Campbell University last weekend.

Jones won the Female Age eight-and-under 100-meter backstroke in 1 minute, 36.68 seconds. She clipped more than five seconds off the mark set by Aly Jones in March, 2003.

The 10-year-old Holsten set team bests in the Male 10-and-under 500-meter and 1,000-meter freestyle. Holsten finished the 500-meter in 6:24.8, eradicating current Barracudas teammate Shawn Hunter's record of 6:35.34 set in March, 2005.

Holsten placed third overall in the 1,000-meter with a 13:09.16 showing that also victimized Hunter, whose 15:48.21 was set in October, 2004.

Holsten won the 100-meter individual medley (1:17.66) as well.

Meanwhile, Neil Blackwell, another 10-year-old, joined in the assault on Hunter as his winning time of 1:12.74 in the Male 10-under 100 backstroke outdid Hunter's February, 2005 time of 1:13.53.

Blackwell also improved his own Barracudas record of 33.62 in the Male 10-under 50 backstroke set on Sept. 27 when he swam the event in 33.29 on Saturday. He had a second-place finish in the Male 9-10 50 breaststroke (42.45) and was third in the 100 freestyle (1:08.22).

Carrigan Chastain won the Female 15-over 100 backstroke (1:09.25) and placed second in the 1,000-meter freestyle as well as the 500, 100 and 50 freestyle races. She was fourth in the Female Senior 200 freestyle, 200 backstroke and Female 15-over 100 butterfly while taking fifth in the Female Senior 400 individual medley.

Nine-year-old Zechariah Chastain won the Male 12-under 100 butterfly in 1:27.97. Sixteen-year-old Misty Varnell captured the Female Senior 200 butterfly with a 2:33.15 time.

Jennifer Eldridge had a trio of second-place finishes in the Female 15-over 200 individual medley and100 butterfly as well as the Female Senior 200 breaststroke. Six-year-old Cailin Hill earned second in the Female 6-under 25 freestyle, backstroke and butterfly races.

Other top-10 finishers for the Barracudas were Harrison Dollar, Elena Dolman, Elizabeth Matrejek, Sofia Popowitch, Lyrica Squires, Sarah Stanly and Carter Tarkenton.

"This was a very good meet for us," said Barracudas coach Don Kimball. "With all age groups swimming in the same session, there was a lot of cheering. One of the best things about our sport is the interaction between younger and older swimmers."

Some of the Barracudas will swim next at the 2008 WAVE Blue Moon Invitational on Nov. 7-9 at Triangle Aquatic Center. The next full team meet will come Nov. 22-23 for the Goldsboro Family YMCA Thanksgiving Open.

Copyright ©, The Wilson Daily Times, Wilson, North Carolina

******************************************
October 02, 2008

ROCKY MOUNT -- A pair of 10-year-olds -- John Holsten and Neil Blackwell -- led a strong effort by the Wilson Barracudas Swim Team in its first meet of the short-course season.

 In the RMY Fall Invitational at the Harrison Family YMCA last weekend, Blackwell established a new club record in winning the Male 10-under 50-yard backstroke in 33.62 seconds, eclipsing the mark of 34.03 set by Shawn Hunter in 2005. Blackwell also won the 50 freestyle (30.09) and 100 backstroke (1:14.6) in the same age division while placing second in the 100 breaststroke (1:31.92) and taking third in the 100 individual medley (1:17.27).

 Holsten took first place in four of his eight Male 10-under events while finishing second in the rest. He claimed victories in the 100 freestyle (1:06.17), 100 breaststroke (1:28.19), 100 IM (1:15.57) and 50 breaststroke (40.5). Holsten's runner-up finishes were in the 50 backstroke (36.64), 200 freestyle (2:24.86), 100 butterfly (1:23.92) and 100 backstroke (1:16.7).

Also winning races in their respective age divisions for the Barracudas were Cassie Jones in the Female 8-under 25 backstroke (19.91), Sofia Popowitch in the Female 10-under 50 breaststroke (44.81) and 100 breaststroke (1:34.63) and Shawn Hunter in the Male Senior 200 butterfly (2:21.52). Jones owned a pair of second-place finishes in the 25 butterfly (21.06) and 50 breaststroke (55.3) while Hunter took second in the 100 butterfly (1:00.89).

Others posting top-10 finishes were John Benson (Male 8-under 25 breaststroke, 25 freestyle and 50 backstroke); Blackwell (10-under 100 IM, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle); Carrigan Chastain (Female Senior 100 backstroke); Natalie Craven (Female 10-under 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke);

Jennifer Eldridge (Female Senior 100 butterfly, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly); Harold Tanner (Male 11-12 100 breaststroke, 200 IM, 50 breaststroke, 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke); Hunter (Males Senior 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 freestyle, 200 IM, 100 breaststroke, 200 backstroke); Cassie Jones (Female 8-under 50 freestyle);

Sarah Jones (Female 8-under 100 freestyle); Popowitch (Female 10-under 100 freestyle, 50 backstroke, 50 butterfly, 100 IM, 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke); Lyrica Squires (Female Senior 200 backstroke); Melody Squires (Female 11-12 200 IM, 50 breaststroke, 100 backstroke); Carter Tarkenton (Male 10-under 50 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke); Andrew Terdik (Male 10-under 50 butterfly, 100 breaststroke) and Misty Varnell (Female Senior 200 butterfly).

Sarah Jones and Tarkenton were swimming their first meet as were six others. 

"It was a good first meet with a lot of best times and good finishes," said Barracudas head coach Don Kimball.

The Barracudas hit the water next at the East Coast Swim League Autumn Invitational at Campbell University on Oct. 24-26.

Kimball said the team is still seeking new swimmers. "We offer a three-week free tryout," Kimball said.

Copyright ©, The Wilson Daily Times, Wilson, North Carolina

******************************************
Barracudas Blackwell & Hunter Qualify for Championships

June 12, 2008

GOLDSBORO -- The Wilson Barracuda Swim Team will send two swimmers on to their respective championships after making the cut Saturday at the Liberty Invitational meet in the Goldsboro Family YMCA pool. Neil Blackwell, age 10, advanced to the Junior Olympics meet in the male 10-under 200 individual medley, male 9-10 50 butterfly, male 10-under 100 breaststroke and male 10-100 butterfly. Shawn Hunter, 14, reached the Senior Championships in the male 13-18 200 freestyle. Blackwell won six events (10-under 200 IM, 9-10 50 breast, 9-10 50 fly, 10-under 100 free, 10-under 100 breast and 10-under 100 fly) and finished second in another (10-under 200 free). Carrigan Chastain, 15, won five events (female 13-18 200 IM, 13-18 200 backstroke, 13-18 100 fly, 11-18 400 free, 13-18 200 free) and also took second (13-18 200 fly). Hunter won two of his three events, taking the 13-18 200 fly and 13-18 200 free. Jennifer Eldridge, 15, also won the female 13-18 100 breast, 13-18 100 free and 13-18 200 fly. Josh Hunter, 12, finished with wins in the male 11-12 50 fly and 11-12 50 free. From 12 swimmers competing in 68 events, the Barracudas finished among the top 8 in 40 times. The Barracudas will next compete June 20-22 in the East Carolina Swim League Long-Course Championships in Morehead City.

WBST Announces the Pat Greene Thompson Committment Award

May 24, 2008

June 14, 1952 - September 24, 2007

Pat served the Wilson Swim Team from 1986 until 2007. For over 20 years, she volunteered in one capacity or another and filled every position on the Board you could serve. She was very instrumental in the formation of the Wilson Barracuda Swim Team. Pat was also very involved with USA Swimming and NC Swimming where she was a swimming referee and stroke and turn judge for over 10 years.

At the time Pat's first born started to swim at age 7, the team was called the Wilson Water Warriors and soon changed to the Wilson Swim Club. By the time Caroline started at the age of 7, the team finally changed to the Wilson Barracuda Swim Team. Both Pat*s children, Will and Caroline, had a passion for swimming and both excelled in the sport. Pat loved to watch her children in the water and she loved being a part of the Wilson Swim Team.

The last year she served, as President, was a struggle for Pat. Her mother was in her last year of life, with Pat taking care of her, while trying to juggle being a wife, a mom, a new grandmother, a full time medical technologist, a Wilson Recreation Board Member and serving as President on the Wilson Barracuda Swim Board. Still she rarely missed a Barracuda Board Meeting and was able to keep up her duties as President.

She was sad to leave the team after Caroline went off to college. It had been such an important part of her life and she had contributed so much to building a strong, positive team for Wilson. Her husband, Joe and both children supported Pat in her commitment to our team. We will be forever grateful for all the love, support, and commitment not only Pat gave, but also Joe, Will and Caroline have given to our team.

Pat died September 24, 2007 after a courageous fight with leukemia showing as she did in life, grace and dignity along the way.

WBST is proud to announce The Patricia Greene Thompson Commitment Award to be presented annually to the swimmer that shows outstanding commitment, a genuine love of the sport of competitive swimming while supporting the Wilson Barracuda Swim Team.

Barracudas Smash Records at Good Stuff Meet

May 21, 2008

CARY -- Team records tumbled like dominoes for Wilson Barracudas swim team last weekend at the Triangle Aquatic Center in the 2008 Good Stuff Long Course Meet.

Five team records, including two that were more than 15 years old, were erased by six Barracudas in the open meet hosted by Raleigh Swimming Assocaition.

Fourteen-year-old Shawn Hunter was on both sides of the situation as he established three new team marks but saw one of his records eclipsed by John Holsten and Neil Blackwell.

Holsten, a 10-year-old, smashed Hunter's benchmark in the male ages 9-10 200-yard individual medley by almost 19 seconds with a time of 3 minutes, 2.71 seconds. Hunter's previous record of 3:21.18 set in 2004 was also surpassed by Blackwell, who finished in 3:19.99.

Blackwell toppled Will Thompson's time of 40.11 seconds in the male 9-10 50 backstroke which was set in 1989. Blackwell's new standard is 39.42.

Thompson, who would go on to win a state championship for Fike High School, was also victimized by Hunter in the male 13-14 50 freestyle. Hunter's time of 27.76 wiped out Thompson's 28.52 seconds set in 1993.

Hunter took on another Fike state champion as he rewrote a pair of records set by Justin Eldridge in 2003. Hunter put up a new team standard in the 100 freestyle with a time of 1:02.28 compared to Eldridge's 1:01.36.

Now swimming at University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Eldridge was erased in the 100 backstroke as Hunter's 1:10.45 was a second better than Eldridge's best in 2003.

The 100 backstroke was also Hunter's best finish as he came in third.

Holsten won the 10-under 100 breaststroke (1:40.47) and was second in the 200 individual medley. He was third in the 100 backstroke (1:26.69) and fourth in the 50 backstroke (40.58).

Blackwell's record-setting backstroke was good for second place while he managed fourth-place finishes in the 100 backstroke (1:26.81) and 200 individual medley (3:19.99).

Also swimming for the Barracudas were Jennifer Eldridge and Carrigan Chastain 
 
Copyright ©, The Wilson Daily Times, Wilson, North Carolina

Hunter & Varnell Lead Barracudas

Barracudas wrap up short-course season at Rocky Mount

April 8, 2008

The Wilson Barracudas swim team concluded its winter short-course season with an impressive showing at the Rocky Mount YMCA Spring Invitational last weekend.

Eight-year-old Zechariah Chastain won all eight of the events he entered as the Barracudas took first place in 41 of the 97 events. Ten-year-old John Holsten earned six top finishes while Chastain's older sister, Carrigan, claimed victory in five races.

"This was a small meet with five teams and 150 swimmers but it was a good way to finish a fine short-course season," said Barracudas head coach Don Kimball.

The team takes a short break then jumps back in the water on May 9 at the BB/B/C Invitational in the Goldsboro YMCA pool in a meet for development swimmers. The more experienced team members will compete in the RSA Good Stuff Meet in Cary's Triangle Aquatic Center on May 16.

Any swimmers interested in joining the Barracudas program should telephone Kimball at 399-2269.

Copyright ©, The Wilson Daily Times, Wilson, North Carolina