Gwinnett swims like no other!

Note: this column appears in the GHSA Swimming state championship program. Be sure to stop by Westminster next week and pick up a copy!

College football has the SEC. Major League Baseball has the AL East. NASCAR has Hendrick MotorSports. Swimming has Gwinnett County. Gwinnett County dominates the state of Georgia in sports such as football, basketball and softball so why should swimming be any different? Class AAAAA swimming is littered with top notch Gwinnett County programs and this season several programs should make a huge splash in the state championships. Recently at the Gwinnett County Championships, all of the traditional powers went at it and the results were a potential preview of what might happen at the state championships.

Over the last few seasons, Brookwood has made its case for top billing in Gwinnett County. On the girls side of the pool, the Lady Broncos had won six straight county titles and ten of the last eleven before Mill Creek “pulled the upset” last week, edging Brookwood 1,037-1,033. Brookwood’s success isn’t just tied to the county titles though as the Broncos took the state’s highest classification title from 2001 through 2004. The Broncos are led by Kelsey Gouge, the county 50 freestyle champion. Gouge also won the event last year. She is joined by an impressive 200 freestyle relay team. Finally the Broncos typically count on Meghan Faulkner, though she suffered an injury at the county championships. What could be the secret to Brookwood’s success? Brookwood’s head coach Greg Puckett says tradition and hard work. “When a team is used to being successful they usually are not willing to accept anything lower than the standard set by previous teams.” Former Olympian Amada Weir was a member of those four straight state championships squads and she was twice named Georgia Swimmer of the year in 2001 and 2003. Puckett says that his teams “know what it takes to be successful and the athletes are willing to work hard and push each other to continue that success.”

The boys swim team at Brookwood certainly has a championship pedigree. Despite losing in the county championships to Parkview, the Broncos are the two-time defending champions heading into the state meet. The Broncos claimed the 2008 and 2009 titles and are seeking a three-peat and to avoid the fate of Collins Hill and Parkview, who both lost their strongholds on the state title after two-year runs. Conor Sweeney is a fine individual swimmer, having claimed now two straight 500 freestyle county titles, including this year’s over his younger brother. Michael Trice can call himself the fastest swimmer in the county after claiming the 50 freestyle and Robbie Swan joins the two Sweeneys and Trice to form a nearly unbeatable 200 freestyle relay squad. Brookwood’s motto is “good is not good enough…when better is expected,” and the teams certainly seem to live up to that creed.

The recently crowned county champions will certainly have the bull’s-eye on their backs at the state championships as Mill Creek and Parkview will hit the pool with county momentum. For Parkview, depth will be the key to getting back on top of the mountain. Parkview claimed the 2006 and 2007 titles and was the program to beat from 2000-2003. If Parkview is to get its seventh state crown in the last eleven years, that “superior depth,” as the media has dubbed the team will be tested. The boys coach Jack Gayle is a former Parkview swimmer himself so he understands the dedication and sacrifice needed to be a successful program. During the county championships just one Panther claimed an individual event (Ricky Lehner in the 100 breaststroke) but consistent top five finishes by nearly all of the swimmers got the Panthers enough points to run away with the title.
For Mill Creek’s girls, the county title was a first, but not necessarily for its coach. Rick Creed won sixteen county championships while serving at Parkview but this was his first with Mill Creek. The team itself was led by another Creed, Sommers Creed who won her third straight 500 freestyle Gwinnett county title. Creed was also a part of the 400 freestyle relay team and the 200 medley relay teams that were victorious. Rachael Dudley claimed her second straight 100 butterfly county title as well as a 100 backstroke county title. Frederique Lefebvre was also outstanding in the 200IM and in various relay races. Now that Mill Creek has tasted success on the county level and with a loaded lineup of All-Americans such as Cree, Lefebvre, Dudley and Katie Evans, expect the Hawks to be major players.

Gwinnett County isn’t just big-time programs though. Major swimmers at other schools will be big threats at the state championships even though their schools might not be. North Gwinnett’s Caroline Kenney is a force in 100 and 200 freestyle and fellow Bulldog Allison Carr can turn it on in the 100 breaststroke. For the boys, Peachtree Ridge has the ability to challenge for a state title with Luke Upchurch and Bryce Be Vier both very versatile and capable of winning multiple events.

So what is the secret though to Gwinnett’s success? Puckett believes it starts with the swimmers and their support systems. The coaches all seem to get together according to Puckett and the county’s Swim & Dive Booster club has helped out swimmers for over twenty years. When swimmers are set up for success like in Gwinnett it should be no surprise that the championships flow into the county like water.