BEST Finishes Fourth Place at 2024 Winter State Championship

TUPELO -- The Biloxi Elite Swim Team carried 30 swimmers to the Tupelo Aquatic Center this past weekend and came home with a fourth place overall team finish. The Mississippi Makos captured first place in the team standings, followed by Shockwave & Sunkist, respectively. 

BEST was led by its boys team which secured a third place finish and featured 10-U high-point winner Chapman Wishy with a team-leading 137 points. Wishy claimed six golds winning the 50- and 100-yard breaststroke, 50- and 100-yard butterfly, 100 IM, and 50 Freestyle. He earned second in the 200 IM behind teammate Caden Ano who was high-point runner up and secured wins in the 10-Under Boys 100-, 200-, and 500-yard freestyles, and 200 IM. BEST also swept the relays in the divison as the pair was joined by Finn Williams and Newman Zellers to win the 200 freestyle and medley relays.

His older brother Ramsey led the 11-12 division with 127 points and was high-point runner-up in the division. He claimed the state title in 50- and 100-yard breaststroke and the 50-yard freestyle. He was top three in his other events: 1000 freestyle, 100- and 200-yard IM, and 100 backstroke. Kalen Gatlin had a standout meet in the 13-14 boys earning seven personal bests and upset wins in the 500- and 1000-yard freestyles and capping the meet with a huge time drop and win in the 100 butterfly. Cody Ano led the senior boys sweeping the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes with a pair of Futures cuts and was second place in both the IM events and the 1000- and 1650-yard freestyle.

Other medalists on the boys side included: 12 year-old Braylon Gatlin: 50- and 100-yard breaststroke, 50- and 100-yard backstroke, and the 200 IM and 15 year-old Karson Grace: 1650 freestyle. Other 50+ point scorers included Drew Boykin (90 points), Julian Talkie (78), Julian Williams (65), and Finn Williams (60). Chase Christman, Carson Wilhorn, Christian Ano, Wade Byars, Tyler Gatlin, Ethan Morrison, and Eli Venning all scored individually and/or via relay swims to provide a balanced attack.

On the girls side, the scoring was definitely on the older girls side of things with Eva Mangiaracina and Naomi Smith being in the triple figure club this weekend. The pair combined for three state titles - both winning the 400 IM (15-16, 17-18) and Smith earning top spot in the 200 butterfly. The duo combined for seven additonal podium finishes.

Dany Woods led the 10-under girls with 75 points including a pair of bronze medals (100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke). Addison Dykes led the 11-12 girls with 22 points. Caylee Ano highlighted the 13-14 girls with 93 points with podium finishes in the 1000- and 1650-yard freestyle and the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes. Audrey Waite podiumed in the  girls 13-14 1000-yard freestyle as well.

Annabelle Tarrant (500-, 1000, and 1650-yard freestyle and 200 breaststroke) and Lola Ivey (1650 freestyle) also found the medal stand in the 15-16 girls division. Ashlyn Davis scored 64 points in the 17-18 girls division including a fourth-place 500 freestyle. Ella Christman (top five 1000- and 1650-yard fresstyle) and Heidi Privett (fourth-place 200-yard breaststroke) both had some gutsy swims in returning the pool and helping lead a great team meet all around.

BEST would like to congratulate our departing HS seniors as well who celebrated their last short-course State Championship - Ashlyn, Eva, and Eli. Thank you for the memories and efforts inside the pool and beyond!!