ACAC athletes close out short course season at Southern Premier

(ATLANTA, Georgia) A group of 16 Atomic City Aquatic Club swimmers showed out at the Speedo Southern Premier meet during the first weekend in March. The athletes pushed hard through the 2023-24 short course to achieve necessary cut times to attend this championship level meet and trained to swim personal best times at this meet, which draws some of the best teams from Texas, Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, and South Carolina in addition to Georgia and Tennessee. 

“Competition was fierce across the board and ACAC’s athletes were up for the challenge. There were some incredible races and I was proud to see our swimmers compete with passion and show great sportsmanship,” said ACAC Head Coach Sarah Corcoran. “I am so proud of this year's stand out athletes—true high performers. They have demonstrated resilience and tenacity. They work hard together and push one another to be excellent. ACAC is a young team with huge potential—the potential to make an impact at the national level and change the face of competitive swimming in Oak Ridge and the greater Knoxville area!"

In the 12 years old and younger age group, five swimmers competed against some of the region’s best athletes and saw success. 

• Amelia Carrell, 12, swam placed in the top 15 swimmers in every event. She made finals in the 50 yard freestyle, placing 8th overall, and in the 100 yard individual medley, placing 9th. Amelia also achieved the most points at the meet for ACAC women, adding 46 points to the team score.
• Avery Fischer, 12, swam a full slate of events over the weekend and achieved personal best times in two events. She also saw top 20 finishes in the 50 yard breaststroke and the 100 yard breaststroke.
• Hollins Grubb, 10, swam eight individual events and logged new personal best times in the 100 yard freestyle and 50 yard freestyle. She also finished in the top 20 swimmers in three events. 
• Mateo Volcansek, 11, swam seven events and placed in the top 20 swimmers in four events and achieved a new personal best in the 50 yard freestyle. 
• Sophie Volcansek, 11, saw five new best times and made finals in the 100 yard backstroke where she took 10th place overall. She also placed in the top 15 in the 50 yard backstroke. 

ACAC had 11 swimmers compete in the 13 and older age group, with the group achieving 25 finals swims.

• Andrew Chou, 17, competed in six individual events and made finals in each. He placed 20th in the 100 yard breaststroke, 10th in the 200 yard backstroke, 11th in the 200 yard butterfly, 9th in the 200 yard individual medley, 8th in the 100 yard backstroke and 6th in the 100 yard butterfly. Andrew also achieve the most points at the meet for ACAC men, adding 71 points to the team’s overall score. 
• Emily Dubes, 16, swam three events and achieved new best times in the 50 yard freestyle and the 100 yard freestyle. 
• Charlie Houston, 17, saw personal bests in three events and placed 20th in the 1650 yard freestyle. 
• Leo Karnitz, 17, made finals in three events, taking 12th place in the 200 yard butterfly, 27th in the 100 yard backstroke and 18th in the 100 yard butterfly. 
• Elliot Mandl, 18, saw two new personal bests and made finals in two events. He placed 23rd in the 100 yard backstroke and 26th in the 100 yard butterfly.
• Christopher Rector, 17, achieved personal best times in three events and made finals in three events. He placed 23rd in the 100 yard breaststroke, 25th in the 100 yard freestyle and 9th in the 200 yard breaststroke.
• Jessi Schaefer, 13, achieved new best times in two events and made finals in three events. She took 9th place in the 200 yard backstroke, 10th place in the 200 yard individual medley and 20th place in the 100 yard butterfly.
• Colin Suddeth, 17, obtained three new best times at this meet. 
• Dorian Volcansek, 13, made finals in five events and saw four new best times. He placed 12th in the 200 yard backstroke, 13th in the 50 yard freestyle, 10th in the 100 yard backstroke, 14th in the 100 yard freestyle and 6th in the 100 yard butterfly. 
• Cooper Young, 16, achieved personal bests in each of his events and made finals in the 200 yard breaststroke, taking 26th overall. 
• Emmy Zimmer, 13, broke the ACAC girls 13-14 record in the 50 yard freestyle, swimming the event in 24.55 seconds and taking 5th place in finals. She also made finals in the 100 yard backstroke, where she placed 2nd overall.  

“It was inspiring to watch Andrew and Leo push each other in the 200 butterfly finals,” said Chris Franklin, ACAC assistant coach. “By the end of the meet all of ACAC’s competitors had attained success.”

The swimmers stood out in their relays as well. 

• The Men’s A 200 yard Freestyle Relay took 10th place overall with each athlete swimming a 21 second split or faster
• The Men’s B 200 yard Freestyle Relay placed 21st
• The Men’s 400 yard Freestyle Relay placed 6th
• The Girls’ 11-12 200 yard Freestyle Relay placed 7th
• The Men’s 200 yard Medley Relay placed 10th
• The Girls’ 11-12 200 yard Medley Relay placed 7th 

In April, ACAC will enter the long course season where swimmers compete in a 50 meter pool.