Georgia
Spartans Aquatic Club Breaks Their Own NAG Relay Record at Georgia Senior Champs
2024 Georgia Long Course Senior State Championships
- July 26-28, 2024
- Gabrielsen Natatorium, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
- Long Course Meters (50 meters)
- Results on Meet Mobile: “Georgia LC Senior State Championships 2024”
At a time trial on Friday afternoon, Spartans Aquatic Club broke the 15-18 NAG record in the mixed freestyle relay. The group of Zachary Sutter (23.53), Leyton Roe (22.73), Sophie Hamilton (26.93), and Abigail Heizer (24.73) combined to swim 1:37.92 in the event.
On the women’s side of the meet, University of South Carolina commit Emma Reiser won the 200 freestyle (2:02.88), 400 freestyle (4:14.17), and 800 freestyle (8:49.81), posting best times in all three distances.
Reiser is a two-time 7A Georgia High School state champion in the 500-yard freestyle and finished 6th at Winter Juniors East in the event. Her best time of 4:46.60 would’ve already been third on the Gamecocks roster this year and would have scored in the C final at the SEC Championships.
Dynamo Swim Club’s Catie Choate clinched the victory in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:00.54, just shy of her preliminary best time of 1:00.37.
Choate is a rising sophomore at the University of Florida and recently competed at the US Olympic Trials, making a semifinal in the 200m backstroke and finishing 14th overall with a time of 2:11.57. She made the A final this past season at the NCAA Championships in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:53.54 after posting a 1:51.99 to make the final.
Rising junior at the University of Georgia, Elizabeth Isakson, swept the breaststroke events, winning the 50, 100, and 200 breaststroke with times of 33.74, 1:11.91, and 2:36.19, respectively.
15-year-old Sarah Paisley Owen from Metro Atlantic Aquatic Club won the 50 butterfly and 100 freestyle, while also finishing as the runner-up in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly. She swam just a few tenths off her best time in the 50 freestyle, clocking in at 26.10. Her best time of 25.59 ranks second in the country this year among all 15-year-olds, trailing only Olympic Trials finalist Rylee Erisman.
On the men’s side, University of Georgia swimmer Aaron Seymour won the 50 (23.28) and 200 freestyle (1:52.32). Notably, he dropped over seven seconds from his seed time of 1:59.99 in the 200 freestyle.
Seymour, more known for his backstroke ability, competed at the US Olympic Trials in the 100 backstroke and scored in the C final at the SEC Championships in the 100-yard backstroke.
Alex Pollack, a Paris native heading into his senior season at Emory University, swept the backstroke events, winning the 50, 100, and 200 backstroke with times of 26.73, 57.04, and 2:04.52, respectively.
Pollack placed 9th at the NCAA Division III Championships in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:47.41.
McKee Thorsen won the 200 butterfly and 200 IM and was runner-up in the 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle. He posted a 2:03.24 in the 200 butterfly and 52.49 in the 100 freestyle for a new lifetime best.
Thorsen is a rising sophomore at Emory University and recently placed 6th at the NCAA Division III Championships in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:46.87.
Final Team Scores:
Women’s Team Scores (Top 5):
- Athens Bulldog Swim Club – 762
- Spartans Aquatic Club – 685
- Dynamo Swim Club – 479
- SwimAtlanta – 458
- Stingrays Swimming 425.5
Men’s Team Scores (Top 5):
- Athens Bulldog Swim Club – 556
- Spartans Aquatic Club – 522
- Stingrays Swimming – 499.5
- Dynamo Swim Club – 450
- SwimAtlanta – 398
Georgia
Safety KJ Bolden on freshman season with Georgia football and one area he wants to improve
WATCH: Kirby Smart postgame comments after Notre Dame loss
Kirby Smart spoke to the reporters after Notre Dame loss in the Sugar Bowl
KJ Bolden’s flip from Florida State to Georgia football was a big splash for the Bulldogs’ 2024 signing class.
Landing the 5-star rated safety boosted the secondary and was notable because Bolden played at Buford High where the Bulldogs had seen recruits often get away.
So, Bolden was asked, did he expect to have as big of a role as he did in his freshman season?
“Honestly, I didn’t know,” Bolden told the Athens Banner-Herald before Georgia’s 23-10 loss to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. “Honestly, I just came in with a great mindset. A working mindset and mentality. Opportunity kind of approached me. Going in every day trying to learn the playbook and learn from the older guys. Once the opportunity was kind of there for me, I kind of wanted to take it.”
Bolden was the second highest graded Georgia defensive player by Pro Football Focus after defensive lineman Christen Miller, who announced Monday he’s returning for a fourth Georgia season.
“There’s so much more beyond covering people, leveraging the ball, understanding the defense,” defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann said. “There’s an amount of pressure that goes into that. And there’s nothing that can simulate being out there in live games. Lights everywhere, cameras, packed stadiums. I just think his poise and his composure in those moments has grown as he’s gained experience. He’s obviously a talented individual and he’s earned the right to be out there. But he’s made some really big plays and I think he’s just a calmer demeanor.”
Perhaps no play was bigger for the 6-foot, 185-pound Bolden than his open-field tackle on running back Quintrevion Wisner for a tackle for loss in overtime in the SEC Championship win over Texas.
“The open field tackle was cool, but it was just winning the game,” he said. “The tackle was pretty phenomenal for sure, but just winning the game and getting to celebrate with my teammates was definitely the moment I dreamed of for sure.”
Bolden averaged 39.4 snaps per game, allowing Starks to play in the slot and in the box.
“His growth is crazy,” said Starks, who announced Monday as expected he’s leaving Georgia for the NFL Draft. “From when he first got here in the spring to now, he’s just continued to grow.”
Coach Kirby Smart said Bolden showed confidence in making his checks and is “extremely smart” for a player his age.
“KJ has great instincts,” Smart said. “He’s gotten more confident as a player. …He played a lot of snaps for a freshman. He continues to grow and get better. I like his humility.”
Bolden had a chance to learn from Starks, an All-American as a sophomore, and veteran safety Dan Jackson.
Bolden finished the season fifth on the Bulldogs in tackles with 59 while playing every game and starting against Florida and Tennessee. He also had an interception and two tackles for loss.
Bolden has learned from Starks, who he called a phenomenal player and great leader.
“He comes to practice every day 102 percent ready to work. He’s a great role model. You just watch Malaki, you won’t see him do one bad thing. He’s a great decision-maker. Just getting watch him every day, Dan and those type of guys, getting to play with them, it’s definitely been amazing this season.”
Starks was named a freshman All-American by On3. His interception came in the win over Mississippi State but he pointed out he had two other would be interceptions that he dropped.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “Next year, I’m going to get them back.”
Georgia
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