Sea Dragons finish fourth at league champions, ready for state weekend

The Jefferson Sea Dragons traveled north to Habersham County this past weekend to compete in the North Georgia Swim League Championship.

The NGSL meet was a little different than what the swimmers are accustomed due to the meet being more of a team effort than individual scores.

Jefferson snagged a respectable fourth place improving from last year’s finish in sixth.

Out of the 12 teams in the league, Jefferson is on the smaller side with 81 swimmers compared to the nearly 200 swimmers other teams brought.

Head coach Matthew Grant and recreation director Ben Dillard have both been credited with the success of the team this season.

The swimmers had a good meet at Habersham, with four first place finishes from Joshua Joransen, Gabrielle Joransen, and McKenzie Klinck.

Klinck also was one of 12 swimmers that won a high point award out of the 600 plus swimmers at the meet.

The Sea Dragons will be sending 17 swimmers to compete in the GPRA state meet this weekend in Tifton.


NGSL RESULTS
The top five finishers by event include:

In the 100 free relay:
Six and under –
• McKenzie Klinck, Ally Kate Navas, Logan Knight and Kylee Novicki, placed second with a time of 1:44.85.

In the 25 freestyle:
Six and under –
• McKenzie Klinck, first place with a time of 22.52.
Eight and under –
• Joshua Joransen, first place with a time of 17.63.
• Dylan Childress, placed fifth with a time of 20.41.
10 and under –
• Camille Porter, placed third with a time of 16.27.

In the 25 breaststroke:
Eight and under –
• Lucas Carreno, placed fourth with a time of 28.68.
10 and under –
• Camille Porter, placed fifth with a time of 22.48.

In the 50 breaststroke:
11 to 12 –
• Luis Carreno, placed third with a time of 40.33.
13 to 14 –
• Andrew Bartek, placed third with a time of 36.69.
Older –
• Karla Carreno, placed third with a time of 39.97.
• Jeremy Deremer, placed fourth with a time of 34.16.

In the 50 freestyle:
Eight and under –
• Joshua Joransen, placed second with a time of 39.90.
• Jackson Lamb, placed fifth with a time of 45.35.
13 to 14 –
• Andrew Bartek, placed second with a time of 26.00.
Older –
• Jeremy Deremer, placed third with a time of 25.37.

In the 100 IM:
Eight and under –
• Joshua Joransen, placed third with a time of 1:52.07.
• Trent Novicki, placed fourth with a time of 2:09.38.
11 to 12 –
• Benjamin Goocher, placed second with a time of 1:22.50.

In the 25 backstroke:
Six and under –
• McKenzie Klinck, first place with a time of 25.32.
Eight and under –
• Jackson Lamb, placed fourth with a time of 24.18.
10 and under –
• Ryan Childress, placed fourth with a time of 19.82.
• Erica Hughes, tie for fifth with a time of 20.61.
• Abigail Richardson, tied for fifth.

In the 50 backstroke:
11 to 12 –
• Benjamin Goocher, placed third with a time of 36.10.
13 to 14 –
• Gabrielle Joransen, first place with a time of 37.15.

In the 25 fly:
Eight and under –
• Joshua Joransen, placed fourth with a time of 21.82.
10 and under –
• Camille Porter, placed fourth with a time of 19.24.

In the 100 freestyle:
11 to 12 –
• Jordan Slappy, placed third with a time of 1:10.77.
13 to 14 –
• Andrew Bartek, placed fourth with a time of 1:02.79.
Older –
• Jeremy Deremer, placed fifth with a time of 59.16.

In the 200 medley relay:
11 to 12 –
• Blake Harkins, Luis Carreno, Benjamin Goocher and Timothy Deremer, placed third with a time of 2:42.79.

In the 50 fly:
• Karla Carreno, placed third with a time of 30.03.

In the 200 free relay:
11 to 12 –
• Jordan Slappy, Maggie Paul, Lauren Adams and Victoria Swaim, placed fourth with a time of 2:30.38.
• Luis Carreno, Benjamin Goocher, Blake Harkins and Dayton Watkins, placed fifth with a time of 2:34.16.
Older –
• Gabrielle Joransen, Elizabeth Edwards, Brooklyn Watkins and Karla Carreno, placed fourth with a time of 2:18.45.