MAKING A STATE-MENT: Tiftarea Academy’s Pool Panthers on deck at Georgia Tech for the state tournament.

CHULA — Tiftarea Academy finished up the 2023-24 swim season at the state championships at Georgia Tech Jan. 27. Head coach Marlee Cox said the varsity Lady Panthers placed 13th, with the junior varsity girls 15th.

Cox said their finish was not their most notable, “It was the best season we’ve had since I’ve been coaching.”

“Every swimmer dropped time,” setting personal bests, she said.

“We were in reach of top 10 finishes in several events on Saturday,” said Cox Finishing 11-13 in the majority of events, but knowing we’re a young team makes me real hopeful for future seasons.”

Tiftarea’s top placer of the day came in junior varsity competition. Ella Branch was sixth in the 50-yard breaststroke in a time of 38.49 seconds.

Maci Shoultz, Madi Shoultz, Coley Beth Croft and Cameron Faulkner placed seventh in the 200 medley relay in 2:19, earning four points. Cox said they shaved seven seconds off their previous best. The same group finished eighth in the 200 freestyle relay in 2:04, dropping four seconds.

Individually, Madi Shoultz was eighth in the 500 freestyle, swimming in 6:11. Shoultz dropped 10 seconds of time here and six seconds in the 200 freestyle, where she placed ninth. Had Shoultz, who swam in 2:15.45 been two-tenths faster, she would have placed eighth.

Croft missed pointing by a half-second in the 100-yard butterfly, reaching the finish line in 1:13. Lizzie Hendricks was 10th in the 100 freestyle for JV in 1:10.

There were four seniors on the roster: Abbi Richter, Hallie Haggard, Gigi Kendrick and Shelby Whitfield. Haggard and Kendrick have been there since the start, Cox said. Another swimmer, Whitfield, was new to the team, remarkably qualified in three events for state.

Hopes are very high for the future. Lexi Connell is the lone junior on the team. Tiftarea has many, many freshmen.

“I’ve been saying since this group of freshman was in 5th grade that they would be special once they reached high school,” said Cox, “and after seeing their results this season I stand by that.”

The Panthers are young too. She said junior Logan Floyd and sophomore Jase Hendricks lead the squad. Like other Tiftarea teams, several swimmers are competing in other sports as well, including other winter sports.

Cindy Harbort assists the team as well as Tiftarea swimming alumnus Carrie Engram. Engram works mainly with junior varsity.

Also competing at state for varsity:

Girls 200 medley relay: Haggard, Kendrick, Whitfield and Richter.

Boys 200 medley relay: Jacob Joyner, Hendricks, Floyd and Dawson Butler.

Girls 200 freestyle relay: Croft, Whitfield, Haggard, Sercer and Kendrick.

Boys 200 freestyle relay: Parker Hobbs.

Girls 200 individual medley: Maci Shoultz.

Boys 200 individual medley: Hobbs.

Girls 50 freestyle: Maci Shoultz, Lexi Connell, Haggard, Kendrick, Whitfield, Addilyn Jones and Cameron Faulkner.

Boys 50 freestyle: Hendricks and Floyd.

Boys 100 butterfly: Floyd.

Girls 100 freestyle: Croft, Whitfield and Haggard.

Boys 100 freestyle: Hendricks and Floyd.

Girls 100 backstroke: Maci Shoultz.

Girls 100 breaststroke: Madi Shoultz.

Boys 100 breaststroke: Hendricks.

Girls 200 freestyle relay: Kendrick, Richter, Whitfield and Haggard.

Boys 200 freestyle relay: Joyner, Butler, Floyd and Hendricks.

Junior varsity:

Girls 200 medley relay: Lizzie Hendricks, Emeri Golden, Ella Branch and Calla Joyner.

Girls 100 individual medley: Branch, Emeri Golden and Peyton Golden.

Girls 50 freestyle: Joyner and Peyton Golden.

Girls 50 butterfly: Hendricks and Branch.

Girls 100 freestyle: Hendricks and Peyton Golden.

Girls 50 backstroke: Hendricks and Emeri Golden.

Girls 50 breaststroke: Joyner and Emeri Golden.

Girls 200 freestyle relay: Branch, Joyner, Emeri Golden and Hendricks.