Special to The Times BAXLEY — Pierce County Middle School’s swim program capped its season with a runner-up finish here at the Southeast Georgia Middle School Athletic Conference finals last month hosted by Appling County Middle School.
The event was held Friday, December 19, the last day before the Christmas break.
The Bears, who finished second in the boys’ division, were led by the four firstplace finishes of Jaxon Coates. He set a personnalbest mark of 1:03.99 in winning the 100-yard freestyle event.
Coates also captured the 50 butterfly (34.95 seconds), the 50 free (28.46 sec.) and the 50 breaststroke (36.97 sec.).
Eli Thorne posted a fifthplace showing in the 50 breastroke (1:05.36). Jeremiah Henderson also placed fifth in the 50 backstroke (45.51 sec.).
The 200 medley relay team consisting of of Dow Walker, Henderson, Thorne and Coates finished third (3:03.27).
The 200 free relay team of Ian Martinez, Henderson, Walker and Coates (2:21.44) grabbed third with the team of Reed White, Tate Paszko, Gabe Aldridge and Thorne (3:01.34) were fourth.
Individually for the Lady Bears, Lily Gray Wright logged two third-place finishes in the 100 intermediate (personal-best 1:31.45) and in the 50 breaststroke (personal-best 44.13 sec.). Wright was sixth in the 50 backstroke (personal-best 42.72 sec.).
Emma Sergent placed third in the 50 backstroke (personal-best 39.98 sec.). Lakota Davis posted a fourth-place showing in the event (personal-best 40.18 sec.).
Marlie Ryals was fourth in the 50 breaststroke (personal- best 44.53 sec.). Charli Paszko finished fourth in the 50 butterfly (39.43 sec.) and fifth in the 200 free (3:02.52).
PCMS placed second and third in the 200 medley relay event. The team of Ryleigh Taylor, Sergent, Wright and Paszko were second (2:40.91) while the team of Marlie Ryals, Erica Coggin, Katie Thompson and Davis finished third (2:47.10).
The 200 free relay team of Davis, Wright, Sergent and Paszko (2:13.97) posted a runner-up finish while the team Samaree Jernigan, Thompson, Coggin and Taylor placed fifth (2:31.07).
