Ten swimmers from TNT earned 16 gold, 9 silver, and 9 bronze medals to come away with the team championship at the 2006 Alabama Sports Festival swimming competition. The swimming competition was held June 24 at Alpine Hills Swim Club and was part of the statewide, multi-sport state games.
Leading TNT’s first ever Sports Festival team championship was J.D. Powell and Megan Midkiff, who earned 4 gold medals each. J.D., age 11 of Spanish Fort, finished first place in the 50 butterfly, 50 breastroke, 50 freestyle, and 100 individual medley. Megan, age 10 of Fairhope, topped the competition in the 50 butterfly, 50 breastroke, 50 backstroke, and 100 individual medley.
“J.D. and Megan both had super meets,” said TNT Head Coach, Jan Mittemeyer. “They not only won all their events, but all their swims were personal best times as well.”
Gold medal performances were also turned in by Tyler Powell, Will Anderson, Ryan Simpson, and Madison Scharles.
Tyler, age 9 of Spanish Fort took first place in the 50 backstroke, 50 breastroke, and 100 individual medley. He also earned a silver medal in the 50 freestyle. Will, age 11 from Fairhope finished first in the 50 backstroke and 100 freestyle and earned bronze in the 50 freestyle. Ryan, age 9 of Daphne took first in the 50 and 100 freestyles, and silver in the 50 backstroke and 100 individual medley. Madison, age 10 of Spanish Fort won the 50 freestyle and took silver in the 50 backstroke, 50 butterfly, and 100 individual medley.
Three more swimmers from TNT earned all bronze medals. Patrick Parish, age 7 of Fairhope earned three in the 25 backstroke, 25 breastroke, and 25 freestyle. Kaitlin Simison, age 9 of Daphne earned hers in the 50 backstroke, 50 breastroke, and 50 butterfly, while her sister, Jordan Simison, age 12 earned bronze in the 50 breastroke.
“The Sports Festival was a very unique opportunity that I am happy our swimmers and parents took advantage of,” said Mittemeyer. “The kids were able to parade at the opening ceremonies with athletes from across the state, and they were able to mount the awards podium to receive their medals. I think it was an experience that they and their families will always remember.”
The Alabama Sports Festival is held annually throughout the state. The games are include 22 sports including Archery, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cheerleading, Cycling, Disc Golf, Diving, Figure Skating, Football, Gymnastics, Karate, Shooting Sports, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Taekwondo, Tennis, Track and Field, Triathlon, Volksmarch, and Volleyball.
Events for swimming competition were conducted by age group, including events for children, youth, and adults. Team competitions were held for recreational and year round athletes. TNT’s team victory came in the year round division.
The games began Friday evening, June 23 with opening ceremonies held at the Mitchell Center at the University of S. Alabama with sporting competitions taking place on Saturday, June 24.
For more information about TNT Swimming, please visit the team web site at
www.swimtnt.com or contact Coach Mittemeyer by phone 251-599-1019 or email at swimtnt123@aol.com.
