GULF SHORES, Ala. — On Dec. 6 and 7 the Gulf Shores Swim Team participated in the Pensacola Navy Youth Holiday Invitational Swim Meet. The meet was held at the David L. Bodenhamer Center in Gulf Shores.

The meet attracted more than 250 swimmers from Baldwin County and the Florida Panhandle.

The Dolphins had 27 swimmers entered in the meet, a new record for the local club team.

Over the two days Gulf Shores’ swimmers swam in 136 races and achieved personal best times in 74 percent of the races.

Matt Araujo, Cade Brown, Drew Davis, Trey Davis, Darin Peacock and Drew Taylor participated in their first U.S. Swimming sanctioned meet.

“I am extremely proud of our young team,” head Coach Brook Monroe said. “We only had five swimmers over the age of 10 years old entered in this meet. The results were excellent. We achieved our goals for best times and reducing the number of disqualifications. Our hard work in practice paid off.”

Ben Malone, 8, of Gulf Shores, was selected as the team's swimmer of the meet.

He swam in nine races and achieved personal record times in all nine races.

“It was a difficult choice,” Monroe said. “We had many breakthrough performances from several swimmers, but Ben performed at his best in each race. I am proud of the entire team and am looking forward to our next meet in January.”

The Gulf Shores Swim Team will next enter the Great Pensacola Aquatics Club Invitational starting on Jan. 9, 2009.

The meet will be held on the campus of the University of West Florida.

The next “swim-ester” starts for the Gulf Shores Swim Team in January. Cost to join the team is $110.

For further information contact Brook Monroe at 251-968-1427.