DAPHNE — TNT Swimming opened its 2007-2008 Short Course Season by competing at the Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club’s Fall Invitational Meet, held Sept. 28-30 at the University of West Florida Natatorium.

The meet featured more than 400 swimmers representing 12 teams from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana.

Seventy-five TNT swimmers attended the meet, 23 of whom were participating for the first time in a USA swimming competition.

“It was very satisfying to see the excitement and smiles on the faces of our new swimmers,” said TNT Head Coach Jan Mittemeyer. “They had a lot of fun, showed great team spirit, and raced really well.”

TNT swimmers who participated in their first USA Swimming Meet were: Abbye Brunson, Marlye Brunson, Bailey Byrne, Lauren Chastang, Madeline Ellison, Jordan Funke, Abbey Giles, Haley Heebe, Helen Heebe, Jack Heebe, R.J. Holifield, Rachel Holifield, Reagan Holifield, Rebbeca Holifield, Anna Holliman, Lola Mahner, Breland McHenry, Makenna Mosberg, Preston Parish, Mason Pitre, Hyland Stockton, Patrick Ward and Emma Wilson.

TNT’s crew of returning swimmers also swam well. The team finished fifth place overall, achieving one New National Age Group Top 16 Consideration Time, 10 New Southeastern Qualifying Times, 20 New Team Records, 54 Improved Time Standards, and 218 Improved Times.

Kyle Simpson of Daphne, who holds the fastest time in the nation in the 11-12 boys 100-meter butterfly, achieved a new National Top 16 Consideration Time in the 50-yard butterfly.

This was Simpson’s last swim meet as a 12-year-old. Adding the Top 16 Consideration Time he achieved at this meet, Simpson compiled eight swimming events that qualified for consideration in USA Swimming’s National Top 16 rankings during the 2006-2007 short course and long course seasons.

Several TNT swimmers achieved new qualifying times for the 2008 Southeastern Short Course Championships, to be held Feb. 21-24, 2008 in Nashville. Those swimmers include: Daniel Doucet, 13-14 boys 100 breastroke, 400 individual medley; Sahra El-Hamaki, 11-12 girls 50 and 100 breastrokes; Tyler Powell, 10-and-under boys 50 free, 200 individual medley, 100 butterfly,100 individual medley, 100 freestyle; Kyle Simpson, 13-14 boys 200 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 200 backstroke; and Ryan Simpson, 10-and-under boys 50 backstroke.

Seventeen TNT swimmers scored points and earned ribbons, including: Will Anderson, Lauren Chastang, Daniel Doucet, Savannah Ekelund, Sahra El-Hamaki, Griffin Fisk, Connor Funke, Lauren Kinsey, Adele Mantiply, Sarah Meehan, Haley Miller, Patrick Parish, J.D. Powell, Tyler Powell, Kyle Simpson, Ryan Simpson, and Ben Turnipseed.

Also contributing to the team effort were: Hunter Arndt, Carly Arnone, Riley Boles, Simon Boles, Megan Bradley, Alex Daly, Hannah Denham, Meghan Finney, Cameron Grant, Alyssa Gregory, Gabrielle Horst, Annabelle Kahalley, Gracey Kahn, Ashley Kinsey, Thomas Kinsey, Chase Knapstein, Eva Knapstein, Taylor Miller, Zach Miller, Emily Nix, Tommy O’Hara, John Pereira, Payton Pierce, Ashton Prouty, Amanda Rudat, Emi Rudat, Madison Scharles, Kaitlin Simison, Frances Sledge and Boyd Turnipseed.

TNT offers year-round swimming instruction, coaching and competitive opportunities for children of all ages and ability levels at the Bounds Family YMCA in Daphne.

For information call (251) 599-1019 or visit www.swimtnt.com.