The Troy swimming program turned in an outstanding performance this past weekend at the Southwest Classics, one of the largest and most competitive meets in the region. The event features nearly 3,000 swimmers competing across 11 sites, with only the top 16 athletes in each event advancing to finals, making every finals appearance a significant achievement. Troy swimmers rose to the challenge, sending multiple athletes to finals across both days of competition while also setting new school records and personal best times.

On Saturday, six Trojan swimmers qualified for finals and delivered strong performances against elite competition. Aubrey Bass placed 11th in the 100 IM with a time of 1:05.90, while Garrett Williams finished 10th in the same event at 59.60. Cassidy Gifford earned a 10th-place finish in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.71. Mackenzie Gifford reached the podium in the 50 breaststroke, placing third overall in 32.67, while Devin Smith followed closely with a fifth-place finish in the same event at 29.86. The girls 200 freestyle relay team of Aubrey Bass, Mackenzie Gifford, Adelynn Chesko, and Cassidy Gifford rounded out Saturday finals with a 16th-place finish in 1:46.52. Claire Martin also qualified for the 50 breaststroke final but was unable to compete due to a meet management error, an unfortunate and disappointing situation.

Troy continued its success on Sunday with five swimmers returning to finals competition. Claire Martin finished 16th in the 50 butterfly with a time of 29.34, while Dylan Arnold placed 15th in the same event at 26.63. Mackenzie Gifford posted a seventh-place finish in the 50 backstroke with a time of 29.96, and Garrett Williams followed with an 11th-place finish in the event at 27.52. Cassidy Gifford tied for the final qualifying spot in the 100 breaststroke, forcing a swim-off immediately prior to finals. Gifford won the swim-off with a time of 1:08.48, earning the final finals spot and later finishing 15th overall with a time of 1:09.62.

The weekend also featured five new school records for the Trojans. Devin Smith set a new mark in the 50 breaststroke with a time of 29.85. Aubrey Bass broke her own school record in the 1650 freestyle, finishing in 18:58.47 and placing 16th overall. Dylan Arnold set a new record in the 50 butterfly with a time of 26.46, while Mackenzie Gifford broke her own record in the 50 breaststroke with a time of 32.67. Garrett Williams delivered one of the standout performances of the meet by breaking the school record in the 100 IM twice, first at prelims with a time of 1:01.18 and again in finals with a time of 59.60.

In addition to finals qualifications and record-breaking swims, Troy athletes recorded numerous event wins during prelims and posted a large number of personal best times throughout the weekend. “This meet is one of the toughest we attend all season, and our kids rose to the occasion,” said the Coach Wheeler. “Qualifying for finals at this level, setting school records, and handling adversity the way they did speaks volumes about their work ethic and commitment to the program. We couldn’t be prouder of this group.”