With almost 500 swimmers and 23 teams from Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Kentucky participating, Highbridge Aquatics won the Bloomington Swim Club Christmas Invitational, which was held Dec. 19-21. Led by 12-year-old Evan Barnett and 10-year-old Kelsey McLaughlin, H.A. brought home the first place team trophy from the meet, which was held at the University of Indiana natatorium.

Barnett scored an amazing 214 points by winning nine out of his 11 individual events. His most impressive event was the 500-yard Freestyle, where he posted a time of 5:26.37. Barnett, who has already set two H.A. team records in the 50 Backstroke and 50 Freestyle, almost broke four more team records.

Kelsey McLaughlin, in just her second year of swimming for H.A., also had an impressive meet. Kelsey had a personal best time in each of her 10 events and won two individual gold medals in the 50 and 100 yard Butterfly. In one of the top swims of the meet, Kelsey set a new H.A. team record in the 50 Fly with a 33.03, breaking the old record of 33.09 set by Kristen Wilson two years ago.

Jonathan Borders, an 18-year-old senior, finished first in seven of his nine events and was another major reason H.A. was able to win the meet. J.B. had a lifetime best in his 50 Free with a time of 22.79.

H.A. had a group of swimmers who had an outstanding weekend. Ten-year-old Brad Younger, 10-year-old Keegan Penalva, 13-year-old Nick Landers, 11-year-old Jenna Ballinger, and 8-year-old Ann Louise Cooper had all but one personal best times. Ashley Fister, 18, had a perfect weekend with eight out of eight best times.

Another weekend highlight came from 6-year-old Britt Fugmann. Britt set two new team records, both set five years ago by Chelsea Stolen. In the 50 Back, Britt's time of 51.89 beat the old record of 55.09. And in her first time competing in this event, her 1:48.24 100 yard Freestyle beat the old record of 1:50.82.

Other weekend highlights include: Hannah Amstutz (400 I.M.), Brooke Barber (100 Fly), Chris Lyons (500 Free), Sam Claflin (100 Fly), Mitchell Cooper (100 Free), Emma Ferrier (50 Fly), and Chrissy Haug (100 Fly). Ten-year-old Elliott Ferrier qualified for the KY State Championship meet for the first time ever with his time of 1:23.71 in the 100 Back. Nick Landers (13) also qualified for the state championship meet in the 100 Butterfly with a time of 1:08.96.

The next meet for Highbridge Aquatics is the Knoxville January Classic to be held at the University of Tennessee January 16-18.