by Malcolm Butler
JJ Hoover had quite the summer.
After winning six state championship titles in his 13-14 age group in mid-July in Baton Rouge, Hoover piggy-backed that with capturing a pair of Southern Zone Championship titles in Midland, Texas in late July.
Competing in the event along with three of his Bulldog Aquatic Club teammates, Hoover won both the 200m butterfly and the 100m butterfly. He also finished top three in the 400m individual medley and 200m individual medley.
“JJ is only the second BAC swimmer ever to win an event at Zones and one of the few Louisiana swimmers to ever win multiple events at Zones,” said BAC head coach Paulette Butterfield. “It is a great accomplishment.”
In addition to Hoover, the BAC was represented at the event by Jackson Smith, Emily Xu, and Joseph Amiano.
The meet included some of the top swimmers from Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
Each state is represented by the fastest 12 athletes in each state in each age group. The age groups are 11-12 girls, 11-12 boys, 13-14 girls, and 13-14 boys. The Southern Zone is one of four Zones around the country (West, Central, Eastern).
“These are some of the fastest 11 to 14 swimmers in the country,” said Butterfield. “It was awesome for our team to have four athletes competing especially in the different age groups. It just shows the versatility and depth of the team we have.”
The Bulldog Aquatic Club accepts new members at any time of the year. For more information about the Bulldog Aquatic Club swim team and their other programs, go to bacswim.net OR https://www.teamunify.com/team/labac/page/home.
The athletes competing are as follows individual events as well as relays for Team Louisiana (note by age group and events are in performing order).
13-14 Girls
Emily Xu, 13, was 82nd in the 200 Freestyle, 75th in the 100 Backstroke, 63rd in the 50 Freestyle, 74th in the 100 Free, and 65th in the 100 Butterfly. She was a part of two relays one finishing 12th and the other finishing 19th.
11-12 Boys
Jackson Smith, 12, was 34th in the 50 Breaststroke, 56th in the 50 Backstroke, 56th in the 50 Freestyle, 29th in the 100 Breaststroke, 51st in the 50 Butterfly. He was part of a relay that finished 13th.
13-14 Boys
Joseph “G” Amiano, 13, was 28th in the 100 Backstroke, 51st in the 50 Freestyle, 55th in the 100 Freestyle, 42nd in the 200 Individual Medley, and 52nd in the 100 Butterfly. He was part of relays finishing 12th, 14th, and 15th.
John “JJ’ Hoover, 14, was 14th in the 100 Breaststroke, 2nd in the 400 Individual Medley, 1st in the 200 Butterfly, 13th in the 200 Breaststroke, 3rd in the 200 Individual Medley, and 1st in the 100 Butterfly. He was on relays finishing 8th, 3rd, 14th, 6th, and 10th.
