By Kyle Roberts
The Bulldog Aquatic Club closed out its short-course season with a series of strong postseason performances earlier in the spring, highlighted by a record-setting showing at the Louisiana Senior State Championship Swim Meet and continued success across multiple championship events.
Coach Paulette Butterfield reflected on the team’s efforts following a season that saw the Ruston-based club compete at three end-of-season meets, including senior state, age group state and additional championship competition.
“Our team showed a lot of resilience and growth this postseason,” Butterfield said. “We knew coming into the year that we would be younger and less experienced after graduating six seniors, but the way this group competed — especially at senior state — was something to be proud of.”
At the senior state meet held Feb. 19-22 at the Sulphur Aquatics Center, the Bulldog Aquatic Club sent 13 swimmers — 11 from Ruston and two from its Shreveport satellite — to compete against the state’s top 270 swimmers ages 15 and older. The team finished 11th overall out of 19 teams, including a fifth-place finish by the men’s team.
Leading the way was J.J. Hoover who earned Male Swimmer of the Meet honors after winning four individual events and setting multiple state records. Hoover captured titles in the 50-yard breaststroke, 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly and 50 butterfly, while also finishing second in both breaststroke events. He broke the state record in the 50 breaststroke multiple times over the course of the meet and added new marks in the 50 and 200 butterfly.
“J.J.’s performance was incredible and really set the tone for our team,” Butterfield said. “To see him break records and perform at that level in a championship meet speaks to the work he’s put in all season.”
The team’s depth was evident throughout the meet, as Camdyn Napper posted four top-eight finishes, including fifth in the 200 backstroke and sixth in the 200 individual medley, Samuel Jackson placed eighth in the 50 freestyle, and Joseph Amiano added two 11th-place finishes.
On the girls’ side, Bre Senn led the way with five scoring finishes, including seventh in the 1,000 freestyle and eighth in the 1,650 freestyle. With only three female swimmers competing, the team was unable to enter relay events on the girls’ side.
“With such a small group of girls, we were limited in what we could do in relays, which definitely impacted our team scoring,” Butterfield said. “But the girls who competed gave everything they had in their individual events.”
The boys’ relay teams were a key factor in the team’s success, with multiple top-eight finishes. The group of Amiano, Hoover, Jackson and Napper placed fifth in both the 800 freestyle and 400 medley relays, sixth in the 400 freestyle relay and seventh in both the 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays. A mixed 200 medley relay team of Senn, Napper, Hoover and Emily Xu added an eighth-place finish.
Beyond senior state, Bulldog Aquatic Club also competed at the age group state meet for swimmers 14 and under, finishing ninth out of 19 teams. Destin Bell highlighted that meet by earning the 10-and-under girls high point award.
“When you look at the entire postseason — from age group state to senior state — there were a lot of strong performances across all age levels,” Butterfield said. “It shows that our program is continuing to develop and build depth.”
Three swimmers — Hoover, Jackson and Napper — qualified for the Speedo Spring Sectionals in Justin, Texas, extending their season into March.
As the team transitions into long course training, Butterfield said the postseason provided momentum moving forward.
“This group competed with a lot of heart,” she said. “They handled full schedules, stepped up in relays and represented our club the right way. It was a successful short course season, and we’re excited to build on it as we head into long course.”
