The Ware County Gator Swim Team hit the water on Saturday, November 1st, at the Appling County Gobble Plunge, facing off against strong competition from across South Georgia. The meet, hosted by Appling County High School, featured powerhouse programs including Tift County, Jeff Davis, Lowndes, and others.
Despite the deep field, the Gators turned in a solid performance, earning 43 combined points to finish 4th overall in team scoring. The girls placed 3rd with 25 points, while the boys finished tied for 5th with 18 points - an encouraging result early in the 2025 - 2026 season.
Gator Boys Highlights
Senior Matthew Davis led the way for the Gator boys with two standout swims. Davis earned 4th place in the 50 Freestyle (25.21) and followed that up with an impressive 2nd place finish in the 500 Freestyle (5:36.74), picking up critical team points in both events.
Sophomore Joshua Smith also had a strong meet, taking 2nd in the 200 Freestyle (2:10.87) and 3rd in the 100 Backstroke (1:09.11), showcasing his versatility across multiple strokes.
Senior Akeem Gibson represented Ware County in the 100 Breaststroke and 100 Freestyle, adding depth to the Gators’ lineup and valuable race experience.
In relay action, the Gator boys continued to show progress:
200 Medley Relay: The Gators swam competitively against a strong field.
400 Freestyle Relay: The boys capped off the day with a gutsy showing, with all four swimmers giving their best to close out the meet.
Lady Gators Highlights
For the Lady Gators, senior Ava Bennett had a standout day, winning the Girls 500 Freestyle with a time of 8:37.16. Bennett also contributed to the team’s 400 Freestyle Relay, helping Ware finish 2nd overall in the event with teammates Kate Thorderson, Bailey Wyatt, and Emma Paul (5:36.39).
Freshman Kate Thorderson added points in the 200 Freestyle (3rd, 2:56.09) and the 50 Freestyle (19th, 34.72), while Bailey Wyatt placed 22nd in the 100 Freestyle (1:22.62) and 10th in the 100 Breaststroke (2:07.65).
The 200 Freestyle Relay team - Bennett, Thorderson, Jones, and Coffie - posted a solid effort, clocking 2:38.36 to take 5th place and earn additional team points.
Team Scores
Combined Team Standings:
Tift County - 253
Appling County - 75
Jeff Davis - 66
Ware County - 43
Lowndes - 34
Girls Team Standings:
Tift County - 124
Appling County - 45
Ware County - 25
Boys Team Standings:
Tift County - 129
Jeff Davis - 46
Appling County - 30
Lowndes - 30
Ware County - 18
Next Meet: November 8th @ Coffee County. The Gators return to the pool this coming Saturday, November 8th, when they travel to Coffee County for another competitive meet against regional opponents. With strong momentum from the Gobble Plunge, the Gators will look to keep improving times and build toward postseason qualification.
For more photos; please click the link below.