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GPAC earns recognition from USA Swimming's Club Excellence program

pnj sports staff
·2 min read

The Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club earned USA Swimming’s Club Excellence Bronze Medal designation for 2024, which was announced by the national governing body this week.

This is GPAC’s first award since USA Swimming started the program in 2000 to identify clubs throughout the country that are producing national-caliber athletes.

The Club Excellence program identifies and promotes programs that are developing well-rounded athletes 18 years and younger that progress to elite-level performers. It also seeks to grant money to clubs to support program development.

Logan Robinson, of Booker T. Washington High School, competes in the Boys 100 Yard Butterfly during the 3A District 1 Championship swim meet at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.
Logan Robinson, of Booker T. Washington High School, competes in the Boys 100 Yard Butterfly during the 3A District 1 Championship swim meet at the University of West Florida in Pensacola on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Swimmers score points for their club based on time standards that equal, at a minimum, Junior National qualifying times. The top times and associated points are equal to the 200th-ranked swimmer in the world in the event.

One highlight from GPAC this past year was senior Logan Robinson, who swims varsity at Booker T. Washington, who posted Olympic Trial qualifying times in the 200-meter butterfly this summer. Robinson also scored points for GPAC in the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle, and the 100-meter butterfly.

“This is truly a great honor to have our club recognized by USA Swimming as a high-performing program,” said GPAC head coach Greg Johnson, who has been with the club since 2010.

Teams which become points-eligible for the award must have organizational structure that reflects a commitment to USA Swimming’s athlete abuse protection protocols, and must have initiated the national SafeSport curriculum for the club.

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“I am very grateful for GPAC’s staff, volunteers, officials and great parents who support the athletes and help make our club one of the best in the country,” Johnson said.

GPAC will receive special signage from USA Swimming early next year, as well as opportunities for grant-funded projects throughout the year, Johnson said. The club will also work with USA Swimming to collect information and data on club operations during the year.

“This has been a goal of mine for as long as I’ve been in Pensacola,” Johnson said. “GPAC has a tradition of excellence, and we are humbled to be recognized among some of the top teams in the country.”

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: GPAC earns Bronze Medal designation from USA Swimming's Club Excellence program