St. Pius Sophomore Qualifies for National Swim Team

sophomore swimmer Gunnar Bentz has qualified for the Junior National Youth Swim Team with record-breaking performances at the Junior National Swim Meet in Palo Alto, CA, last week. Bentz also captured the Male High Point award to lead his club team, Dynamo, to the top spot at the meet.

At the junior event, Bentz took second place in the 200m breast stroke, breaking the Georgia state record for boys ages 15-16. He placed third in the 400m individual medley and came in first in the 200m IM, breaking state records in both events. The 200m IM time was only a half-second off the record held by Olympian Michael Phelps for that age group. At the meets, Bentz broke a total of four Georgia state records, eclipsing the 200m freestyle mark as well.

Within the National Junior Team, there are two levels of winners: first, the top six and second, the top two competitors in any event. Within these groups, the top six winners move on to participate in meets in Germany while the top two will compete in Germany and Peru. While Bentz made both levels, he is three days too young to be eligible to participate in Peru.

Bentz holds six state records in the 13-14 year old age group as well as a national record for the 200m breast stroke which he set last year at the same event. He also owns three individual St. Pius records as well as two team medley marks.