Autauga County Commission honors Prattville Swim League and their splash-tastic season

Malia Riggs

Elmore Autauga News

The Autauga County Commission honored and congratulated the Prattville Swim League, or PSL, as they have continued to make a splash throughout the Southeast.

The Autauga County Commission read in a resolution honoring their 7^th place finish at the 2024 ARPA State Swim Meet, or the Alabama Recreation & Parks Association State Swim Meet. The meet commenced last month on July 26^th and 27^th.

The resolution was read in by PSL head coach Joe Reynolds who stated that competitive swimming in Prattville started in the 1980’s when the Prattville YMCA formed the Prattville Stars and Stripes Summer League team. In 1994, the Prattville Parks and Recreation Department started the Prattville Flying Fish, which competed in summertime ARPA swimming. The same meet that PSL swimmers competed in last month.

By 2002 the Prattville Stars and Stripes ceased operations, and the Prattville Flying Fish roster swelled to over 200 swimmers and it was the second-best summer league team in the state during the first decade of this century. In 2004 the Prattville YMCA started a year-round team called the Prattville Sea Lions (PSL) and the next year Prattville Flying Fish merged with PSL to create the current team, the Prattville Swim League (PSL), Reynolds explained reading the resolution.

PSL is one of the most unique teams in the country with members competing in ARPA, YMCA, and USA-Swimming competitions.  In addition, members of the Prattville High School and Prattville Christian Academy teams train with PSL and compete in the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) state competitions. 

“Over the years PSL has produced some very fast swimmers with representation in the Olympics, US Olympic Trials, and numerous national and southeastern championship meets. PSL’s summer league teams have always represented well at state-wide competition,” Reynolds said.

During the 2024 season PSL hosted teams from Tallassee, Opelika, and the Bell Road YMCA and later, in ARPA District V competition, PSL finished second among Auburn, Opelika, Valley, Tallassee, and Talladega.  At the ARPA state championships PSL finished 7^th in the state out of 23 teams, narrowly edged out of 5^th by Arab and Opelika, the resolution read.

The top eight finishers:

• Ella Brook Beasley: Finished 4^th in the 50 Freestyle, and 4^th in the 100 Freestyle
• Bo Bindewald: Finished 8^th in the 50 Backstroke
• Bebe Barnes: Finished 6^th in the 50 Freestyle, and 3^rd in the 50 Breaststroke
• Seth Bledsoe: Finished 8^th in the 25 Backstroke
• Lannom Bowman: Finished 4^th in the 50 Butterfly
• Gabbi Brown: Finished 2^nd in the 50 Freestyle, and 1st 50 Butterfly (STATE CHAMPION), and 5^th in the 50 Backstroke
• Sarah Brown: Finished 8^th in the 50 Backstroke
• Peyton Escue: Finished 8^th in the 50 Freestyle, and 5^th in the 25 Backstroke
• Carter Montgomery: Finished 2^nd in the 50 Freestyle, and 2^nd in the 50 Butterfly, and 1^st in the 50 Backstroke (STATE CHAMPION)
• Ellie Montgomery: Finished 8^th in the 50 Butterfly, and 8^th in the50 Backstroke
• Anna Claire Murdock: Finished 8^th in the 100 Individual Medley, and 6^th in the 50 Breaststroke
• Cadence Rowland: Finished 8^th in the 25 Freestyle
• Katie Sowell: Finished 8^th in the 50 Butterfly
• Emmy Wesch: Finished 6^th in the 50 Freestyle, and 5^th in the 100 Freestyle, and 4^th in the 50 Backstroke
• Chase Woodard: Finished 1^st in the 100 Individual Medley, 1^st in the 50 Breaststroke, and 1^st in the 50 Butterfly (THREE TIME STATE CHAMPION)

The top four finishers on relays:

• Boys 11-12: 200 Individual Medley finishing 1^st (STATE CHAMPIONS): Carter Montgomery, Chase Woodard, Caleb Craft, Alex Varden
• Mixed 11-12: 200 Individual Medley finishing 1^st (STATE CHAMPIONS): Carter Montgomery, Chase Woodard, Susanna Wyatt, Sara Brown
• Boys 11-12: 200 Freestyle finishing 1^st (STATE CHAMPIONS): Carter Montgomery, Chase Woodard, Caleb Craft, Alex Varden
• Girls 13-14: 200 Freestyle finishing 4^th: Cora Barnes, Emmy Wesch Katie Sowell Gabbie Brown
• Girls 13-14: 200 Individual Medley finishing 4^th: Emmy Wesch, Bella Rissman, Gabbie Brown, Katie Sowell
• Girls 9-10: 200 Freestyle finishing 4^th: Ellie Montgomery, Elliana Owen, Amzie Owens, Bebe Barnes

In the summer, PSL normally has a roster of 120 swimmers: in the fall and winter that number average 85. 

Coaches for PSL include:

• Martie Brown, Head coach in the fall and winter
• Joe Reynolds, Head coach in the summer
• Russell Rissman
• Doug Watkins

In addition, PSL uses junior coaches in the summer due to its increased size and increased number of practices.