The Lakeside Aquatics Club will compete in what is being dubbed as its most important meet of the season at the Bill Nixon Memorial Long Course A Invitational on June 26.

     The event – which is slated to run through the 28th – will be at the Keller ISD Natatorium and will feature some of the fastest and more up and coming swimmers in the state. Competitors are hoping to meet time standards for the upcoming state and national level meets, including among others, the state championship meet (TAGS).

     “The first Bill Nixon Invitational is expected to be one of the 2009 Long Course season’s biggest meets,” LAC head coach Mike Yearwood said. “This meet is expected to grow in the coming years, with out of state teams already showing interest for next year’s invitational.”

     The fact that LAC – whom is hosting this year’s event – is involved says a lot.

     LAC is one of the fastest growing teams in the country and the largest in North Texas with close to 600 swimmers. LAC has locations in Keller, Flower Mound, The Colony and Denton.

     The event will begin at 8:45 a.m. on June 26 with preliminary heats. The top eight in each event will move on to the finals at 5 p.m.

      Some of the top LAC swimmers include Carly Straight. Straight, 11, holds the 10-and-under age group team record for the 500-yard freestyle and was a member of three team record relay teams. She is currently in the top five in Texas for 11 year olds in five different events.

     MacKenzie Thornton, 14, is very close to her times in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and 200 individual medley for the Canadian Age Group Nationals in Montreal this July.

     David Durand, 16, will attempt sectional times in a minimum of four events at the Bill Nixon and hopes this meet will set him up to achieve times for Junior Nationals. Other notable swimmers include Brendan Feehery, 11, who holds three LAC team records, and Jerik Wong. Wong, 12, holds the LAC record for the 100 and 200 breaststroke and is attempting to get the 50 breaststroke, 200 fly and 400 IM records as well.

     Jordan Kimmey, 14, Alex Sellers, 14, and Matthew Willingbring, nine, are just some of the other swimmers hoping to make waves not only at this event, but in the years to come.

     “LAC has made great strides in the past year to improve our coaching staff and grow our team,” said Terry Feehery, board president for LAC. “Our swimmers’ times have improved tremendously and we are now competitive with the best teams in the state. We hope to produce swimmers who will be competing at the national level in the next few years.”