Cyclone Swimmer competes at State Championship; TISCA votes to add divisions
Published 4:24 pm Monday, February 10, 2025
Carla Gibson/Contributed Photo The Allan Jones Aquatic Center is the premier swimming venue in Tennessee.
Carla Gibson/Contributed Photo Liam Cannon and coach Kelli Broussard strategize before his event.
Carla Gibson/Contributed Photo Liam Cannon prepares behind the block.
Carla Gibson/Contributed Photo Fellow Cyclone swimmers offer support with cameras in hand.
Carla Gibson/Contributed Photo Liam Cannon swims the 100 Breaststroke.
Carla Gibson/Contributed Photo Liam Cannon competes in the 100 Breaststroke.
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The high school swim season officially concluded this weekend in Knoxville with the Tennessee Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (TISCA) State Championship meet. Elizabethton High School senior Liam Cannon, the sole member of the Cyclones swim team to qualify, competed in the 100 Breaststroke.
Cannon, who had previously broken his own school record in the event to become the regional champion, swam to a time of 1:04.22 on Saturday, placing 42nd. The 100 Breaststroke has been Cannon’s specialty throughout his swimming career, and his time of 1:02.07 remains on the school’s record board, a mark his coaches believe will stand for years to come.
This year’s state meet featured teams from both public and private schools, ranging from small to large. Cannon’s performance marked the end of an impressive high school career in the pool.
In a historic move, the TISCA membership voted on Friday to begin recognizing divisions at the State meet. After two years of discussions, this change will classify schools based on size, similar to the classification system used in Track and Field. Coach Kelli Broussard, who was part of the committee on classifications, was a key figure in advocating for this change alongside former athletic director Forrest Holt.
“No other high school sport forces all schools, regardless of type or size, to compete against each other,” said Broussard. “Some schools are at a much greater advantage because of their student body size and/or financial position.”
Starting next year, the state meet will recognize a small schools division, including 1A, 1AA, 2A, and homeschool teams, as well as a large public school division (Class 1AAA). Private schools will continue to compete in the 2AA division, which historically has seen them place in the top five.
Had this new classification system been in place this year, Cannon would have placed 12th overall, 3rd among public schools.
“We are very proud of him,” Coach Broussard said. “Competing in a meet of this caliber alone is difficult. He handled himself with a positive and determined attitude. Elizabethton High School is fortunate to have him as a student-athlete.”
The Cyclones coaching staff is continuing to grow the sport locally through the Typhoons Community Involvement swimming lessons and the Typhoons Swim Club. Swimming lessons will begin on March 31. The Typhoons Swim Club practices year-round and offers a summer league program running from April 28 to July 25.
For more information, contact Kelli Broussard at kelli.broussard@ecschools.org or visit the Typhoons Swim Club Facebook page.
