Bayou Barracudas take gold at meet

Kip Pierce, Elie McRae and Nicholas Guidry, members of the Houma-based Bayou Barracudas Swim Team, all earned gold medals to become top-ranked swimmers in Louisiana at the Short Course State Swimming Championships conducted at Louisiana State University this weekend (March 15-18).

Pierce, 14, a native of Cut Off and resident of Houma, led the scoring for the boys on the team earning an impressive 117 points and taking home two gold medals in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke. Pierce also earned two silver medals in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly, and two bronze medals in the 50-yard freestyle and 200-yard individual medley.

In addition, he earned a Top 8 ranking the 100-yard backstroke (8th).

McRae, 11, of Cut Off, became the state champion taking home two gold medals for his performances in the 50- and 100-yard breaststroke. McRae also earned several Top 8 rankings: 100-yard individual medley (5th), 50-yard freestyle (5th), 100-, 200- and 500-yard freesyle (6th).

Guidry, 10, of Cut Off, also became the top-ranked swimmer in the state taking home two gold medals in the 50-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard freestyle. His time in the 50-yard breastroke placed him in the Top 16 in the nation in this event.

He also earned two silver medals in the 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke, and two bronze medals in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard individual medley. Guidry earned a Top 8 ranking in the 50-yard butterfly (5th).