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Vicksburg Swim Association swimmer Shelby Williams starts the 50 yard backstroke event at the MSI Short Course State Championship last weekend in Biloxi. (Jason McKenna/For The Vicksburg Post)

Vicksburg Swim Association swimmer James McKenna competes in the 50 yard butterfly at the MSI Short Course State Championship last weekend in Biloxi. (Jason McKenna/For The Vicksburg Post)

Vicksburg Swim Association swimmer Addison Billings stands behind the starting block before a race at the MSI Short Course State Championship last weekend in Biloxi. (Jason McKenna/For The Vicksburg Post)

Vicksburg Swim Association team members, from left, Kara Rowe, Ace Orosco, coach Alex Billings, James McKenna and Jacob Byrd pose for a photo together at the MSI Short Course State Championship last weekend in Biloxi. (Jason McKenna/For The Vicksburg Post)

Vicksburg Swim Association team members, from left, Shelby Williams, coach Alex Billings, and Titus Williams pose for a photo together at the MSI Short Course State Championship last weekend in Biloxi. (Jason McKenna/For The Vicksburg Post)

Vicksburg Swim Association swimmer Addison Billings competes in the girls' 11-12-year-olds' 50 yard butterfly at the MSI Short Course State Championship last weekend in Biloxi. (Jason McKenna/For The Vicksburg Post)

The Vicksburg Swim Association maximized its limited roster at the MSI Short Course State Championship meet last weekend in Biloxi.

The VSA only had eight swimmers competing in individual events, but totaled 331 points to finish ninth in the team standings. VSA swimmers had 29 personal-best times, 11 top-eight finishes, 26 top-24 finishes, and set three team records.

The Mississippi Makos finished first in the team standings, with 7,023 points from 74 swimmers in the four-day meet held Feb. 13-16.

Addison Billings led the Killer Whales with 103 individual points, and top-six finishes in all seven of her events in the girls’ 11-12-year-olds’ division. Billings finished third in the 200 and 1,000 yard freestyle events, with team-record times of 2:15.60 and 12:28.28, respectively.

Billings was also fourth in the 50 yard and 500 yard freestyle, fifth in the 100 yard freestyle and 50 butterfly, and sixth in the 50 backstroke.

Titus Williams led the boys with 59 individual points, and top-eight finishes in four of his six events inn the boys 10-and-under division. He placed third overall in the 100 yard backstroke, fifth in the 50 breaststroke, sixth in the 50 backstroke, and eighth in the 100 freestyle.

Team captain Kara Rowe had all personal-best swims, and two new BB time standard swims, in the girls 15-and-over division. She placed 15th in the 200 yard backstroke to score 12 individual points for the team.

Team captain James McKenna brought in 25 individual points and top-24 placements in five individual events. He set a team record in the boys 15-16-year-olds’ 200 yard backstroke with a time of 2:11.31, topping the record set by assistant coach Connor Clark in 2016. McKenna also placed 14th in the 200 backstroke, 16th in the 100 butterfly, and 18th in the 100 backstroke.

Ella Opperman posted personal-best times in all of her swims and one new BB time standard. In the girls’ 13-14-year-olds’ division, Opperman placed 16th in both the 50 and 100 freestyle events.

Jacob Byrd swam his way to two personal-best times and placed 19th in the boys’ 15-and-older 500 yard freestyle.

Shelby Williams brought in 10 individual points for the team, with personal bests in four of her five events. She also achieved one new BB time standard. In the girls’ 11-12-year-olds’ division, Williams finished 10th in the 50 breaststroke and 14th in the 100 yard individual medley.

Ace Orosco competed in four events and achieved two personal-bests. He also led the boys’ senior 200 yard freestyle relay team to an 11th place finish while swimming the anchor leg. The relay team had a time of 1:49.14.

Mason Poole also attended the meet to round out the boys’ senior division relay team, along with Orosco, McKenna and Byrd.

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