Pelican Athletic Club’s year-round swimmers participated in the Louisiana State Long Course Championship held at the Sulphur Park and Recreation Aquatic Center July 17-20. Fourteen-year-old Thomas Beckstrom became a state champion, winning the 100-meter backstroke in record-breaking time. He also earned three second-place finishes.

Eleven-year-old Hannah Choppin, who also finished in the top three, and Beckstrom achieved Louisiana All-State honors.

Several PAC swimmers nabbed top eight finishes in their races.

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Beckstrom, who is entering his freshman year at Fontainebleau High, also finished second in the 50-meter freestyle, the 100-meter freestyle and the 200-meter backstroke.

He came in fifth in the 100-meter breaststroke and was eighth in the 200-meter freestyle. Beckstrom also broke the 13-14 boys’ 50 freestyle and 200 breaststroke records.

“I’m definitely proud to be a state champion. The feeling you experience coming out of the pool when you see the No. 1 next to your lane is kind of indescribable,” Beckstrom said.

He credited coach Chris Prator with keeping him focused and motivating him to do what he had to do in order to be successful.

“I was committed to my summer workout program along with my teammate Derek Weidlein. Following our practices, we did lots of extra abdominal training and specialized weight lifting,” Beckstrom said.

“Sulphur has an Olympic caliber 50-meter pool. They run a really smooth meet. It was easy to stay focused for my events because there weren’t any distractions,” he added.

Beckstrom also holds a 50-meter freestyle state title from the 2008 Short Course Championship. He began swimming at age 4 and has been a member of the year-round swim team since he was 9.

Choppin placed second in the 50-meter breaststroke and was third in the 100- meter breast. She broke the 50- and 100-meter breaststroke records, which had been standing since 2003.

Fifteen-year-old Derek Weidlein finished fourth in the 15- to 18-year-old boys 100-meter breaststroke and was fifth in the 200 breaststroke, breaking team records in both events.

Kyle Weidlein, 14, was fourth in the 100-meter backstroke. Kyndall Clements, 10, was sixth in the 100-meter butterfly. Liana Soileau, 14, came in eighth in the 100-meter freestyle. The girls 11- to 12-year-old 200-meter medley relay team of Muriel Perez, Kayla Brown, Margaret Eckert and Choppin finished in eighth place.

Other members of PAC’s long course state team were Ashton Choppin, 9, participating in her first state meet; Connor Cox, 14, who had all but one best swim; Sarah Mathews, 17, swimming the distance freestyle events; Lucy Oprea, 13, the freestyle sprinter; Jonas Raguse, 10, also achieving all but one best time; Andrew Osborne, 11, Ashley Slicho, 12, Amelia Taylor, 11, and Paul Simosa, 10. The PAC team turned in a 78 percent improvement rate in their swims with five swimmers — Choppin, Cade Bourgeois, Hannah Clements, Margaret Eckert and Derek Weidlein — achieving 100 percent best times.