Awards, Records, and Champions
The Jamie Hess Sportsmanship Award recognizes one boy and one girl on the Barracudas' team for displaying outstanding sportsmanship. It is named in memory of Jamie Hess, who personified this trait, and it is the only special award our team presents. Winning the Jamie Hess Award is the highest honor a Barracuda can achieve on our team.
The Ron DesRoches Award is presented to a parent volunteer who has invested years of service to our team. Named in memory of one of our team's founders, its recipient is chosen each year by a committee of former winners.
The Len Everett Award is a GRAL sportsmanship award presented to one team in each GRAL division each season. Each season's winner is selected by a vote of the teams within its division. Ashland has won the award often throughout the years.
The Len Everett Scholarship is presented by GRAL to graduating seniors to provide financial assistance toward college. Since 2013, Ashland recipients have used this scholarship to pay for college education at universities throughout Virginia and beyond.
The GRAL Video Contest was held for several years during the 2000s and 2010s. The GRAL Board selected winners for each GRAL division just prior to the Championship meet. Ashland's videos were always swimmer produced, and it became common for families throughout the league to look forward to our videos at Champs each year.
Team Records are the fastest times ever achieved by Barracudas swimmers in any pool during a GRAL dual meet or the GRAL Championship meet. Since our team rarely competes in yards pools, we convert records across courses for a single set.
Pool Records are the fastest times ever achieved by any swimmers from any teams at Carter Park Pool during GRAL dual meets hosted by the Barracudas. These records began with the construction of the new 8-lane pool at Carter Park in 2020.
GRAL Champions recognizes all of the Ashland Barracudas who have won events at the GRAL Championship meet.
