Three schools double up as state champions in state swim meets

              Columbia – Doubling up was in vogue at the South Carolina High School League’s Swimming State Championships last week at the University of South Carolina Natorium.

           J.L. Mann won both the boys and girls championships in AAAAA Division I, Eastside claimed both titles in AAAAA Division II, and Bishop England claimed both the boys and girls AAAA state titles. It came close to happening in the AAA championships as well. Academic Magnet won the boys title with St. Joseph’s finishing second, while St. Joseph’s won the girls title with – you guessed it – Academic Magnet finishing second.

           J.L. Mann won the boys title on Thursday and the girls brought home the championship trophy on Friday. The Eastside girls claimed its championship on Thursday as well while the boys matched them on Saturday. Bishop England won the boys AAAA title on Friday with the girls following up on Saturday.

           Academic Magnet won the AAA boys crown on Friday, while St. Joseph’s claimed the AAA girls crown on Saturday.

           There were five state records broken, and they were filled with oddity. The 100-meter breaststroke and the 200 freestyle relay had records set in both the boys and girls competitions. A new record time was set twice in the 100 breaststroke, again for both boys and girls.

           Southside Christian School’s Owen Harmon set the new boys 100 breaststroke record with a time of 55.79 seconds in the AAA meet on Saturday. He bested the record of Fort Mill’s Dominic Impens set in 2024.

           Interestingly, Impens competed for Fort Mill in the AAAAA Division II meet later on Saturday. He too surpassed his old state record, but it wasn’t enough to grab the record back. Impens had a time of 55.85.

           On Thursday in the AAAAA Division I girls meet, Ashley Ridge’s Grace Marsaa set the record in the 100 breaststroke in a time of 1 minute, 02.82 seconds. She held the state record for two days until Southside Christian’s Grace Hunt swam a time of 1:02.63 in the AAA meet on Saturday.

           Bishop England’s 200 freestyle relay team of Mia Devito, Carley Foust, Charlotte Good and Ellie Chalupsky set a record with a time of 1:35.40. Eastside’s 200 freestyle relay team of Ben York, Quinn Osborn, Cooper Hughes and Levi Smith set a new record in a time of 1:25.06.

           AAAAA DIVISION I MEETS

           Depth is what led the J.L. Mann girls to victory. It finished with 286 points while Clover finished second with 269. The only Patriot to win an event was Claire Burns in the 200 individual medley in a time of 2:03.55. Burns finished second in the 100 breast and swam a leg on two relay teams that finished third. She joined Lauren Armaly, Anna Gates Niles and Madi Brannon on the 200 medley relay team and Brooke Howard, Ryan Suddeth and Armaly on the 400 freestyle relay team.

           With points being picked up down to 20^th place in an event, Mann padded its point totals that way. Sadie Walker was fourth in the 200 freestyle, Armaly was sixth in the 100 butterfly, Howard was seventh in the 100 free and ninth in the 200 free, and Niles was 10^th in the 100 fly.

           Along with setting a state record, Ashley Ridge’s Marsaa also won the 50 free. 

The J.L. Mann boys team won with 423 while Ashley Ridge was second with 336. The Patriot boys also used their depth to win as they only claimed two events. Cade Taylor won the 100 backstroke in a time of 52.00 and swam anchor for the 400 free relay, which won in a time of 3:16.41. Other team members were Matthew Bulia, Elijah McDowell and Counts Plyler. Taylor also finished fifth in the 200 free and swam a leg on the fifth-place 200 medley relay along with Parker Meredith, Landon Berghoff and Jimmy Young.

Bulla finished fourth in the 200 IM and eighth in the 500 free, Hunt Thomas was fourth in the 100 back and seventh in the 200 IM, McDowell was seventh in the 50 free and ninth in the 100 free, Plyler was fifth in the 100 fly and ninth in the 50 free, Stratton Fairchild was sixth in the 100 fly, Dalton Wright was fourth in the 500 free, Owen Leifheit was eighth in the 100 back, and the 200 free relay team of McDowell, Watson Caldwell, Plyler and Bulla finished fifth.

The individual star was Luke Green of Wando, who is an Air Force commitment. Green won the 100 free (45.51) and 200 free (1:39.61), and also swam the leadoff leg on the Wando 200 free relay team that was victorious in a time of 1:27.98. Brody Johnson, Paddy O’Connell and Roman Haecherl were the other team members. 

AAAAA Division I Boys Thursday USC Natorium

200 Medley Relay

West Ashley Daniyal Eldridge, Sean Groeber, Gabe Smith, Reid Scott 1:36.54

200 Freestyle

Wando Luke Green 1:39.61

200 Individual Medley

Spartanburg Finn McEnroe 1:55.21

50 Freestyle

Spring Valley William Alexaner 21.08

100 Butterfly

Wando Roman Haecherl 51.19

100 Freestyle

Wando Luke Green 45.51

500 Freestyle

Sumter Jordan Hewett 4:46.52

200 Freestyle Relay

Wando Luke Green, Brody Johnson, Paddy O’Connell, Roman Haecherl 1:27.98

100 Backstroke

J.L. Mann Cade Taylor 24.75

100 Breaststroke

West Ashley Sean Groeber 57.44

400 Freestyle Relay

J.L. Mann Matthew Bulla, Elijah McDowell, Counts Plyler, Cade Taylor 3:16.41

Team Scores

1, J.L. Mann 423

2. Ashley Ridge 336

3. Wando 334.5

4. West Ashley 292

5. Mauldin 236

AAAAA Division I Girls Friday USC Natorium

200 Medley Relay

River Bluff Anna Ray, Ellie Wells, Caroline Wells, Keelyn Davis 1:50.25

200 Freestyle

Wade Hampton Abby Schneider 1:53.61

200 Individual Medley

J.L. Mann Claire Burns 2:03.55

50 Freestyle

Ashley Ridge Grace Marsaa 24.32

100 Butterfly

Clover Emma Dent 57.80

100 Freestyle

Byrnes Bella Strawn 52.32

500 Freestyle

Wade Hampton Emily Schneider 4:58.00

200 Freestyle Relay

Cane Bay Mia Stephen, Josie Mullen, Fiona Haener Madeline Degeorge 1:40.87

100 Backstroke

River Bluff Anna Ray 58.20

100 Breaststroke

Ashley Ridge Grace Marsaa 1:02.82

400 Freestyle Relay

Wade Hampton Abby Schneider Lindsey Guertin, Chelsea Girardeau, Emily Schneider 3:36.92

Team Scores

1. J.L. Mann 286

2. Clover 269

3. Mauldin 268

4. Wade Hampton 250

5. River Bluff 232

           AAAAA DIVISION II MEETS

           Doubling up is nothing new to Eastside, but this was the start of a new run. The Eastside girls finished second last year to snap a streak of seven straight double championships. The girls made it eight titles in nine years, scoring 524 points to best Fort Mill with 495.5 The Eastside boys won their 11tj straight state title, scoring 645 points while second-place Fort Mill had 452.5.

           “Winning both titles again is thrilling,” said EHS head coach Tiffany Watson. “I am so proud of each of those kids. They all swam with incredible heart for each other and focus for the team. I can't ask for anymore.”

           Watson said the girls were seeded to come in second by 62 points but instead “created” 112 points to win the meet. 

           “They were completely locked in and all had best swims,” Watson said. “They knew what they needed to do. Twenty-e8ght of 30 swimmers scored points, which is amazing.”

           Susan Seeley led the way for the Eastside girls, winning the 200 free and 500 free while swimming legs on two championship relay teams. She teamed up with Laila Harvey, Keira Cook and Darcy O’Sullivan on the 200 free relay and with Millie Conner, Harper Penny and Cook on the 400 free relay.

           The 200 medley relay tam of Conner, Anna Kate Barr, Lauren York and O’Sullivan finished second. O’Sullivan also finished second in the 100 free and Connor was third in the 50 free.

           Riverside’s Ansley Brinkman won both the 50 free and the 100 free.

           Along with the record-setting 200 free relay team, the Ram boys won two other events. Harper Church won the 200 free, and the 400 free relay team of Smith, York, Reynolds Chilton and Will Bridges won.

           Bridges ran a leg of the second-place 400 free relay team along with Hughes, Collin Brickner and Osborn. Bridges also finished second in the 100 free and second in the 100 back. Smith finished second in the 50 free and third in the 100 free, Brickner was second in the 100 fly, Hughes was second in the 100 breast, Beason was second in the 500 free, Chilton was third in the 200 IM and Osborn was third in the 50 free.

           “They just keep building internally with drive and competition within our team, creating so much depth that other teams don't have,” Watson said. “For several events we had all four of our guys in the top eight or 10, specifically the freestyle events. Every single guy of our 18 scored points.”

           Along with winning the 100 breast again, Fort Mill’s Impens also won the 100 free. His teammate, Turner Wiand, won both the 50 free and the 100 back and combined with Impens, Parker Hightower and Tate Preston to win the 200 medley relay.

AAAAA Division II Boys Saturday USC Natorium

200 Medley Relay

Fort Mill Turner Wiand, Dominic Impens, Parker Hightower, Tate Preston 1:32.75

200 Freestyle

Eastside Harper Church 1:43.78

200 Individual Medley

St. James Jack Guthinger 1:56.96

50 Freestyle

Fort Mill Turner Wiand 21.35

100 Butterfly

Nation Ford Gray Reiger 51.17

100 Freestyle

Fort Mill Dominic Impens 45.65

500 Freestyle

Nation Ford Gavin Charcalla 4:41.60

200 Freestyle Relay

Eastside Ben York, Quinn Osborn, Cooper Hughes, Levi Smith 1:25.06

100 Backstroke

Fort Mill Turner Wiand 49.52

100 Breaststroke

Fort Mill Dominic Impens 55.85

400 Freestyle Relay

Eastside Levi Smith, Ben York, Reynolds Chilton, Will Bridges 3:11.97

Team Scores

1, Eastside 645

2. Fort Mill 452.5

3. Riverside 339

4. Nation ord 266.5

5. T.L. Hanna 173

AAAAA Division II Girls Thursday USC Natorium

200 Medley Relay

Fort Mill Haruka Ono, Lia Hadley, Bella Corbi Cadyn Henson 1:48.27

200 Freestyle

Eastside Susan Seeley 1:52.40

200 Individual Medley

Chapin Jackie Bonavilla 2:05.18

50 Freestyle

Riverside Ansley Brinkman 23.84

100 Butterfly

St. James Jenna Guthinger 55.16

100 Freestyle

Riverside Ansley Brinkman 52.45

500 Freestyle

Eastside Susan Seeley 4:56.74

200 Freestyle Relay

Eastside Laila Harvey, Keira Cook, Susan Seeley, Darcy O’Sullivan 1:38.07

100 Backstroke

Catawba Ridge Amelia Meehan 56.81

100 Breaststroke

Fort Mill Lila Hadley 1:04.17

400 Freestyle Relay

Eastside Millie Conner, Harper Penny, Keira Cook, Susan Seeley 3:35.02

Team Scores

1. Eastside 524

2. Fort Mill 495.5

3. Nation Ford 289

4. Lucy Beckham 270

5. Catawba Ridge 262

           AAAA MEETS

           While both of the Bishop England programs have a history of success, this is the first time both the boys and girls have won state titles in the same year.

           “In 2016, the boys won the AAA state championship and the girls were AAA runner-up,” said head coach Rosemary Van Metre. “In 2017, the girls won the AAA state championship and the boys were AAA runner-up. It is incredible and fantastic. I am so happy for our swimmers. This is a total team win as each swimmer was an important team member in these championships.”

           The girls won their fourth consecutive state title in dominating fashion. They won with 590 points while Gray Collegiate Academy was second with 469.

            “It is an amazing feat, especially as swimming has improved in South Carolina year after year,” Van Metre said. “I am incredibly proud of the seniors who provided leadership and help foster a winning culture for this team as well as a love of swimming.”

           Along with swimming legs on the state record 200 free relay team, Chalupsky and Devito also swam legs on the winning 400 free relay team along with Foust and Katie Kitlowski and defended their individual state titles. Devito won the 50 free and the 100 free, while Chalupsky won the 100 fly and the 100 back.

           Foust won the 200 free and Good won the 200 IM.

           The BE boys eked out a 9-point victory, scoring 358 points to South Aiken’s 349. The Battlin’ Bishops did it even though they won only one event. The 400 freestyle relay team of Connor Good, Jack Cahill, Richard Miller and Jude Nicksic won in a time of 3:16.69.

Good inished third in both the 200 free and the 500 free, Cahill was second in the 500 free and third in the 200 IM, and Nicksic was third in the 100 free.

Daniel’s Luke Hamon won both the 200 free and the 400 fly, and Gray Collegiate’s Aaron Willis won both the 200 IM and the 100 back.

AAAA Boys Friday USC Natorium

200 Medley Relay

South Aiken Sean Parker, rant Parker, Junuh Fontenot, Andru Masterson 1:36.57

200 Freestyle

Daniel Luke Hamon 1:41.90

200 Individual Medley

Gray Collegiate Aaron Willis 1:54.76

50 Freestyle

South Aiken Grant Parker 21.54

100 Butterfly

Daniel Luke Hamon 49.73

100 Freestyle

Fountain Inn Jackson McConkey 47.96

500 Freestyle

South Pointe Jack McCrae 4:41.21

200 Freestyle Relay

South Aiken Grant Parker, Aaron Washington, Sean Parker, Andru Masterson 1:27.63

100 Backstroke

Gray Collegiate Aa4on Willis 50.79

100 Breaststroke

Wren Seth Fann 1:02.48

400 Freestyle Relay

Bishop England Connor Good, Jack Cahill, Richard Miller, Jude Nicksic 3:16.69

Team Scores

1.                  Bishop England 358

2.                  South Aiken 349

3.                  Gray Collegiate 312

4.                  Fountain Inn 292

5.                  Daniel 282

AAAA Girls Saturday USC Natorium

200 Medley Relay

Gray Collegiate Whitney Moody, Madison Milton, Sabey Coker, Peighton Johnson 1:47.43

200 Freestyle

Bishop England Carley Foust 1:53.63

200 Individual Medley

Bishop England Charlotte Good 2:06.03

50 Freestyle

Bishop England Mia Devito 23.56

100 Butterfly

Bishop England Ellie Chalupsky 54.57

100 Freestyle

Bishop England Mia Devito 52.00

500 Freestyle

Daniel Mary Greene 5:06.37

200 Freestyle Relay

Bishop England Mia Devito, Carley Foust, Charlotte Good, Ellie Chalupsky 1:35.40

100 Backstroke

Bishop England Ellie Chalupsky 54.13

100 Breaststroke

Gray Collegiate Madison Mitton 1:05.43

400 Freestyle Relay

Bishop England Mia Devito, Carley Foust, Katie Kitlowski, Ellie Chapulsky 3:31.94

Team Scores

1.                  Bishop England 590

2.                  Gray Collegiate 469

3.                  Aiken 279

4.                  Daniel 265

5.                  A.C. Flora 262

AAA MEETS

           St. Joseph’s dominated the girls meet. The Knights scored 583 points while Academic Magnet was second with 360.5. The Knights won eight of the 11 events.

           St. Joseph’s took first place in all three relays: Bella Stewart, Odette Brown, Sutton Alexander and Rachel Overton in the 200 medley relay, Alexander, Catherine Lynn, Addie Wireman and Riley Reed in the 200 freestyle relay and Overton, Reed, Stewart and Brown in the 400 freestyle relay.

   Individually, Brown won both the 100 free and the 200 IM, Stewart won the 100 backstroke and was runner-up in the 200 free, Overton won the 50 free and took second in the 100 free; Alexander won the 100 butterfly and finished third in the 200 IM, Reed took second in the 100 butterfly, and Lynn finished second in the 100 backstroke.

“I would say the girls’ performance on Saturday was overwhelming,” said head coach Rebecca VanEvera. “We have never double-podiumed in so many individual events and won all three relays. This stunned even the coaches! This team has a cohesiveness, a love of each other, and a sense of joy that drives them to excel for one another. As a coach, I believe if you can create an environment of community, faith, trust and belief in one another you have won, whether you top the podium or not.”

   Brashier Middle College’s Eva Lyle won both the 200 free and the 500 free.

           In the boys meet, Academic Magnet won with 512.5 points while St. Joseph’s was second with 426.

Parker Hamilton led Academic Magnet by winning the 100 free and finishing second in the 50 free. Logan Patterson won the 100 backstroke and was fourth in 100 free.

Patterson and Hamilton swam legs on the third-place 200 medley relay team along with Fletch Thurmond and Steven Moody and the third-place400 freestyle relay team along with Moody and Finley Connors. Reid Aikman was fifth in the 200 free, sixth in the 100 back, eighth in the 100 fly and eighth in the 200 IM, Moody was fourth in the 100 back and fifth in the 200 IM, Thurmond was eighth n the 50 free and the 100 free, and Connors was seventh in the 100 fly and the 500 free,

The 200 free relay team of Aikman, Thurmond, Iaroslav Abramov and Gabriel Kuprel was third.

   Greer Middle College’s Jimmy Beeson won the 50 free and the 100 fly and swam legs on the victorious 200 medley relay and the 400 free relay teams. Mid-Carolina’s Grant Smith won both the 200 free and the 500 free.

           AAA Boys Friday USC Natorium

200 Medley Relay

Greer Middle Jimmy Beeson, Maddex Ternes, Quinn Anderson Wim Clay 1:33.63

200 Freestyle

Mid-Carolina Grant Smith 1:40.15

200 Individual Medley

St. Joseph’s Walker Simpson 1:54.28

50 Freestyle

Greer Middle Jimmy Beeson 20.47

100 Butterfly

Greer Middle Jimy Beeson 4820

100 Freestyle

Academic Magnet Parker Hamilton 46.67

500 Freestyle

Mid-Carolina Grant Smith 4:43.82

200 Freestyle Relay

Greer Middle Maddex Ternes, Kanjus Williams, Andy Velez, Lucas Goughneour 1:31.55

100 Backstroke

Academic Magnet Logan Patterson 52.24

100 Breaststroke

Southside Christian Owen Harmon 55.79

400 Freestyle Relay

Greer Middle Jimmy Beeson, Quinn Anderson, Wim Clay, Maddex Ternes 3:12.91

           Team Scores

1.                  Academic Magnet 512.5

2.                  St. Joseph’s 426

3.                  Greer Middle 423

4.                  Christ Church 295

5.                  Walhalla 270

AAA Girls Saturday USC Natorium

200 Medley Relay

St. Joseph’s Bella Stewart, Oilette Brown, Sutton Alexander 1:49.46

200 Freestyle

Brashier Middle Eva Lyle 1:43.44

200 Individual Medley

St. Joseph’s Odette Brown 2:06.26

50 Freestyle

St. Joseph’s Rachel Overton 24.70

100 Butterfly

St. Joseph’s Sutton Alexander 59.66

100 Freestyle

St. Joseph’s Odette Brown 52.37

500 Freestyle

Brashier Middle Eva Lyle 5:08.24

200 Freestyle Relay

St. Joseph’s Catherine Lynn, Addie Wireman, Sutton Alexander, Riley Reed 1:43.46

100 Backstroke

St. Jospeh’s Bella Stewart 58.78

100 Breaststroke

Southside Christian Grace Hunt 1:02.63

400 Freestyle Relay

St Joseph’s Rachel Overotn Riley Reed, Bella Stewart, Odette Brown 3:46.24

Team Scores

1. St. Joseph’s 583

2. Academic Magnet 360.5

Christ Church 290

4. Oceanside Collegiate 277.5

5. Southside Christian 233