It was a very close meet at the 1-5A High School State Championships in Georiga this weekend. The boy’s from Westminster were able to hold off the boy’s from Marist to earn the state team title. Westminster finished the meet with 309 points to Marist’s 293.5 points. Top 3 finishes in all three relays, and a victory in the 200 freestyle relay helped bump Westminster ahead of the field.
Derek Cox led the way for Westminster with an individual victory in the 200 IM at 1:48.77 and a third place finish in the 100 butterfly at 49.07. He was the only Westminster swimmer to win an event individually. The relay team of Derek Cox, Patrick Leonard, Erek Cox, and Joseph Rodriguez also won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:24.87. The only missed the state record by .02 seconds.
The 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke records both fell. After tying to win the 100 butterfly, Ethan Young from Dalton touched the wall in a record time of 47.47, beating his own record from the year before. Colin Monoghan also beat Brennan Pastorek‘s record from prelims of 55.79, with his winning time of 55.03.
Event winners on the men’s side included:
200 Medley Relay: Marist – 1:35.16
200 Freestyle: John Mitchell, CHAM – 1:40.43
200 IM: Derek Coz, WSTM – 1:48.77
50 Freestyle: Ty Powers, NHLL – 20.47
100 Butterfly: Ethan Young, DALT & Christian Lorys, MRST – 48.92
100 Freestyle: Alex BeMiller, MRST – 45.24
500 Freestyle: Jon Lancaster, HRTC – 4:32.32
200 Freestyle Relay: Westminster – 1:24.87
100 Backstroke: Ethan Young, DALT – 47.47 ** State Record
100 Breaststroke: Colin Monaghan, GAIN – 55.03
400 Freestyle Relay: Chamblee Charter – 3:07.72
For the girls, Marist separated themselves from St. Pius X by more than 60 points to win the state title with 264 total points.
Their only event victory came in the first event, the 200 medley relay, with a time of 1:47.12. Anne Locker, Hannah Lagod, Elizabeth Bailey, and Tori Lauterbach were the four that swam that relay. Their depth carried them through the meet for the team title.
Two swimmers doubled up, each winning both of their individual events. Danielle Della Torre from Oconee County won the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke and Donna Blaum from Starr’s Mill won the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly back-to-back.
Event winners on the women’s side included:
200 Medley Relay: Marist – 1:47.12
200 Freestyle: Lila Claire Best, RVWD – 1:50.44
200 IM: Danielle Della Torre, OCON – 2:01.07
50 Freestyle: Donna Blaum, STML – 23.36
100 Butterfly: Donna Blaum, STML – 54.66
100 Freestyle: Darby Wayner, SVAA – 51.09
500 Freestyle: Caitlyn McHugh, ALTO – 4:54.25
200 Freestyle Relay: Oconee County – 1:37.80
100 Backstroke: Sara Gilbert, STPX – 55.85
100 Breaststroke: Danielle Della Torre, Ocon – 1:04.66
400 Freestyle Relay: Starr’s Mill – 3:31.88