On Thursday, July 5 Jackson County Swim Team (JCST) and Cherokee County Swim Team (CCAC) came to Highlands to compete with the Highlands Hurricanes Swim Team (HHST). Final score: HHST 629.5; CCAC 301; JCST 224.5.
The Hurricanes were led by Jr. Olympian Chase Kenter and Jr. Olympic Qualifier Masyn Smith. Both Kenter and Smith scored 31 points which is the maximum a swimmer can score in a Mountain Swim League (MSL) meet. Both won four individual events and teamed up on a relay with Jr. Olympians Conner Hughes and Finneaus Garner for another win. Along the way, Kenter broke his 10th MSL record. There are 41 male MSL records.
Hughes scored 2nd in four events losing only to Kenter, scoring 27 points. Garner won the 50 free and had three MSL Allstar swims scoring 22 pts.
Justin Powell scored 26 pts including a Medley Relay win. Matti Cohen and Jr. Olympic Qualifier Layla Babak each scored 25 pts. Each having two individual event wins.
Blake Kenter won three individual events and scored 24 pts. Vivi and Annie Geren and Katya Somov each scored 23 pts. Somov won two events, Annie Geren won one. Vivi Geren swam two MSL Allstar times, Somov one. Penelope Hilson and Jr. Olympic Qualifier Lauch Young each scored 22 pts. Each won one race. Hilson qualified for the MSL Allstars. Patrick Wood and Andre Haldin scored 21 pts. Haldin won the 100 IM and each had three MSL Allstar times. Jasmin Barranco and Max Jestin each scored 20 pts. Barranco had three Personal Records (PRs) while Jestin won the 25 Breastroke with a MSL Allstar time.
Jordan Powell, Sadie Green, and Ben Halldin all scored 19 pts. All three had an MSL Allstar time. Savanah Byrd and Cassie McDowell each scored 18 pts. Byrd had two MSL Allstar swims. Ian Kittrell scored 17 pts, winning the 25 Freestyle and setting three PRs. Dasha Haldin scored 14 pts, winning the 50 Free with an MSL Allstar time. Vivian Kennedy scored 13 pts including swimming the butterfly leg of a winning Medley relay. Emma Desinoff and Elizabeth Hilson scored 12 pts. Desinoff had three PRs, Hilson one.
Alex Baranco and Asa Garner each scored 11 pts. Each had three PRs and Baranco a MSL Allstar swim. Vanessa Russell scored 10 pts. And set a PR. Fen Hilson scored 8.5 pts with two PRs. Charlie Wilkes scored seven pts with three PRs, and Timmy McDowel scored five pts. With two PRs. Josiah McKibben and William Russel each set two PRs.
The Highlands Hurricanes Swim Team is a Highlands Recreation Park Team that practices at the Highlands Recreation Park pool in the evenings during the week and on Saturday mornings. Attendance at all practices is not required. The only requirement to join is that swimmers can swim 25 yards (one pool length) unassisted. For more information, call 828-421-4121.
By Coach Steve Hott