McKim qualifies for State Championship
Steve Hott, Head Coach Highlands Swimming and Diving
All 6 of the Highlands Varsity Swim Team traveled to the 1A&2A NC West Regional Championships in Charlotte on Feb. 4.
There are 109 1A and 2A schools in the NC West Region, 54 of them the larger 2A schools. The 1A Highlands boys finished 18th. The overall team ranked 23rd.
Highlands Swim Team in Charlotte after competing in Regionals.
The Highlanders were led by freshman breaststroke/freestyler Aniah McKim who qualified for states in the 100 breaststroke. He finished 11th in that race.
The relay team of sophomore Finneaus Garner, McKim, freshmen Conner Hughes and Paolo McCrae scored 11th, 12th, and 15th in the 200 Medley, 400 and 200 freestyle relays respectively.
They improved on their seed time in all 3. Hughes dropped 12 seconds in his 100 butterfly and got 14th. Garner swam a 24.06 in the 50 free (possibly his 2nd fastest career swim).
Of special note, McRae did especially well though swimming with a taped ankle and recovering from a rolled ankle suffered at a Highlands Basketball game the night before.
1st year swimmer Freshman Jesus Mendoza made the trip as 1st alternate for all 3 relays and was on hand as a backup.
Freshman Tate Wilson dropped 15 seconds off of her 500 freestyle time and finished 19th.
McKim is scheduled to compete in the 2023 1A&2A NC Swimming State Championships on today at the Triangle Aquatics Center (TAC) in Cary, NC.
Pictured at the top of the article form left are Connor Hughes, Paolo McRae, Jesus Mendoza, Aniah McKim, Finneaus Garner, Coach Steve Hott, and Tate Wilson.