Garner breaks records
By Steve Hott, Head Coach Highlands School Varsity Swimming and Diving Team
Photos by Todd Sumner
The Highlands varsity boys finished third at the annual Candy Cane Invitational on Dec. 14 in Murphy.
The Highlands Boys Team competed against seven other teams, several from much larger schools from NC and Ga.
Highlands varsity swim team finished 3rd and competed against much larger schools at the Candy Cane Invitational in Murphy.
The Highlanders were led by Jr. Olympian Finneaus Garner who broke meet records in the 50 and 100 freestyle and scored 25 pts.
The 200 and 400 freestyle relays Garner was in with fellow Jr. Olympians Aniah McKim, Paolo McRae, and Jack Sumner both finished 2nd.
The 400 freestyle relay qualified for regionals with an automatic time. That makes the 7th event out of 11 that the boys have qualified for regionals with an automatic time.
McKim scored 19.5 pts and won the 100 breaststroke. Sumner scored 16.5 pts and finished 3rd in the 100 butterfly, McRae scored 14.5 pts and finished 5th in the 100 freestyle.
From left are Highlands Layla Babac and Trinity Faust.
The most improved swimmer for Highlands at the meet was clearly Jesus Mendoza who had a best time in the 500 freestyle by a whopping 39.11 seconds, finishing 4th; and a best time in the 200 freestyle by 8.56 seconds finishing 5th.
On the girls side Layla Babac dropped 8.5 seconds in the 200 IM, finishing 5th and scoring 4 pts. Trinity Fernandez-Faust swam a super 200 freestyle (her 1st ever attempt), and finished 9th in the 100 freestyle.
Highlands varsity swim team traveled to Murphy on Dec. 14 to compete at the Candy Cane Invitational.
The next meet for the Highlanders will be at the Highlands Pool at 6:05 pm on Dec. 20.