By Steve Hott, Head Coach, Highlands School Varsity Swimming and Diving
Photos by Kirsten McKim and Jackie Powell
All of the Highlands Varsity Boys Swim Team traveled to the Triangle Aquatic Center (TAC) near Raleigh, NC early last month for the 1A/2A State Championships.
It went well. The boys finished 34th out of 228. Swimmers included Sr. Finneaus Garner, Jrs. Aniah McKim, Paolo McRae, Jesus Mendoza, and So. Jack Sumner.
From left are Highlands Aniah McKim and Finneaus Garner at the state meet on Feb. 8.
Garner finished tied for 12th in the 50 freestyle, and 13th in the 100 freestyle.
Both relays (200 yard Medley, 200 yard freestyle – McRae, McKim, Sumner, and Garner) dropped time, finishing 19th, and 21st respectively.
McKim finished 22nd in the 100 breaststroke.
Garner, McKim, McRae, and Sumner are Jr. Olympic Swimmers.
McKim is a 2 time Academic All American Swimmer.
Highlanders finish 11th out of 109 at Swimming Regionals
Highlands Swim and Dive team competing at regionals.
On Jan. 31, the fastest high school swimmers from the 109 1A&2A high schools in the Western Region (there are 3 regions in the state) swam in their annual championships at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center in Charlotte to see who gets to go to states.
The Highlands Boys Team finished 11th. The girls team finished 24th.
The boys were led by Sr. Finneaus Garner who finished 4th in the 100 freestyle, and 5th in the 50 freestyle and scored 36.5 pts.
Highlands Swim and Dive team at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center in Charlotte.
Jr. Aniah McKim was 10th in the 100 breaststroke and scored 15.5 points.
So. Jack Sumner finished 16th in the 100 butterfly and scored 9.5 points.
Jr. Paolo McRae swam the 200 IM (Individual Medley) and scored 8.5 points.
Jr. Jesus Mendoza swam in the 400 freestyle relay and scored 1 point.
The boys 200 yard medley relay and 200 free relay of Garner, McKim, Sumner and McRae finished 9th and 11th respectively.
The boys 400 freestyle Relay of McKim, Sumner, McRae, & Mendoza finished 15th.
Jr. Layla Babac finished 19th in the 200 IM and 21st in the 100 breaststroke.
So. Trinity Faust also made the trip.
Garner, McKim, Sumner, McRae, and Babac are all Jr. Olympians.
McKim is a 2 time Academic All American Swimmer.
Pictured at the top of the article are the Highlands Varsity Boys Swim Team at the Triangle Aquatic Center (TAC) near Raleigh, NC.