Meet the All-Observer 2021-22 high school swim teams

Meet the 2021-22 All-Observer high school all-star swim teams.

These are the top performers in The Charlotte Observer’s coverage area, which covers 17 counties and 163 schools in western North Carolina.

All-Observer Boys Swim Team

Community School of Davidson’s Baylor Nelson came into his senior season with big expectations. The Texas A&M commit had already won five individual 1A/2A state championships.

This year, Nelson added to his legacy, winning the state title in both the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly, and he also helped his team to its first state championship ever. He is The Charlotte Observer boys Swimmer of the Year.

Nelson also helped both the 200-medley relay and 400-freestyle relay to 1A/2A state titles.

▪ Meanwhile, Charlotte Latin’s Patty Waldron is the Coach of the Year, after leading the Hawks’ boys’ team to its third consecutive NCISAA Division I state title.

Waldron, who is retiring from role as Latin’s head coach, has guided the Hawks to eight of the past nine NCISAA state titles.

The 1984 University of North Carolina graduate and former Tar Heels’ swimmer has been coaching swimming for 42 years.

ALL-OBSERVER FIRST TEAM

50 Freestyle: Reid Miller, Bradford Prep, Sr.: University of North Carolina commit won the 1A/2A state championship in 20.55.

100 Freestyle: R. Miller, Bradford Prep, Sr.: The Bears’ senior doubled as a 1A/2A state champion in 45.18.

200 Freestyle: Harrison Rainer, Northwest Cabarrus, Jr.: Auburn University commit won the 3A state title in 1:38.33.

500 Freestyle: Spencer Freeman, Myers Park, Sr.: University of North Carolina commit finished third at the 4A state championships in 4:31.02.

200 Individual Medley: Baylor Nelson, Community School of Davidson, Sr.: The Texas A&M commit shattered the state record and won the 1A/2A state title in 1:43.56 by nearly 14 seconds.

100 Backstroke: Cam Abaqueta, Cannon School, Sr.: University of Florida commit won the NCISAA Division I state title in 49.32.

100 Butterfly: Baylor Nelson, Community School of Davidson, Sr.: The Spartans’ standout doubled as a 1A/2A state champion in a 1A/2A state record time of 47.48.

100 Breaststroke: Matthew Lucky, Concord, Sr.: Northwestern University commit won the 3A state title in 54.92.

Diving: Dean Treanor, Hough, Jr.: The Huskies’ junior broke his own 4A state record to win the 4A state championship with 432.15 points.

200-Medley Relay: Myers Park (S. Freeman, Jack Guenther, William Berkeley, Graham Hohnbaum): The Mustangs’ senior quartet won the 4A state championship in 1:33.10.

200-Freestyle Relay: Myers Park (Joseph Clark, Bryan Bucci, W. Berkeley, G. Hohnbaum): The Myers Park relay finished third at the 4A state championship in 1:25.70.

400-Freestyle Relay: Myers Park (S. Freeman, G. Hohnbaum, J. Guenther, J. Clark): The Mustangs’ relay had another third-place finish in 3:07.24.

ALL-OBSERVER SECOND TEAM

50 Freestyle: Tiesyn Harris, Butler, Sr.

100 Freestyle: T. Harris, Butler, Sr.

200 Freestyle: S. Freeman, Myers Park, Sr.

500 Freestyle: Norvy Clontz, Charlotte Latin, Fr.

200 Individual Medley: M. Lucky, Concord, Sr.

100 Backstroke: James Harper, Charlotte Latin, So.

100 Butterfly: H. Rainer, Northwest Cabarrus, Jr.

100 Breaststroke: J. Guenther, Myers Park, Sr.

Diving: Hayden Schroeder, Lake Norman Charter, So./Alex Givens, Lincoln Charter, Sr.

200-Medley Relay: Cannon School (Cam Abaqueta/Matthew Kroll/John Kroll/Connor Wickerham).

200-Freestyle Relay: Cannon School (M. Kroll, J. Kroll, C. Wickerham, C. Abaqueta).

400-Freestyle Relay: Charlotte Latin (J. Harper, Wiley Spinner, Aidan Hill, Levani Tutovani).

All-Observer Girls Swim Team

Myers Park swimming coach Mary “Mimi” Goudes is the Charlotte Observer girls’ swimming Coach of the Year, after leading the Mustangs’ girls’ team to its first 4A state title since 1976.

The Mustangs beat second-place Green Hope by 48 points.

▪ Myers Park’s Kiley Wilhelm, The Charlotte Observer girls’ swimmer of the year, broke the all-class state record to win the 200 individual medley in 1:55.79.

Wilhelm, a Harvard University commit, also helped the 200-medley relay to a 4A state title, while finishing as runner-up in the 100 backstroke and third-place with the 400 freestyle relay team.

ALL-OBSERVER FIRST TEAM

50 Freestyle: Caitlyn Cornell, Metrolina Christian, Jr.: The Warriors’ junior won the NCISAA Division I state title in 23.73.

100 Freestyle: Alison Thome, Cuthbertson, Sr.: The University of Alabama commit finished third in the 4A state championships with a 51.13.

200 Freestyle: Kaylee McDonald, Marvin Ridge, So.: The Mavericks’ sophomore finished fourth at the 4A state championships with a 1:49.29.

500 Freestyle: K. McDonald, Marvin Ridge, So.: Marvin Ridge standout was 4A state runner-up in 4:53.92.

200 Individual Medley: Kiley Wilhelm, Myers Park, Jr.: The Harvard University commit broke the all-class state record in winning the 4A state title in 1:55.79.

100 Backstroke: K. Wilhelm, Myers Park, Jr.: 4A state runner-up in 52.64.

100 Butterfly: Molly Donlan, South Mecklenburg, Jr.: Duke University commit was 4A state runner-up in 54.35.

100 Breaststroke: Grace Rainey, Hough, Jr.: University of Florida commit set a new state record to win the 4A state title in 1:00.97.

Diving: Joslyn Oakley, Langtree Charter, Sr.: The Texas A&M commit finished her high school career with a fourth straight 1A/2A diving state title with 487.35 points.

200-Medley Relay: Myers Park (Kayman Neal, Sofia Plaza, K. Wilhelm, Maya Gendzel): The Mustangs’ quartet won the 4A state title in 1:42.86.

200-Freestyle Relay: Lake Norman (Caitlin Horn, Sophia Bellissimo, Alyssa Claborn, Emma Stolberg): The Wildcats’ relay was 4A state runner-up in 1:35.84.

400-Freestyle Relay: Hough (Clarke Neace, Kyra Tonsil, G. Rainey, Morgan Razewski): The Huskies’ quartet earned 4A state runner-up honors in 3:25.79.

ALL-OBSERVER SECOND TEAM

50 Freestyle: A. Thome, Cuthbertson, Sr.

100 Freestyle: Grace Wagner, Marvin Ridge, Sr.

200 Freestyle: M. Razewski, Hough, Sr.

500 Freestyle: C. Neace, Hough, Fr.

200 Individual Medley: Grace Rainey, Hough, Jr.

100 Backstroke: M. Donlan, South Mecklenburg, Jr.

100 Butterfly: K. Neal, Myers Park, So.

100 Breaststroke: S. Plaza, Myers Park, So.

Diving: Madi Varnum, Lake Norman Charter, So.

200-Medley Relay: Hough (Riche Putnam, G. Rainey, C. Neace, K. Tonsil).

200-Freestyle Relay: Marvin Ridge (G. Wagner, Avery Vassil, Olivia Soniat, K. McDonald).

400-Freestyle Relay: Myers Park (K. Wilhelm, K. Neal, Leigh Bailey, Grace Tuchi).

This story was originally published April 8, 2022 at 6:00 AM.