Marvin Ridge boys enjoy big night in NC 4A swim; Lake Norman Charter sweeps 3A titles
Michael Rice said he and his Marvin Ridge swimming and diving teammates have several goals for the remainder of this season —including winning a state championship and setting a state record in the 200-yard medley relay.
The Mavericks appear on target to reach those goals.
Rice, a sophomore, won one event and swam the anchor leg on two victorious relay teams as Marvin Ridge dominated the boys’ competition Friday in the 4A Western Regional swimming and diving meet at the Mecklenburg Aquatic Center.
Marvin Ridge swamped their opponents, totaling 430 points to runner-up Ardrey Kell’s 284.5.
Myers Park won the girls’ team championship, holding off second-place Marvin Ridge 370.5-320.5.
On Saturday, Lake Norman Charter swept the 3A boys’ and girls’ team championships in the West Regional meet; and the Pine Lake Prep girls and Mountain Island Charter boys won the 1A-2A West Regional team crowns.
“We want to win the state championship this year,” said Rice, who won the 200 freestyle by a half-second and swam the closing lap on the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. “We missed by a little last year and think we can win it this time.”
Marvin Ridge finished second to Providence in last year’s 4A state meet, 11 points behind the Panthers.
The Mavericks will head to next Saturday’s 4A state championships at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary as favorites. Team scores were not immediately available Friday evening, but Marvin Ridge won six of 12 events and had 11 top-three performances.
One of those victories was in the 200 medley relay.
“We want to break the state record there,” Rice said.
Marvin Ridge’s winning time Friday of 1 minute, 30.96 seconds was 1.25 seconds faster than the state meet record — set last year by Marvin Ridge. In fact, the same four swimmers from last year’s team — Charles Heisig, Jordan Willis, Troy Keen and Rice — are back this year.
It will take a while for Marvin Ridge’s coach, Melissa King-Pierce, to take it all in. As has been the case in recent years, King-Pierce also served as regional meet director.
“That means I’m flying around all night,” she said. “But I’ve done this enough years so I’ve got a routine built up. I’ve even put together a book on how to run this meet. So I’m able to be a coach too.”
Ardrey Kell had the most girls’ victories, four, but Myers Park had nine top-three finishes. The Mustangs and Marvin Ridge each won three events.
Aubrey Hull and Eliza Wallace accounted for the Ardrey Kell victories, with Hull taking the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke and Wallace winning the 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.
Top finishers in the 4A West Regional swimming and diving championships:
GIRLS
Team scores: Myers Park 370.5; Marvin Ridge 320.5; Charlotte Catholic 288; Providence 215; Lake Norman 185.5; Ardrey Kell 171; Cuthbertson 131; Hough 130.5; South Mecklenburg 124; Hopewell 111.5.
Weddington 76; T.C. Roberson 68; Watauga 42; South Iredell 30; Cox Mill 16.5; Asheville 12; Hickory Ridge 12; East Mecklenburg 11; West Cabarrus 8; Palisades 3.
1-meter diving: Reagan Leckner (Charlotte Catholic), 498.70; Isabella Wilhelm (Providence) 412.81; Miley Cook (Weddington) 389.31
200-medley relay: Myers Park (Sofia Plaza, Avery Klamforth, Kayman Neal, Mary Drummond), 1:42.48; Ardrey Kell 1:43.42; Lake Norman 1:44.07
200 freestyle: Kaylee Mcdonald (Marvin Ridge) 1:48.99; McKenna Patrick (Cuthbertson) 1:50.86; Sophia Pero (Hopewell) 1:51.02
200 individual medley: Avery Klamforth (Myers Park) 1:59.57; Sophia Plaza (Myers Park) 2:00.83; Lauren Bernardo (Charlotte Catholic) 2:01.73
50 freestyle : Aubrey Hull (Ardrey Kell) 23.41; Joslyn Bolton (Providence) 23.90; Mary Drummond (Myers Park) 24.04
100 butterfly: Alyssa Claborn (Lake Norman) 54.41; Kayman Neal (Myers Park) 54.56; Sophia Pero (Hopewell) 55.34
100 freestyle: Eliza Wallace (Ardrey Kell) 50.62; Kaylee McDonald (Marvin Ridge) 50.85; Joslyn Bolton (Providence) 51.47
500 freestyle: Charlotte LePage (Marvin Ridge) 4:54.76; Katherine Guenther (Myers Park) 5:00.12; Taylor Goodwin (T.C. Roberson) 5:03.31
200-freestyle relay: Myers Park (Avery Klamsforth, Katherine Guenther, Julia Oou, Sofia Plaza), 1:35.70; Lake Norman 1:36.09; Marvin Ridge 1:36.49
100 backstroke: Aubrey Hull (Ardrey Kell) 53.25; Alyssa Claborn (Lake Norman) 53.61; Lauren Bernardo (Charlotte Catholic) 54.24
100 breaststroke: Eliza Wallace (Ardrey Kell) 1:00.47; Avery Klamsforth (Myers Park) 1:01.29; Amelia Betancourt (Lake Norman) 1:03.44
400 freestyle relay: Marvin Ridge (Kaylee McDonald, Madison, Winardi, Avery Vassil, Charlotte LePage) 3:27.27; Myers Park 3:27.47; Charlotte Catholic 3:29.52
BOYS
Team scores: Marvin Ridge 430; Ardrey Kell 284.5; Providence 281; Myers Park 235; East Mecklenburg 195; South Mecklenburg 164.5; Cox Mill 121; Hickory Ridge 118; Hough 107; Hopewell 98.
Charlotte Catholic 88; Cuthbertson 70; West Cabarrus 49; Asheville 36; Butler 20; T.C. Roberson 14; South Caldwell 6; Palisades 4.
1-meter diving: Nate Robinson (Myers Park) 396.95; Mason Kramer (Charlotte Catholic) 384.40; Walker Plym (South Mecklenburg) 376.05
200-medley relay: Marvin Ridge (Charles Heisig, Jordan Willis, Troy Keen, Michael Rice) 1:30.96; Ardrey Kell 1:32.64; Myers Park 1:34.25
200 freestyle: Michael Rice (Marvin Ridge) 1:39.95; Jack Haywood (Providence) 1:40.31; Kyle Wilburn (Cox Mill) 1:42.01
200 individual medley: Charles Heisig (Marvin Ridge) 1:50.44; Isaac Holtham (Ardrey Kell) 1:51.04; Tobias Winardi (Marvin Ridge) 1:53.82
50 freestyle: Nate Hohm (East Mecklenburg) 20.45; Christopher Zhang (Ardrey Kell) 20.50; Alex Garmon (Hickory Ridge) 20.78
100 butterfly: Troy Keen (Marvin Ridge) 50.22; Maksym Nechydyuk (Ardrey Kell) 50.45; Gavin McCarter (Marvin Ridge) 51.05
100 freestyle: Christopher Zhang (Ardrey Kell) 44.64; Michael Rice (Marvin Ridge) 45.17; Nate Hohm (East Mecklenburg) 45.25
500 freestyle: Jack Rutledge (Providence) 4:33.15; Jack Haywood (Providence) 4:38.66; Adam Polzien (Marvin Ridge) 4:43.59
200 freestyle relay: Marvin Ridge (Charles Heisig, Troy Keen, Gavin McCarter, Michael Rice) 1:23.67; Ardrey Kell 1:24.10; Myers Park 1:24.98
100 backstroke: Isaac Holtham (Ardrey Kell) 50.96; Christopher Aristondo (South Mecklenburg) 51.59; Hil Lindsay (Myers Park) 52.00
100 breaststroke: Jordan Willis (Marvin Ridge) 54.97; Makeym Nechydyuk (Ardrey Kell) 56.92; Cameron Bucci (Myers Park) 57.37
400 freestyle relay: Providence (Carter Medlin, Jack Rutledge, Evan Prabhu, Jack Haywood) 3:09.50; East Mecklenburg 3:09.99; Marvin Ridge 3:10.22
3A: Lake Norman sweep
The Lake Norman Charter girls cruised to victory in the 3A West Regional meet, piling up 459 points and easily outdistancing second-place Central Cabarrus’ 249.
The Knights swept all three relays, with freshman Campbelle Cyrus swimming anchor leg on the 200-yard medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay. Cyrus also won the 200 individual medley.
Abby Cronin of Central Cabarrus won both the 100 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.
In the boys’ competition, Lake Norman Charter beat runner-up Forestview 394-217. The Knights only won two events — diving and the 200 freestyle relay. But they piled up points with top-five finishers in several events.
North Lincoln’s Aiden Deluca won the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle.
Team scores and event winners:
GIRLS
Team leaders: Lake Norman Charter 459; Central Cabarrus 249; Northwest Cabarrus 169; North Lincoln 131; Franklin 126; A.C. Reynolds 118; East Lincoln 113; South Point 113; East Rowan 96; Fred T. Foard 89.
Diving: Madilyn Varnum (Lake Norman Charter), 441.30; 200 medley relay: Lake Norman Charter (Lily Price, Presley Horton, Addison Lasarsky, Campbelle Cyrus), 1:51.29; 200 freestyle: Kathryn Cinson (Foard), 1:56.11; 200 individual medley: Campbelle Cyrus (Lake Norman Charter), 2:12.59.
50 freestyle: Ila Turner (South Point) 24.41; 100 butterfly: Savanna Bush (North Lincoln), 57.93; 100 freestyle: Abby Cronin (Central Cabarrus) 52.65; 500 freestyle: Kathryn Cinson (Foard), 5:08.78; 200 freestyle relay: Lake Norman Charter (Skye Yampolsky, Presley Horton, Addison Lasarsky, Kristina Rooney), 1:43.72.
100 backstroke: Abby Cronin (Central Cabarrus) 55.83; 100 breaststroke: Caylee Hollar (North Lincoln), 1:08.14; 400 freestyle relay: Lake Norman Charter (Lily Price, Avery Newsome, Skye Yampolsky, Campbelle Cyrus), 3:40.63.
BOYS
Team leaders: Lake Norman Charter 394; Forestview; 217; Central Academy 204; North Lincoln 152; East Lincoln 150; Central Cabarrus 114; South Point 109; A.C. Reynolds 96; St. Stephens 94; East Rowan 90.
Diving: Hayden Schroeder (Lake Norman Charter), 548.80; 200 medley relay: Forestview (William Peyton, Andrew Taylor, Graham Kines, Beckett Tabor), 1:39.86; 200 freestyle: Rider Warner (East Lincoln), 1:47.20; 200 individual medley: Aiden Deluca (North Lincoln), 1:57.85.
50 freestyle: Luke Gonzales (Pisgah), 21.89; 100 butterfly: Jackson Kroh (North Lincoln), 53.16; 100 freestyle: Beckett Tabor (Forestview), 47.81; 500 freestyle: Aiden Deluca (North Lincoln), 4:53.98; 200 freestyle relay: Lake Norman Charter (Ethan Licata, Charlie Arning, Cooper Caviccia, Channing Scott), 1:34.76.
100 backstroke: Carter Williams (Central Academy, 53.84; 100 breaststroke: Timur Atabekov (Jay M. Robinson), 1:00.76; 400 freestyle relay: Forestview (Graham Kings, Andrew Taylor, William Peyton, Beckett Tabor), 3:21.39.
1A-2A: 3 swimmers win twice
Swimmers from Christ the King, Mountain Island Charter and Pine Lake Prep each won two individual events in the meet, at the Mecklenburg Aquatic Center.
Christ the King junior Jacob Pote took the 50 and 100 freestyle events. Sophomore Beck Armstrong of Mountain Island Charter was the winner in the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke. And junior Asher Allebah of Pine Lake Prep took the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke.
GIRLS
Team leaders: Pine Lake Prep 400.5; Community School of Davidson 227; Christ the King 179; Lincoln Charter 168.5; Mountain Island Charter 155; Brevard 129; Bradford Prep 126; Highland Tech 94; N.C. School of Science & Math/Morganton 89; Hendersonville 87.
Diving: Taylor Curlee (Community School of Davidson) 410.60; 200 medley relay: Pine Lake Prep (Lily Storie, Ella Deardorff, Sydney Haun, Campbell Kolbay), 1:57.45; 200 freestyle: Taia Schneider (Thomas Jefferson Academy), 1:56.63; 200 individual medley: Grace McCarthy (Pine Lake Prep), 2:10.33.
50 freestyle: Alexandra Tysinger (Burns), 23.77; 100 butterfly: Sydney Haun (Pine Lake Prep), 58.99; 100 freestyle: Alexandera Tysinger (Burns), 51.53; 500 freestyle: Taia Schneider (Thomas Jefferson Academy), 5:10.13; 200 freestyle relay: Pine Lake Prep (Addy McDonough, Campbell Kolbay, Sophie Storie, Grace McCarthy), 1:43.09.
100 backstroke: Lily Fender (Mountain Heritage), 59.59; 100 breaststroke: Julia Sherrill (Brevard), 1:10.07; 400 freestyle relay: Pine Lake Prep (Addy McDonough, Lily Storie, Sydney Haun, Grace McCarthy), 3:49.72.
BOYS
Team leaders: Mountain Island Charter 249; Pine Lake Prep 198; Community School of Davidson 172; Lincoln Charter 157; Bradford Prep 157; Christ the King 143; East Gaston 139; Highlands 132; Highland Tech 130; Thomas Jefferson Academy 126.
Diving: Garrett Vrash (Shelby), 3:33.85; 200 medley relay: Mountain Island Charter (Beck Armstrong, Connor Logue, Jack Lazaroski, Grant Berry), 1:40.05; 200 freestyle: Carter Johnson (East Gaston), 1:49.55; 200 individual medley: Asher Allebach (Pine Lake Prep), 1:58.70.
50 freestyle: Jacob Pote (Christ the King), 22.15; 100 butterfly: Beck Armstrong (Mountain Island Charter) 52.00; 100 freestyle: Jacob Pote (Christ the King), 47.99; 500 freestyle: Matthew Tripsa (Corvian Community), 5:02.73; 200 freestyle relay: Mountain Island Charter, 1:32.45 (Grant Berry, Owen Bright, Jack Lazaroski, Beck Armstrong), 1:32.45.
100 backstroke: Beck Armstrong (Mountain Island Charter), 52.96; 100 breaststroke: Asher Allebach (Pine Lake Prep), 59.50; 400 freestyle relay: Bradford Prep (Wilson Felder, Cameron Darling, Truman Lee, Ian Watson), 3:28.08.
PHOTOS: NCHSAA 4A Western swim regionals
This story was originally published February 2, 2024 at 11:25 PM.
