Marvin Ridge, Myers Park dominate the NCHSAA 4A Western Regional swimming championships
Marvin Ridge and Myers Park dominated the N.C. Western 4A regional swimming championship again on Saturday.
The Marvin Ridge boys won the regional crown for the third straight year. Myers Park won the girls’ championship for the fourth year in a row. Marvin Ridge won the 2024 4A state championship. Myers Park has won the girls’ state title for the past three seasons.
On Saturday in Uptown Charlotte, both teams punched their tickets back to the state championship rounds in a meet filled with fast times.
Marvin Ridge junior and recent Auburn commit Michael Rice, for example, finished the boys 50m freestyle in 20.64 seconds, which is a top 50 time nationally by a high school swimmer this year.
“It just takes a lot of hard work,” Rice said when asked what it takes to swim that fast. “Just a ton of repetitions, and a lot of time in the pool. You also just gotta have fun and enjoy what you’re doing.”
Rice picked up three more first-place finishes to help lead Marvin Ridge.
“It means everything to be a part of this team,” Rice said after the meet. “It’s just different at Marvin Ridge, it’s a great environment and I’m just proud to be a part of it.”
On the girls’ side, Myers Park ran away with the meet, collecting nine first-place finishes. Charlotte Catholic had entered the meet as the higher-ranked team in the region but finished second.
Now, all qualifiers will turn their sights towards the state championship meet next week.
Top Performers
Michael Rice, Marvin Ridge – The junior phenom took home four first-place finishes and set two separate 4A state records in the process in the 50m and 100m freestyle.
Kate Guenther, Myers Park – The sophomore was one of three Mustangs to win four events, setting two individual 4A state record in the 200m and 500m free, and she anchored two further 4A state records in the 200m medley relay and the 400m free relay.
What’s Next
The NCHSAA 4A Swimming and Diving State Championships will be held next Thursday at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary.
4A results
BOYS
Team leaders: Marvin Ridge 370.5; Myers Park 287; Providence 248; East Mecklenburg 186; Ardrey Kell 174; Charlotte Catholic 145; Hough 130; Cuthbertson 124.5; Nopewell 123; Asheville 91.
Event winners
Diving: Mason Kramer (Charlotte Catholic) 425.70 points; 200 medley relay: Marvin Ridge (Maxon Brienza, Michael Rice, Lucas Soniat, Colton McBryde), 1:34.17; 200 freestyle: Kyle Wilburn (Cox Mill), 1:39.25; 200 IM: Quinn O’Mara (Marvin Ridge), 1:53.23; 50 freestyle: Michael Rice (Myers Park), 20.10.
100 butterfly: Carson Day (Providence), 51.02; 100 freestyle: Michael Rice (Marvin Ridge), 44.33; 500 freestyle: Jack Rutledge (Providence), 4:33.18; 200 freestyle relay: Myers Park (Nolan Schear, Jack Martin, Peter Cassidy, Cameron Bucci), 1:25.39; 100 backstroke: Cameron Bucci (Myers Park), 51.00.
100 breaststroke: Carter Medlin (Providence), 57.58; 400 freestyle relay: Marvin Ridge (Dylan Stewart, Quinn O’Mara, Maxon Brienza, Michael Rice), 3:05.60.
GIRLS
Team leaders: Myers Park 343; Charlotte Catholic 327.5; Marvin Ridge 245; Providence 211; Lake Norman 200; Hough 147; Ardrey Kell 141; Weddington 129.5; Hopewell 117; South Mecklenburg 101.
Event winners
Diving: Reagan Leckner (Charlotte Catholic), 462.80 points; 200 medley relay: Myers Park (Karina Plaza, Avery Klamforth, Emma Richardson, Mary Drummond), 1:41.49; 200 freestyle: Katherin Guenther (Myers Park), 1:48.84; 200 IM: Karina Plaza (Myers Park), 1:57.44; 50 freestyle: Emma Grace Richardson (Myers Park), 23.55.
100 butterfly: Emma Grace Richardson (Myers Park), 53.84; 100 freestyle: Eliza Wallace (Ardrey Kell), 50.90; 500 freestyle: Katherine Guenther (Myers Park), 4:53.20; 200 freestyle relay: Myers Park (Taylor Weaver, Elizabeth McIntyre, Katherine Guenther, Emma Grace Richardson), 1:34.76; 100 backstroke: Karina Plaza (Myers Park), 53.87.
100 breaststroke: Eliza Wallace (Ardrey Kell), 1:00.08; 400 freestyle relay: Myers Park (Karina Plaza, Mary Drummond, Avery Klamforth, Katherine Guenther), 3:24.30.
3A results
BOYS
Team leaders: Lake Norman Charter 410; Central Academy 181; North Lincoln 176; East Lincoln 172; South Point 156; Forestview 153; Central Cabarrus 131; West Henderson 129; Concord 121; St. Stephens 111.
Area event winners
200 medley relay: North Lincoln; 200 freestyle: Rider Warner (East Lincoln); 200 IM: Aiden DeLuca (North Lincoln); 100 butterfly: Jackson Kroh (North Lincoln); 500 freestyle: Aiden DeLuca (North Lincoln); 200 freestyle relay: South Point; 100 backstroke: Jackson Kroh (North Lincoln); 100 breaststroke: Tellis Bumgardner (Central Cabarrus); 400 freestyle relay: Lake Norman Charter.
GIRLS
Team leaders: Lake Norman Charter 428; Central Cabarrus 246; Northwest Cabarrus 154; A.C. Reynolds 130, Concord 114; South Point 113.5; Franklin 111; East Lincoln 103; Central Academy, Jay M. Robinson and West Henderson 93.
Area winners
Diving: Kaitlyn Knutsen (Lake Norman Charter); 200 medley relay: Central Cabarrus; 200 freestyle: Dakota Gayle (Lake Norman Charter); 200 IM: Abbey Cronin (Central Cabarrus); 50 freestyle: Lily Hermans (Concord).
100 butterfly: Campbelle Cyrus (Lake Norman Charter); 100 freestyle: Lily Hermans (Concord); 200 freestyle relay: Central Cabarrus; 100 backstroke: Abbey Cronin (Central Cabarrus).
100 breaststroke: Caylee Hollar (Lake Norman Charter); 400 freestyle relay: Lake Norman Charter.
1A-2A results
BOYS
Team leaders: Pine Lake Prep 230, Christ the King 221; Mountain Island Charter 190; Bradford Prep 189; Highland Tech 164; East Gaston 148; Community School of Davidson 147; N.C. School of Science & Math/Morganton 107; Corvian Community 88; Shelby 81
Area event winners
200 medley relay: Bradford Prep; 200 freestyle: Carter Johnson (East Gaston); 200 IM: Asher Allebach (Pine Lake Prep); 50 freestyle: Phillip Johnson (East Gaston); 100 butterfly: Beck Armstrong (Mountain Island Charter); 500 freestyle: Steven Wyatt (Cherryville) 200 freestyle relay: Bradford Prep; 100 backstroke: Beck Armstrong (Mountain Island Charter); 100 breaststroke: Carter Johnson (East Gaston); 400 freestyle relay: Pine Lake Prep.
GIRLS
Team leaders: Pine Lake Prep 344; Lincoln Charter 192; Christ the King 170; Highland Tech 161; Brevard 152; Community School of Davidson 136; Mountain Island Charter, Hendersonville 135; Bradford Prep 126; West Stanly 103.
Area event winners
Diving: Adrian Nardone (Community School of Davidson); 200 medley relay: Pine Lake Prep; 200 IM: Norah Chamblee (Lincoln Charter); 100 butterfly: Norah Chamblee (Lincoln Charter); 200 freestyle relay: Pine Lake Prep; 100 backstroke: Julia Filiault (Christ the King); 400 freestyle relay: Pine Lake Prep.
Editor’s note: The original version of this story referenced Olympic qualifying times being swam at this meet, but the race lengths in the events were different, so the times swam are not qualifying standards.
This story was originally published February 1, 2025 at 10:48 PM.
