Prep swimming preview: ‘Tagging along’ helped launch Providence Day’s Bartee
Zetta Grace Bartee was on her way to becoming a really good softball player.
That was until the day that her mother, Brandi, had to attend a meeting with swim coaches for her older brother, Granger.
Zetta Grace, then around 8 years old, said she was fascinated with what she heard.
“I remember hearing a coach talk about her experiences,” Zetta Grace said. “And I told my mom, ‘I need to do this.’ “
She has done it pretty well.
Bartee, a senior at Providence Day, is defending state champion in the 200-yard freestyle, placed fourth last season in the 100 freestyle, and is an Auburn commit.
She said she began swimming at an early age.
“My parents thought it was important for us to have swim lessons,” she said.
She competed with a club team at age 9, but swimming wasn’t No. 1 for her.
“My mother was a softball player, and softball was really big for me,” she said.
And since she was always tall (she’s now 5-10), Bartee enjoyed basketball. She swam competitively but said she didn’t win a lot.
That was before her brother’s meeting.
“After going to that meeting, I knew swimming was something I wanted to do,” she said. “At tryouts, a coach asked me, ‘Why are you here?’ I told her, ‘I’m tired of getting beat.’ “
Fueled by her competitive nature, Zetta Grace Bartee eventually stopped losing.
“She is fantastic,” said her Providence Day coach, Kristina Bond. “She’s very grounded. She works very hard. And she’s a genuinely good teammate.”
Bartee won her first 200 freestyle state championship as a freshman and repeated as a sophomore and again last February.
She is a big part of a Providence Day team that hopes to dethrone two-time defending NCISAA Division I state champion Charlotte Country Day this season.
While she’s a champion in the 200 freestyle, Bartee said her favorite race is the 100 butterfly.
“The hardest part is the rhythm of the stroke,” she said. “The legs have to be together. The arms have to be pulling. I work on it every day. It’s a difficult stroke, but when you work at it every day, it gets easier.”
When it came time to select a college, Bartee said she was selective.
She considered North Carolina, where Granger is now swimming. But Auburn won out.
“I wanted to find a place that — whether I’m an athlete or not –— I wanted to feel like I was part of a family,” she said. “We have that family atmosphere now (at Providence Day), and I wanted that in college too.”
“I fell in love with Auburn and realized it was what I wanted,” she said.
She said Granger, who had made an official visit to Auburn before choosing North Carolina, helped her decide.
“He told me, ‘Zetta, if you get a chance to go to Auburn, you need to consider it,’ “ she said.
Bartee also is heavily involved in Swim Across America, a program in which swimmers help raise money for various charities. Since its founding in 1987, Swim Across America has raised more than $100 million.
Bartee is a member of the organization’s junior advisory board and has participated in several swims to help raise money for cancer research. She said members of her extended family and family friends have battled various forms of cancer.
For now, Bartee’s focus is on the upcoming season. She’s excited that her eighth-grade sister, Eloise, is a member of the Providence Day team this season.
“For one year, we’ll get to swim together,” Zetta Grace said.
And they’ll be part of an effort to win the state championship.
“We have the ability to win it all this season,” she said. “I’m looking forward to trying to win it all.”
Preseason swim outlook
BOYS’ SWIMMING
(all teams and individuals listed alphabetically)
Teams to watch
Charlotte Latin: The Hawks are young, but with freshman Harrison Smith (100 freestyle, 100 butterfly) and sophomore David Sammons, last year’s NCISAA runners-up look to contend again.
Marvin Ridge: Led by Auburn commit Michael Rice, arguably the state’s top swimmer, the Mavericks should battle Cardinal Gibbons for 7A honors this season.
Myers Park: Jack Martin (200 IM), Logan Chow (50 free, 100 butterfly) and William Hager (freestyle) are three reasons why the Mustangs and Raleigh’s Enloe figure to be the 8A powers this winter.
Providence: With Carson Day (200 IM) and Carter Medlin (50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, the Panthers are another force in Class 8A.
Weddington: The Warriors probably aren’t strong enough yet to challenge neighborhood rival Marvin Ridge, but they’ll be a force by the end of the season.
Athletes to watch
Santiago Alzate-Celin, Charlotte Country Day, senior: He’s a two-time NCISAA champion in the 500 freestyle and looks like a strong bet for a three-peat.
Ryan Chiu, Ardrey Kell, senior: The Knights will be stronger this season, and one reason is Chiu, who’s off to a big start in the 200 freestyle.
Carson Day, Providence, senior: One of the area’s best in the 200 IM.
Mason Kramer, Charlotte Catholic, senior: Kramer is defending state champion in diving and won the title with a broken hand last February.
Michael Rice, Marvin Ridge, senior: An Auburn commit, Rice has dominated the 100 freestyle in recent years and also was second in the 50 freestyle at last season’s state meet.
New faces to watch
Colton Dunphy, Parkwood, freshman: Dunphy is a freestyler who is off to a big start. He won the 100 freestyle by four seconds in a meet last month.
Jason Pron, Weddington, freshman: His best event is probably the 100 backstroke. His older sister, Lianna, a junior, is strong in the 100 breaststroke.
Clayton Richards, Charlotte Catholic, freshman: Richards currently leads 6A in the 500 freestyle with an early season swim eight seconds ahead of the field.
David Sammons, Charlotte Latin, sophomore: Sammons is a multi-event talent and returns as the NCISAA runner-up in the 200 IM.
Harrison Smith, Charlotte Latin, freshman: Smith is off to a big start, with strong showings in the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly.
Caleb Winardi, Marvin Ridge, sophomore: His specialty is the 100 backstroke, and he’s won two meets already this season.
GIRLS’ SWIMMING
(all teams and individuals listed alphabetically)
Teams to watch
Charlotte Catholic: Despite losing a few swimmers via transfer, the Cougars’ program still has standouts like Madi Hertzig (100 and 200 freestyle) and should contend for a 6A state title this year.
Charlotte Country Day: The two-time defending NCISAA Division I champions are loaded again, led by freshman Avery Hudzik (200 and 500 freestyle) and seniors Caroline Mallard (50 freestyle, 100 butterfly) and Taylor Klein (100 backstroke).
Lake Norman Charter: The Knights are defending 3A state champions and will be a state power among the smaller schools again. Junior Skye Yampolsky recently won a 200 IM race by 12 seconds and is strong in the 100 butterfly. Sophomore Dakota Gayle (500 freestyle) has been winning races by 20-30 seconds.
Marvin Ridge: The Mavericks finished fifth in the state last season and will contend again, behind Madison Winards (freestyle) and Morgan Knox (freestyle and breaststroke).
Myers Park: They’re defending 4A state champions, and they’re loaded again this season, with Emma Richardson and Avery Klamforth leading the way.
Providence Day: This might be the season when the Chargers dethrone Charlotte Country Day as NCISAA Division 1 champions. Zetta Grace Bartee, Charlotte Catholic transfer Zona Smith and Annie Shall are all state title contenders.
Athletes to watch
Zetta Grace Bartee, Providence Day, senior: An Auburn commit, she is defending state champion in the 200 freestyle and a contender in the 100 freestyle. She also anchors two strong freestyle relay teams.
Joslyn Bolton, Providence, senior: A University of Miami commit, Bolton is coming off a second-place finish in the 100 freestyle state finals.
Avery Klamforth, Myers Park, senior: Klamforth can swim in several events, but her specialty is the 200 IM. She was second in the state last season.
Emma Richardson, Myers Park, sophomore: She is coming off second-place finishes in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly state finals.
Zona Smith, Providence Day, sophomore: A year ago, Smith was a Charlotte Catholic standout. She’s transferred to Providence Day, but she’s still a powerhouse in mid-distance freestyle events.
Skye Yampolsky, Lake Norman Charter, junior: Yampolsky figures to contend for state championships in the 100 butterfly and 200 IM.
New faces to watch
Nevaeh Bernal, South Iredell, sophomore: Bernal is a strong all-around swimmer who specializes in the 100 butterfly and 200m freestyle.
June Delmar, Providence, sophomore: She has won her first two 200 freestyle relays this season by comfortable margins.
Reese Gail, Charlotte Latin, sophomore: After placing sixth last year in the 200 freestyle finals, Gail figures to make a big jump this winter.
Erin Greathouse, Charlotte Latin, freshman: The Hawks’ freshman should compete for an NCISAA title in the 100 backstroke.
Caroline Parker, Lake Norman Charter, freshman: This newcomer is strong in the 200 IM and with the 200 freestyle relay team.
Annie Shall, Providence Day, sophomore: Shall finished third in last winter’s 200 IM and 500 freestyle state finals and will be a championship contender this season.
This story was originally published December 3, 2025 at 6:30 AM.