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Parry McCluer High School sophomore Olive King qualified by time for the Class 1 and 2 state swim meet last week while the Rockbridge County High School boys and girls swimming teams performed well in their two meets.
King, who had narrowly missed the state-qualifying cuts last year, qualified in the 100-yard freestyle at the Ben Hair Memorial Meet on Tuesday of last week in Charlottesville before making the cut in the 50-yard freestyle at the All Timesland Invitational on Saturday in Roanoke.
At last Tuesday’s meet, which took place at the University of Virginia Aquatic and Fitness Center, King finished the 100-yard freestyle in 1:00.24. Racing at the Gator Aquatic Center on Saturday, King swam the 50-yard freestyle in 27.26 seconds. Both times were personal records.
The RC boys placed sixth of 19 teams at this meet, with two relay teams qualifying by time for the state meet. The Wildcats beat Valley District rival Spotswood by three points at the meet.
In the 200-yard medley, the RC boys finished in 1:46.38 to make the state cut. The RC boys also qualified in the 200yard freestyle relay, placing third in 1:35.05.
Freshman Keagan Black broke his own school record in the boys’ 100-yard backstroke, finishing in 55.82 seconds. He also placed fifth in the 100-yard freestyle in 56.05 seconds.
Also stepping up for the RC boys was sophomore Spencer Pfaff, who placed sixth in the boys’ 50-yard freestyle in 22.98 seconds and finished eighth in the 100-yard freestyle in 50.66.
The RC girls, whose team results weren’t available, had several strong individual performances. Senior Abby Hickman placed 18th in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:22.23, while junior Greta Guse finished 22nd in two races, the 100-yard backstroke (1:12) and the 200-yard individual medley (2:48.76).
On Saturday, the RC boys earned three individual victories. Junior Will Gibbs won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:51.16 and placed fourth in the 500yard freestyle in 5:11.59, setting a new school record.
Black won the 100-yard backstroke in 56.6 seconds and placed fifth in the 100-yard butterfly in 56.06. Pfaff won the 50-yard freestyle in 23.21 seconds and finished second in the 100-yard freestyle in 51.93 seconds.
Winning for the RC girls was senior Ali Pfaff, claiming the 50-yard freestyle in 24.16 seconds. Also swimming well for the RC girls was junior Lilly Sudar, finishing 13th in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:37.03.
The RC boys placed third in the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:34.5. Also stepping up for the RC boys, senior Benjamin Barney finished 10th in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:21.21 and came in 12th in the 100-yard freestyle in 59.82 seconds, while senior Max Johnson placed 13th in the 100-yard freestyle in 1:00.06.
The Wildcats are preparing for the Valley District meet on Saturday, Jan. 28 at Westover Pool in Harrisonburg. King’s next meet will be the Region 1C/2C meet, with the date, time and location to be announced.
