2026 North Carolina High School Athletic Association 8A State Championships
- Feb. 13, 2026
- Cary, N.C.
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results
It was perfect symmetry for the Myers Park boys’ team. The last time Myers Park won a state swimming and diving title in North Carolina was 62 years ago, and Myers Park snapped that drought by finishing 62 points ahead of runner-up Enloe.
The girls’ team also came out on top, winning its fifth straight state title by finishing 34 points ahead of Green Hope.
Girls’ Recap
The individual highlight of the meet came courtesy of Green Hope freshman Finola Whelehan, who broke a 16-year-old National Age Group Record by swimming a time of 1:44.25 to win the title. Whelehan broke the record of 1:44.55 set by Missy Franklin in 2010.
Whelehan also swam the lead-off leg for Green Hope’s winning team in the 400 free relay, setting a new personal best of 49.70. The team of Whelehan, Nola Meekins (51.00), Kaylee Dietrich (52.11) and Sloane Whelehan (48.93) combined to claim victory in a time of 3:21.74..
Myers Park won the other two relays, starting in the 200 medley relay, where the squad of Karina Plaza (25.32), Avery Klamath (28.10), Emma Grace Richardson (23.71) and Taylor Weaver (23.86) won in a time of 1:40.99.
The 200 free relay was won by the Myers Park team of Richardson (23.34), Weaver (24.03), Elizabeth McIntyre (23.91) and Kate Guenther (22.64) in 1:33.92.
Besides Finola Whelehan, the other individual standouts were Green Hope’s Sloane Whelehan, her older sister, and Meekins.
Committed to Tennessee, S. Whelehan won the 50 free in 22.85 and the 100 free in 49.42. It was her third straight title in the 50 free and second straight in the 200 free. A Duke commit, Meekins won the 200 IM in 2:00.12 and the 500 free in 4:49.57, both personal bests.
Other individual winners were:
- Apex Friendship senior Alis Yadushlivy won diving with 372.90 points.
- Richardson, a sophomore for Myers Park, captured the 100 fly in 52.51.
- Plaza, a sophomore for Myers Park, won the 100 back in 53.76.
- Another Tennessee commit, Ardrey Kell senior Eliza Wallace, won the 100 breast in 59.87.
Girls Team Standings — Top 5
- Myers Park, 334
- Green Hope, 300
- Ardrey Kell, 203
- Enloe, 178
- Hough, 178
Boys’ Recap
Myers Park was led by senior Peter Cassidy, who won the 100 free in a personal best of 46.86 and was also a part of two winning relay teams.
In the 200 medley relay, the quartet of Park William Hager (23.61), Jack Martin (25.37), Logan Chow (22.25), and Cassidy (20.26) topped the field in 1:31.39.
The 400 free relay was won by the Myers Park team of Cassidy (46.57), Veer Puri (47.21), Hager (46.11) and Martin (46.29) in 3:06.18.
The 200 free relay was won by Jordan’s team of Ayden Johnson (22.90), Ben DeSimone (21.22), Bryce Keaton (21.09) and Ryan Sutherland (20.48) in 1:25.69.
The individuals who won multiple events were Leesville Road junior Davis Jackson and Northwest Guilford senior Owen Lin.
Committed to Cal, Jackson won the 200 IM in a personal best 1:44.70, and then later took the 100 back in 46.69.
A Harvard commit, Lin won the 200 free in 1:38.21 and the 100 fly in 48.20.
Other individual winners were:
- Providence junior Carter Medlin won the 50 free in 20.97.
- Myers Park senior Nate Robinson won diving with 440.85 points.
- Athens Drive sophomore Carter Wooten topped the field in the 500 free, clocking a personal best time of 4:31.07.
- Enloe sophomore Parker Van olst swam a personal best time of 55.03 to win the 100 breast.
Boys Team Standings — Top 5
- Myers Park, 291
- Enioe, 229
- Leesville Road, 176
- Green Hope, 170
- Green Level, 150
