Virginia High School Swimming & Diving Championships (PREVIEW)
- February 16-18, 2023
- Various Sites, Virginia
- Short Course Yards (25 yards)
- Class 1/2 Psych Sheet
- Class 3 Psych Sheet
- Class 4 Psych Sheet
- Class 5 Psych Sheet
- Class 6 Psych Sheet
The Virginia High School State Championship meets kick off on Thursday at various locations around Old Dominion, Because of the way-too-many-classifications in Virginia’s high school system (six overall for ~386 public high schools, five in swimming), some of the best battles will be divided up amongst different classes.
- Class 1 – 453 or fewer students
- Class 2 – 477-732 students
- Class 3 – 738-1132 students
- Class 4 – 1133-1541 students
- Class 5 – 1550-1947 students
- Class 6 – 1965-3777 students
Still, there are some great showdowns across the highly-segmented state – and they’re not all among the largest high schools.
Take, for example, the Class 4 race in the boys’ 50 free. That race will feature sophomore Thomas Heilman, one of the top few high school swimmers in the country, as the top seed, followed by junior Kyle Peck, senior Brendan Whitfield, and senior Ryan Hufford.
Heilman (19.63) and Whitfield (19.54) have already been under 20 seconds, while Hufford (20.79) and Peck (20.56) aren’t far off. Heilman, for his part, had a lot of sure-wins in this Class 4 meet, but decided to take on Whitfield, one of Class 4’s next-best swimmers, in his best event instead.
Heilman is also the top seed in the 100 fly at 46.09, though he’s been a 44. The next-best seed, Jackson Tishler, is seeded 2nd in 51.07. Heilman will be looking to break Andrew Seliskar’s All-Time Virginia High School State Championship Record of 46.13, which is a time that Heilman can beat even not at full rest.
Whitfield’s other event will be the 100 free in 45.32.
One of Class 6’s top boys, Josh Howat, will also swim the 50 free. He has been 20.20 in the race, bringing up the possibility that four-or-more guys in this state series could be under 20 seconds in the 50 free. Howat also has a big showdown against Noah Dyer in the 100 free, where he’s seeded at 44.69 and Dyer is seeded at 44.68.
Dyer is also the top seed in the 200 free, where his seed/best time of 1:36.30 is close to Seliskar’s all-time VA record of 1:35.76 and Cason Wilburn’s Class 6 record of 1:35.93.
Among the names to watch on the girls’ side of the pool is Camille Spink from Battlefield High School, one of the state’s largest schools. She is the top seed in the 50 and 100 freestyles, and is seeking to go a perfect 8-for-8 in individual high school state titles in her college career before matriculating to the University of Tennessee.
Among the stars looking for their first individual state titles is junior Lexi Stephens from Cosby High School. She is the top seed in the 100 back (53.69) and the 100 fly (54.93). She has four top-6 finishes in her two years of high school swimming so far, including a runner-up finish in the 100 back so far, but a breakthrough junior season has seen her drop almost two seconds in that event, and leaves her as the favorite in a pair of events.
For full location and schedule information on the VHSL Championships, see the championship central page here.
There was so much amazing racing last night! Heilman and Whitfield were on fire! AND the Monacan girls won the state title AGAIN, and every single relay, breaking several Class 4 state records, including two relay records.
SO MANY RECORDS BROKEN. It was nuts.
And not just meet records. Several all time VHSL records.
After being out touched in the 50, Whitfield dominated the 100 free with a 🤯 42.77 and then splitting 19.14 as the anchor of their 200 free relay. He obviously analyzed his 50 from earlier and tweaked it to bring that relay home breaking the All time VHSL record.
Jefferson Forest closed out the meet with another VHSL all time record breaking swim in the 400 free relay.
Heilman wowed again in his 100 fly in 46.06. Not quite his personal best but amazing to watch as yet another all time VHSL record went down.
And then there… Read more »
update!! I got destroyed LOL, phenomenal performance from everyone in that heat, they all did amazing
Cover Texas uil 6A state. Fastest high school state meet in the country
Texas UIL 6A state is probably the fastest state meet in the nation
I’m assuming you don’t understand how small VA Class 4 is.
And how remarkable it is that this could potentially happen on Saturday.
didn’t ask lol I was just stating something
Not disputing you or the incredible talent in the great state of Texas.
It’s just quite an awesome experience to watch these swimmers from such small areas…. Like smaaaaaaaaallllll..with fewer resources….do so well on the National stage.
Times are times regardless of state or high school class and these boys are holding their own and making our little area of Virginia immensely proud!
Texas comparing themselves to much smaller states is the most Texas thing ever. Great job being bigger!
💯💯💯
🤣🤣🤣
currently, a 6A school in Texas must have at least 2220 students, as a minimum.
At least 10 Texas schools ranked as 6A have enrollments over 4,000 students.
The Woodlands, located in Spring, TX, has a 10/10 rating with 4,000+ students.
The average Texas high school has about 650 students.
Texas 6A may also 4 guys under 20 seconds this weekend.
maybe more than 4
Not maybe, will
Didn’t know where else to put this but the men’s 100 back at Ohio HS state champs will be insane. 3 guys that are top ten recruits in the country will be swimming it. Just absurd. 4 guys under 20 point is also absurd.
ahh then theres me, seed 5. Im gonna get gapped lol
But you’ll bring in points for your team with that 5th place finish!
And Morgan…you never ever know with the 50 free!
GO and swim your heart out and have a ton of FUN!
the 5 second gap in the 100 fly is killing me
And that’s just his best time in a high school meet this season.