Marvin Ridge Women and Chapel Hill Men Win North Carolina 3A

Both Marvin Ridge and Chapel Hill defended their North Carolina 3A Swimming and Diving titles this past Thursday night. For Chapel Hill, it was the third straight championship. Marvin Ridge made also made it three in a row

Men’s Competition

The Chapel Hill Tigers are a budding dynasty in North Carolina swimming. Chapel Hill won with 295 points to Marvin Ridge’s 252.

The win was powered by the Tigers’ depth. They only took first in one event, the 200 freestyle relay. They did, however, put a swimmer in the top eight of every event, as well as numerous top sixteen points that added up.

Swimming on that victorious relay were Christopher Eron, Ang Li, Jordan Ren and Eli Rose.

Corinth-Holders senior Connor Blandford was named the most outstanding swimmer of the meet. The Kentucky commit won the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. The 200 IM (1:50.72) was a NISCA All-American consideration time, one of several on the day.

Kyle Henderson of Western Alamance recorded one of those times when he scored a decisive victory in the 100 butterfly (49.70).

Other winners on the day:

• Marvin Ridge’s Jeffrey Murray, 200 free (1:42.23)
• Concord’s Robbie Epler, 50 free (21.48)
• Cox Mill’s Patrick O’Brien, diving (296.25)
• (Waynesville) Tuscola’s Jack MacDonald, 100 free (46.72)
• (Hickory) St. Stephens’ Jacob Queen, 500 free (4:47.78)
• Northern Guilford’s Jordan Reed, 100 back (51.63)
• Northen Guilford’s 200 Medley Relay (Reed, Jeremy Lalumondier, Bryan Hill, Jonathan Wachendorder)
• Marvin Ridge’s 400 freestyle Relay (Murray, Nate Utesch, Adam Fisher, Peter Dwyer)

Women’s Competition

Marvin Ridge was dominant on the day- winning by over 100 points over Chapel Hill, 374 to 271.5. Junior Caroline Hauder led the way, setting a state record in the 200 IM and winning most outstanding swimmer of the meet.

She beat a previous winner of that award, Chapel Hill senior Claire Deselm, on her way to the record time (1:58.85). Hauder went on to destroy the field in the 100 breaststroke, winning by over four seconds in 1:02.15.

Deselm bounced back to win the 100 fly in 56.39. The time was well off her winning time of 54.77 the previous year.

Another standout swim in the meet came from Hickory’s Emmaline Peterson. She nearly achieved an automatic All-American time with her 500 freestyle victory (4:52.80). Her teammate Anna Durak also made a consideration time in the 200 freestyle (1:50.14). Durak also won the 100 free (51.76).

Other winners on the day:

• Weddington’s Katie Corbi, 50 free (24.27)
• Marvin Ridge’s Nikki Canale, diving (499.70)
• (Concord) Cox Mill’s Madison Holland, 100 back (56.61
• Marvin Ridge swept the relays: 200 Medley Relay (1:47.11), (Hauder, Alex Bonfilio, Katie Rivers, Ashley Baum). 200 Freestyle Relay (1:39.65), (Ellie Van Note, Kate Marshall, Samantha Bitter, Baum). 400 Freestyle Relay (3:33.34), (Bonfilio, Marshall, Van Note, Hauder)

Full results, North Carolina 3A State Swimming and Diving Championship