Myers Park Wins 4A NCHSAA State Championships, Curzan Breaks American Record

4A NCHSAA State Championships

• February 9-10, 2022
• Triangle Aquatic Center, Cary, NC
• Meet Mobile: “2022 4A State NCHSAA State Championships”

The North Carolina 4A State Championships finished up last night. Diving occurred on February 9th, and swimming took place as prelims and finals on February 10th. 

W.A. Hough was the defending champion on the girls side, and Green Hope was 4x defending champion on the boys side. 

Girls Highlights

Highlighting the meet was Cardinal Gibbons senior Claire Curzan who won the 100 butterfly and 100 backstrokes. Her 100 butterfly was an American Record, and her 100 backstroke was a 17-18 National Age Group record. Curzan now graduates with eight individual state titles as she won the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke all four years. 

Also leading the way on the girl’s side of the meet was Green Hope junior and NC State commit Keelan Cotter. Cotter won both the 200 freestyle (1:46.92) and the 500 freestyle (4:51.78). Her 200 freestyle time was a best time by over half of a second as her previous best of 1:47.59 came from March 2021. 

Myers Park junior Kiley Wilhelm won the 200 IM in a time of 1:55.79 which was just off of her best of 1:55.78 which she swam at regionals five days prior. Her time also broke the state record of 1:56.71 which Brooke Zettel set in 2021. She also finished second behind Curzan in the 100 backstroke touching the wall in a best time of 52.64. 

W.A. Hough junior and Florida commit Grace Rainey won the 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:00.97. That time was just off of her best of 1:00.58 from December 2020, but it broke her own 4A record of 1:01.05 which she set in 2021. She also finished second behind Wilhelm in the 200 IM touching in a time of 1:59.69. 

Other event winners:

• 200 medley relay: Myers Park (1:42.86, Wilhelm split a 23.74 on the butterfly leg)
• 50 freestyle: Callie Parkes, John T. Hoggard (23.19, best time and 0.01 faster than she went at state meet last year)
• 100 freestyle: Mere Whelehan, Green Hope (50.62, best time by 0.12)
• 400 freestyle relay: Cardinal Gibbons (3:25.61, Curzan anchored in a 46.76)

Girls Team Top 5 Scores:

1. Myers Park 264
2. Green Hope 216
3. W.A. Hough 186
4. Charlotte Catholic 141
5. Cuthbertson 136

Boys Highlights 

Leading the way for Green Hope on the boy’s side of the meet was senior and NC State commit Michael Cotter. Cotter won the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:35.01 and the 500 freestyle in a time of 4:21.14. He was just off of his best times of 1:34.35 in the 200 and 4:19.93 in the 500. His 200 freestyle broke the state record of 1:35.34 which Jack Myers set in 2019. 

Cardinal Gibbons senior David Greeley also took home two wins. Greeley won the 200 IM in a time of 1:50.36 as well as the 100 freestyle in a time of 45.10. Both were personal best times. 

David W. Butler senior Tiesyn Harris picked up a win in the 50 freestyle touching in a time of 20.70. That was a best time by 0.20 seconds. He also finished second behind Greeley in the 100 freestyle finishing in a time of 45.38. 

Wake Forest senior Tate Bacon won both the 100 butterfly (47.13) and 100 backstroke (48.53). His 100 backstroke was a personal best time and his 100 butterfly was just off of his best time of 46.47 which he swam at 2021 Winter Juniors.  

Green Hope closed the meet setting a state record in the 400 freestyle relay finishing in a time of 3:04.31. That broke the old state record of 3:04.91 set by J.H. Rose back in 2014. Cotter swam a key anchor leg splitting a time of 43.30.

Other event winners:

• 200 medley relay: Myers Park (1:33.10)
• 100 breaststroke: Grayson Nye, Middle Creek (55.55, best time by 0.52 seconds)

Boys Team Top 5 Scores:

1. Green Hope 202
2. Myers Park 201
3. Cardinal Gibbons 184
4. Millbrook 154
5. Wake Forest 126