By David Rogers. LENOIR, N.C. — Top performances by Maggie Cheves, Virginia St. Clair, and Annabelle Stewart in the women’s races and Ryan Wood, Anson Ross and Michael Makdad helped Watauga’s swim teams to sweeping victories over Hibriten and South Caldwell on Dec. 14 at the Lenoir Aquatic Center in a Northwestern Conference tri-meet. The Pioneers roster depth was once again exhibited, with several noteworthy placings capturing team points.
Team Scores – Women
- Watauga 51, South Caldwell 42
- Watauga 50, Hibriten 39
Team Scores – Men
- Watauga 59, South Caldwell 35
- Watauga 74, Hibriten 13
After the meet, Watauga head coach David Gragg commented not just on the day’s performance, but also with a look ahead at the future.
“It was a good meet considering several key contributors were missing for all the teams,” said Gragg, “and the turnaround from Saturday was a lot quicker than anticipated. The scores for the women were the closest they have been in years. It was good to see them rise to the occasion. Freedom is the only team we have not seen in the conference. From the results of other meets, they will challenge the men.”
NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES, WATAUGA WOMEN
- 200 Medley Relay
- 1st Watauga A, team of Lola Herring, Maggie Cheves, Macie Kent, Austin Dyer
- 2nd Watauga B, team of Annie Willis, Sarah Green, Annabelle Stewart, Virginia St. Clair
- 200 Freestyle
- 3rd Cadence Smith
- 4th Veronica Ryan
- 200 Individual Medley
- 1st Maggie Cheves
- 3rd Macie Kent
- 50 Freestyle (21 Pioneers were entered in the event)
- 1st Virginia St. Clair
- 3rd Lola Herring
- 6th Annabelle Stewart
- 9th Georgia Parker
- 10th Austin Dyer
- 100 Freestyle (27 Pioneers were entered in the event)
- 1st Virginia St. Clair
- 8th Jacqueline Shuman
- 9th Cadence Smith
- 10th Austin Dyer
- 500 Freestyle
- 3rd Madelyn Elmore
- 200 Freestyle Relay
- 1st Watauga A, team of Austin Dyer, Macie Kent, Lola Herring, Maggie Cheves
- 5th Watauga B, team of Veronica Ryan, Cadence Smith, Jacqueline Shuman, Georgia Parker
- 9th Watauga C, team of Adela Garmendia, Marley Woolard, Emerald Martinez, Grace Lesesnes
- 10th Watauga D, team of Autumn Gardner, Emma Lewis, Bridget Flaherty, Katu Nzyoki
- 100 Backstroke
- 1st Annabelle Stewart
- 6th Annie Willis
- 100 Breaststroke
- 1st Maggie Cheves
- 6th Katu Nzyoki
- `400 Freestyle Relay
- 2nd, Watauga A, team of Annabelle Stewart, Grace Lesesne, Iyla Freed, Cadence Smith
- 4th, Watauga B, team of Coco Mente, Madelyn Elmore, Ella Anderson, Veronica Ryan
NOTEWORTH PERFORMANCES, WATAUGA MEN
- 200 Medley Relay
- 1st Watauga A, team of Anson Ross, Ryan Wood, Vaughn Ladd, Michael Makdad
- 3rd Watauga B, team of Luke Hunter, Samuel Nixon, Samuel Rex, Nickolas Lyons
- 200 Freestyle
- 2nd Summit Allan
- 3rd Trathan Gragg
- 200 Individual Medley
- 2nd Michael Makdad
- 50 Freestyle (11 Pioneers entered)
- 2nd Vaughn Ladd
- 4th Anson Ross
- 5th Levi Temple
- 6th Drew Jasper
- 7th Luke Hunter
- 9th Arden Jackson
- 10th Nickolas Lyons
- 100 Butterfly
- 1st Ryan Wood
- 2nd Samuel Rex
- 100 Freestyle (12 Pioneers entered)
- 1st Anson Ross
- 2nd Vaughn Ladd
- 5th Levi Temple
- 6th Summit Allan
- 8th Trathan Gragg
- 9th Drew Jasper
- 10th Arden Jackson
- 500 Freestyle
- 2nd Ryan Wood
- 200 Freestyle Relay
- 1st Watauga A, team of Levi Temple, Vaughn Ladd, Anson Ross, Michael Makdad
- 2nd Watauga B, team of Trathan Gragg, Samuel Rex, Drew Jasper, Summit Allan
- 6th Watauga C, team of Arden Jackson, Ezekiel Walker, Asbury Ross, Silas Powell
- 100 Backstroke
- 2nd Luke Hunter
- 3rd Nickolas Lyons
- 100 Breaststroke
- 1st Michael Makdad
- 3rd Samuel Nixon
- 400 Freestyle Relay
- 2nd Watauga A, team of Ryan Wood, Arden Jackson, Haines Heistand, Drew Jasper
- 3rd Watauga B, team of Silas Powell, Trathan Gragg, Luke Hunter, Summit Allan
