By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Strong performances by the Watauga men’s swimming team, including junior Wesley Coatney’s part in winning three events, two individuals and one relay, powered the Pioneers to dual meet victories over all five opponents in the 6-way dual meet on Dec. 10 at the Watauga Community Recreation Center.
In addition to Watauga, competitors in the Men’s Division came from South Caldwell, Elkin, Starmount, Pinnacle Classical Academy, and Ashe County.
Selected Team Scores:
- Watauga 48, Elkin 40
- Watauga 56, South Caldwell 38
- Watauga 70, Starmount 15
- Watauga 77, Pinnacle Classical Academy 4
- Watauga 77, Ashe County 1
- Elkin 49, South Caldwell 40
- Starmount 25, Pinnacle Classical Academy 22
Of the six schools, Watauga benefited from roster depth, getting fast times from younger swimmers who may not have won an event but picked up team points by their strong finishes relative to the other teams.
In the Men’s 200 Yard Freestyle, Coatney finished a full 18 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor, Sawyer Poindexter of Elkin. Coatney followed that up later in the meet with a win in the 500 Yard Freestyle, this time ahead of Starmount’s Ashton Hartzog. Coatney started off with a first lap of 31.17 seconds, slowed down to as much as 40.63 seconds in the sixth lap, but blazed through the tenth lap, bringing it home with a 35.75 for a full race time of 6:17.66. Hartzog was a distant 6:25.48.
Coatney also led off Watauga’s first place effort in the Men’s 400 Yard Freestyle Relay, the day’s final event, followed by sophomore Paul Gamiel, freshman Michael Makdad, and anchored by senior Anson Ross. The quartet’s time of 3:55.65 edged second place Elkin’s 3:58.42 over that distance, including three exchanges and multiple turns at the wall.
SELECTED KEY PERFORMERS
- 200 Yard Medley Relay (6 entries)
- 2nd Watauga A, team of Michael Makdad, Paul Gamiel, Anson Ross and Levi Temple
- 200 Yard Freestyle (6 entries)
- 1st Wesley Coatney
- 3rd Trathan Gragg
- 200 Yard Individual Medley (5 entries)
- 1st Anson Ross
- 50 Yard Freestyle (30 entries)
- 3rd Michael Makdad
- 5th Eli Temple
- 8th Paul Gamiel
- 9th Drew Jasper
- 10th Samuel Rex
- 100 Yard Butterfly (5 entries)
- 2nd Michael Makdad
- 100 Yard Freestyle (18 entries)
- 3rd Summit Allan
- 6th Nick Lyons
- 7th Drew Jasper
- 9th Tasman Orkiszewski
- 10th Silas Powell
- 500 Yard Freestyle (5 entries)
- 1st Wesley Coatney
- 200 Yard Freestyle Relay (7 entries)
- 3rd Watauga, team of Nick Lyons, Drew Jasper, Summit Allan, Levi Temple
- 100 Yard Backstroke (7 entries)
- 3rd Samuel Rex
- 100 Yard Breaststroke (10 entries)
- 3rd Summit Allan
- 4th Paul Gamiel
- 5th Trathan Gragg
- 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
- 1st Watauga, team of Wesley Coatney, Paul Gamiel, Michael Makdad, Anson Ross
