Records fall in Northwestern Conference swim meet

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Record-breaking performances highlighted the 2023 3A/4A Northwestern Conference Swimming Championships on Jan. 25, hosted by the Watauga Community Recreation Center, even if league records are somewhat of a moving target given periodic conference realignment.

Under the new conference alignment that now includes Watauga, South Caldwell, Ashe County, Freedom, Hibriten and Alexander Central, the Pioneers own 15 records among the 24 men’s and women’s events. Eight of those were either established or lowered in the 2023 conference meet.

Watauga junior Lauren Patterson is part of six of those record-setting performances after lowering her own record in the Women’s 100 Yard Butterfly and the Women’s 100 Yard Backstroke in Wednesday’s competition. Looking at the Northwestern Conference historical performances and not adjusting for realignment, Patterson still owns four individual NWC records and is part of two record-setting relay performances, both set at the 2022 Northwestern Conference meet.

Other noteworthy performances that set records under the new conference alignment were Virginia St. Clair (WATAUGA, Women’s 200 Freestyle, Women’s 400 Freestyle Relay), Maggie Cheves (WATAUGA, Women’s 200 IM, Women’s 500 Freestyle, Women’s 400 Freestyle Relay), Ryan Wood (WATAUGA, Men’s 200 IM), and Avery Annas (S. CALDWELL, Men’s 100 Breaststroke).

WOMEN’S TEAM SCORES

1. 1. Watauga (386)
   2. Hibriten (236)
   3. South Caldwell (214)
   4. Freedom (139)
   5. Alexander Central (126)
   6. Ashe County (23)

MEN’S TEAM RESULTS

1. 1. Watauga (351)
   2. South Caldwell (235)
   3. Freedom (193)
   4. Hibriten (117)
   5. Alexander Central (68)
   6. Ashe County (28)

RESULTS FROM THE 2023 NWC CHAMPIONSHIPS (top 3 places)

Women’s 200 Yard Medley Relay (7 entries)

1. 1. Watauga A (1:57.02), team comprised of Maggie Cheves, Lauren Patterson, Elise Rasco, Athena Elliott
   2. South Caldwell A (2:17.04), team comprised of Chloe Bolick, Zoe Annas, Jade Moyer, Kaylee Moore
   3. Hibriten A (2:19.48), team comprised of Laci McPeak, Anslie Norris, Addison Brookeshire, Scout Spencer

Men’s 200 Yard Medley Relay (5 entries)

1. 1. Watauga A (1:50.74), team comprised of Anson Ross, Ryan Wood, Michael Madkad, Vaughn Ladd
   2. South Caldwell A (1:52.41), team comprised of Sawyer Thompson, Skyler Shew, Avery Annas, Owen Griffith
   3. Hibriten A (2:24.36), team comprised of Richard Hedrick, Patrick Anders, Aedon Stevens, Nathan Mull

Women’s 200 Yard Freestyle (18 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA – Virginia St. Clair (2:03.63)
   2. HIBRITEN – Elettra Dalcerri (2:05.69)
   3. FREEDOM – Maria Perez-Rodriguez (2:27.49)

Men’s 200 Yard Freestyle (16 entries)

1. 1. S. CALDWELL – Avery Annas (1:54.66)
   2. FREEDOM – Emerson Miller (2:00.11)
   3. WATAUGA – Michael Makdad (2:07.27)

Women’s 200 Yard Individual Medley (12 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA – Maggie Cheves (1:18.91)
   2. WATAUGA – Elise Rasco (2:33.62)
   3. WATAUGA – Annabelle Stewart (2:46.73)

Men’s 200 Yard Individual Medley (5 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA – Ryan Wood (2:17.19)
   2. WATAUGA – Wesley Coatney (2:28.63)
   3. ALEXANDER CENTRAL – George Bynon ( 2:41.34)

Women’s 50 Yard Freestyle (27 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA – Athena Elliott (26.33)
   2. S. CALDWELL – Chloe Bolick (28.59)
   3. WATAUGA – Macie Kent (28.78)

Men’s 50 Yard Freestyle (34 entries)

1. 1. S. CALDWELL – Owen Griffith (24.50)
   2. WATAUGA – Vaughn Ladd (24.55)
   3. FREEDOM – Nate Carswell (25.38)

Women’s 100 Yard Butterfly (11 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA – Lauren Patterson ((57.15)
   2. HIBRITEN – Elettra Dalcerri (1:02.99)
   3. WATAUGA – Athena Elliott (1:06.59)

Men’s 100 Yard Butterfly (6 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA – Anson Ross (102.30)
   2. WATAUGA – Vaughn Ladd (1:02.71)
   3. FREEDOM – Caelan Houpe (1:14.42)

Women’s 100 Yard Freestyle (22 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA – Virginia St. Clair (56.01)
   2. WATAUGA – Lola Herring (1:00.08)
   3. S.CALDWELL – Chloe Bolick (1:05.07)

Men’s 100 Yard Freestyle (24 entries)

1. 1. FREEDOM – Emerson Miller (51.97)
   2. WATAUGA – Ryan Wood (51.98)
   3. S. CALDWELL – Owen Griffith (56.08)

Women’s 500 Yard Freestyle (16 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA – Maggie Cheves (5:43.92)
   2. WATAUGA – Annabelle Stewart (6:28.91)
   3. FREEDOM – Maria Perez-Rodriguez (6:51.13)

Men’s 500 Yard Freestyle (11 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA – Wesley Coatney (6:12.31)
   2. HIBRITEN – Garrett Goudas (6:17.86)
   3. FREEDOM – Trey Truitt (6:43.89)

Women’s 200 Yard Freestyle Relay (6 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA A (1:45.49), team comprised of Lauren Patterson, Lola Herring, Athena Elliott, Virginia St. Clair
   2. HIBRITEN A (1:57.66), team comprised of Acacia Felmlee, Anslie Norris, Darby Keen, Elettra Dalcerri
   3. ALEXANDER CENTRAL A (2:00.62), team comprised of Grace Bass, Mariana Pastor, Monabella Rex, Isabella Sturgill

Men’s 200 Yard Freestyle Relay (6 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA A (1:41.56), team comprised of Paul Gamiel, Wesley Coatney, Anson Ross, Vaughn Ladd
   2. FREEDOM A (1:42.77), team comprised of Caelan Houpe, Asher Ellis, Trey Truitt, Emerson Miller
   3. HIBRITEN A (1:54.42), team comprised of Richard Hedrick, Matt Land, Jesse Tester, Nathan Mull

Women’s 100 Yard Backstroke (17 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA – Lauren Patterson (58.10)
   2. WATAUGA – Lola Herring (1:06.76)
   3. WATAUGA – Macie Kent (1:17.09)

Men’s 100 Yard Backstroke (13 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA – Michael Makdad (1:04.07)
   2. WATAUGA – Anson Ross (1:04.34)
   3. FREEDOM – Nate Carswell (1:05.46)

Women’s 100 Yard Breaststroke (13 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA – MK Riddle (1:22.20)
   2. HIBRITEN – Anslie Norris (1:27.69)
   3. S. CALDWELL – Taylor Guzman (1:29.47)

Men’s 100 Yard Breaststroke (13 entries)

1. 1. S. CALDWELL – Avery Annas (1:05.04)
   2. WATAUGA – Paul Gamiel (1:14.56)
   3. FREEDOM – Caelan Houpe (1:18.60)

Women’s 400 Yard Freestyle Relay (5 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA A (4:01.31), team comprised of Elise Rasco, Lola Herring, Maggie Cheves, Virginia St. Clair
   2. HIBRITEN A (4:29.47), team comprised of Darby Keen, Acacia Felmlee, Laci McPeak, Elettra Dalcerri
   3. S. CALDWELL A (4:37.93), team comprised of Makayla Felts, Jade Moyer, Kaylee Moore, Chloe Bolick

Men’s 400 Yard Freestyle Relay (5 entries)

1. 1. WATAUGA A (3:47.83), team comprised of Ben Parker, Wesley Coatney, Michael Makdad, Ryan Wood
   2. S. CALDWELL A (3:51.75), team comprised of Owen Griffith, Sawyer Thompson, Skyler Shew, Avery Annas
   3. FREEDOM A (3:51.97), team comprised of Trey Truitt, Asher Ellis, Nate Carswell, Emerson Miller