By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — No event was closer on Jan. 22 than the Women’s 100 Yard Butterfly during the 3A/4A Northwestern Conference Swimming Championships. South Caldwell’s Peyton Felts edged out Watauga’s Athena Elliott by a mere 1/100th of a second to capture the Butterfly title, recording a 1:00.60 vs. Elliott’s 1:00.61.
Another thriller was in the Women’s 500-Yard Freestyle. Just three seconds separated the event’s top two finishers, with Watauga’s Addie Wilson completing the day’s longest race in 5:34.90, vs. runner-up Hannah Wasson of South Caldwell, in 5:37.93.
In the Men’s 100-Yard Backstroke, No. 1 Nate Carswell (Freedom) edged out No. 2 Max Clark (South Caldwell), 1:00.22 vs. 1:00.92, so just over half a second separating the two.

Among the relays, one of the most thrilling races of the night came at the evening’s end with the Men’s 400-Yard Relay. Watauga’s relay team of Stacy Eggers, Lanson Gilbert, Silas Powell and Michael Makdad touched the finish pad just ahead of South Caldwell’s Owen Griffith, Harriss Inman, Max Clark and Nathan Hall, 3:38.63 vs 3:39.07.
There were a few decisive or “blowout” performances, too, beginning with Watauga’s Maggie Cheves in the Women’s 200-Yard Freestyle. The Pioneer senior’s 2:01.84 was almost 11 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor. Similarly, in the Men’s 200-Yard Freestyle, Hibriten’s Nathan Mull recorded 1:59.97, almost a 10 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.
In the Men’s 200 Individual Medley, Watauga’s Michael Makdad swam to a 2:11.80, almost 10 seconds before the next Northwestern Conference swimmer recorded a finish.
At 57.05, Watauga’s Lola Herring was a full two seconds ahead of No. 2 Ama Higgs of Hibriten in the Women’s 100-Yard Freestyle. Out of the 30 swimmers in the event, the Pioneers had six athletes in the top 11, with Chessy Martin (No. 3), Amelia Bennett (No. 8), Kaitlyn Meyer (No. 9), Grace Lesesne (No. 10) and Zoe Critcher (No. 11). Only the top 3 from each school are actually scorers, but the Watauga performances reflect the women’s team’s roster depth.
In the Men’s 100-Yard Freestyle, South Caldwell’s Owen Griffith outswam 19 other Northwestern Conference competitors, finishing in 47.93, almost 7 seconds ahead of Hibriten athlete JP Andrews’ No. 2 time of 54.88. Watauga junior Silas Powell was No. 3, less than a second behind Andrews at 55.65.

Michael Makdad (Watauga) was a clear winner in the Men’s 100-Yard Breaststroke, finishing five seconds ahead of his nearest competitor, Mason Hubbard of South Caldwell, 1:07.74 vs. 1:12.73.
Among the top freshman swimmers competing in the Northwestern Conference regular season finale was Watauga’s Lanson Gilbert in the Men’s 500-Yard Freestyle, his 5:25.54 top time more than 10 seconds ahead of Freedom’s No. 2 finisher, Nicholas Chiota.
Watauga head coach David Gragg offered a candid assessment after the meet, suggesting it lived up to expectations.
TOP WATAUGA WOMEN PERFORMERS
- Maggie Cheves: 200-Yard Freestyle (No. 1), 200 Yard Freestyle Relay (No. 1), 100-Yard Backstroke (No. 1), 400-Yard Freestyle Relay (No. 1)
- Lola Herring: 200-Yard Medley Relay (No. 1), 100-Yard Freestyle (No. 1), 100-Yard Backstroke (No. 2), 400-Yard Freestyle Relay (No. 1)
- Athena Elliott: 200-Yard Medley Relay (No. 1), 50-Yard Freestyle (No. 1), 100-Yard Butterfly (No. 2), 200-Yard Freestyle Relay (No. 1)
- MK Riddle: 200-Yard Medley Relay (No. 1), 200-Yard Individual Medley (No. 4), 100-Yard Breaststroke (No. 4)
- Addie Wilson: 200-Yard Individual Medley (No. 1), 500-Yard Freestyle (No. 1), 200-Yard Freestyle Relay (No. 1), 400-Yard Freestyle Relay (No. 1)
- Tessa Buchanan: 200-Yard Medley Relay (No. 1), 100-Yard Butterfly (No. 3), 200-Yard Freestyle Relay (No. 1), 100-Yard Breaststroke (No. 2)
- Chessy Martin: 100-Yard Freestyle (No. 3), 500-Yard Freestyle (No. 3), 400-Yard Freestyle Relay (No. 1)
TOP WATAUGA MEN PERFORMERS
- Michael Makdad: 200-Yard Medley Relay (No. 3), 200-Yard Individual Medley (No. 1), 100-Yard Breaststroke (No. 1), 400-Yard Freestyle Relay
- Silas Powell: 200-Yard Medley Relay (No. 3), 50-Yard Freestyle (No. 4), 100-Yard Freestyle (No. 3), 400-Yard Freestyle Relay (No. 1)
- Stacy Eggers: 200-Yard Freestyle (No. 2), 500-Yard Freestyle (No. 5), 200-Yard Freestyle Relay (No. 3), 400-Yard Freestyle Relay (No. 1)
- Lanson Gilbert: 200-Yard Medley Relay (No. 3), 100-Yard Butterfly (No. 1), 500-Yard Freestyle (No. 1), 400-Yard Freestye Relay (No. 1)
WOMEN’S TEAM SCORES
- Watauga (385)
- South Caldwell (245)
- Hibriten (238)
- Alexander Central (139)
- Freedom (78)
- Ashe County (28)
MEN’S TEAM SCORES
- South Caldwell (272)
- Watauga (248)
- Hibriten (217)
- Freedom (198)
- Alexander Central (164.5)
- Ashe County (3.5)