Wildcat Boys Place First At Home, Second In Timesland
In its first home meet of the season, the Rockbridge County High School boys swimming team defeated Shenandoah District rival Alleghany and Central, while the RC girls beat Alleghany and lost to Central on Friday night at the Rockridge Aquatics Center.
The Wildcats then had a quick turnaround and raced again on Saturday at the All-Timesland Invitational at the Gator Aquatic Center in Roanoke, where the RC boys placed second of 12 teams and the girls finished ninth.
At the home meet, the RC boys cruised to a 123-12 win over Alleghany and beat Central 97-69. The RC girls beat Alleghany 81-32, while Central overcame the Wildcats 9665.
WILDCAT FRESHMAN Elliot Steele races in the backstroke section of the boys’ 200-yard medley relay, which the Wildcats won in a regional-qualifying time of 1:49.41. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
The RC boys won seven individual races and all three relays. Winning two individual races each were brothers Lincoln and Elliot Steele. Lincoln claimed the 200-yard freestyle in 2:06.36 and the 500yard freestyle in 5:53.95, while Elliot won the 200yard individual medley in 2:24.47 and the 100-yard backstroke in 1:03.61, a regional-qualifying time.
Ben Gresham won the 50yard freestyle in 25.94 seconds, while Keagan Black claimed the 100-yard butterfly in a regional-qualifying time of 55.93. Black had already qualified for the Region 3C meet in the 100-yard backstroke at a meet on Dec. 17 in Harrisonburg, and he didn’t compete in that race on Friday. Jacob Barney won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:11.04. Also qualifying for the Region 3C meet at the Dec. 17 meet was Ru Bucy in the 500-yard freestyle.
The RC boys won the 200-yard medley in a regional-qualifying time of 1:49.41. Team members were Barney, Black, Gresham and Elliot Steele. In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Black teamed up with Barney, Bucy and Lincoln Steele to win in 1:43.91. The RC boys also claimed the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:50.38, with team members Black, Gresham and Lincoln and Elliot Steele.
The RC girls won two individual races and the 200yard medley relay. Alice Gresham won the 100-yard butterfly in 1:38.49, while Lexi Walters claimed the 500-yard freestyle in 7:17.27. In the 200-yard medley relay, Gresham and Walters teamed up with Aliana Braman and Camille Fuentes to win in 2:31.38.
Wildcats Excel At Gator Leading the RC boys to their runner-up finish at the All-Timesland Meet on Saturday was the 400-yard freestyle relay team, which won in a regional-qualifying time of 3:36.06. Team members were Barney, Black, Ben Gresham and Elliot Steele.
With the same four team members, the RC boys placed second in the 200yard medley relay in a regional-qualifying time of 1:48.
Black placed second in both of his races, finishing the 100-yard backstroke in a state-qualifying time of 55.15 seconds and completing the 100-yard butterfly in 54.91.
Lincoln Steele achieved a regional-qualifying time in the 500-yard freestyle, placing third in 5:29.31.
Alice Gresham had the top finish for the RC girls, placing 10th in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:25.05.
Proud of her swimmers for how they performed over the weekend, RC head coach Erica Bisaillon said, “The kids have been working very hard, and we’re seeing those results paying off.”
The Wildcats will compete at Heritage on Friday at 7 p.m. They have added another home meet to the schedule next Wednesday, Jan. 21, against district rival Wilson Memorial and Rocktown at 5:30 p.m. at the Rockbridge Aquatics Center. Before the meet, the Wildcats will honor their four seniors: boys Black and Fisher Howald and girls Walters and Alice Gresham.
RC SOPHOMORE Jacob Barney gets some air during the breaststroke section of the boys’ winning 200-yard medley relay. Individually, Barney won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:11.04. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
