Led by two all-state finishes by senior Keagan Black, with five boys competing, the Rockbridge County High School boys swimming team tied for 12th place of 31 teams at the Class 3 state swim meet on Thursday at the SwimRVA Collegiate School Aquatics Center in Richmond.
Black earned two medals and allstate honors by placing in the top six in his two individual races. He placed fourth in the 100-yard backstroke in 52.05 seconds and finished fifth in the 100-yard butterfly in 52.91. It was the end of an impressive high school career for Black, who earned all-state honors all four years. Black will continue his swimming career at the Division I level next year, as he signed a national letter of intent in November to continue his athletic and academic career locally at Virginia Military Institute.
In the 200-yard medley, Black teamed up with freshman Elliot Steele and sophomores Jacob Barney and Ben Gresham, but they were disqualified on a questionable call.
Following his last individual race, the 100-yard backstroke, Black made a choice as a team captain to give his spot in the finals of the 400yard freestyle relay to a younger swimmer, sophomore Ru Bucy, who teamed up with Gresham and Elliot and Lincoln Steele to place eighth to earn medals in 3:37.93. Black told the team the upcoming team captain needed to know they could compete in the race without Black.
Fourth-year RC head coach Erica Bisaillon, who has coached Black since he was a little boy, said the Wildcats will miss him. She said he “had a great show for his final individual events and then chose to support his team. The culture that he helped create this season has been very beneficial to the growth and community on the team, and I think that really drove the boys to get them there on Thursday.”
The RC coach said the members of the 400-yard freestyle relay team, who will all be returning, “swam their hearts out.”
Lincoln Steele also competed in dividually for the Wildcats, placing 13th in the 500-yard freestyle in 5:22.16.
In the team standings, the Wildcats scored 55 points to tie Rocktown for 12th place. Western Albemarle won with 451 points, Maggie L. Walker’s Governor’s School placed second with 160 points, and Monticello (155) finished third. Rounding out the top five were Goochland (150) and Liberty Christian Academy (147).
The Wildcats will graduate four seniors: Black and Fisher Howald for the boys and, for the girls, Alice Gresham and Lexi Walters.
WILDCATS DISPLAY their medals after placing eighth in the boys’ 400-yard freestyle relay, finishing in 3:37.93. They are (from second from left) junior Lincoln Steele, freshman Elliot Steele, sophomore Ru Bucy and sophomore Ben Gresham. (RC Athletics photo)
