High School State Championships: South Carolina Boys and Girls

COLUMBIA, South Carolina, October 8. LET the high school swimming season begin! South Carolina high school swimmers opened up the championship season for 2012-13 Oct. 6 in Columbia, S.C. Five state records were lowered, and there was plenty of excitement during the day.

Division 4A
Four of the five state records fell in Division 4 action during the morning session. Wando's Megan Kingsley shattered her own record, set last year, in the 200 IM with her 2:00.99. Kingsley's previous record was 2:05.88. She also erased Megan Pulskamp's 2003 mark of 56.89 with her 54.03. Nicole Fuller from North Augusta is the newest record holder in the 500 free. Her 4:56.43 bettered Austen Carter's 4:59.54 from 2003. Clover's Garrett Hills was the only boys' record setter. His 45.88 lowered the state mark in the 100 free, previously set in 2009 by Bryan Hornikel (45.96).

Fuller also captured the 200 free with her 1:51.70. Her teammate, Kelsey Williams, was tops in the 50 free (24.38), just ahead of Clover's Morgan Rulevich (24.41). Rulevich came away from the meet with a victory in the 100 breast (1:06.79). Other event champions on the girls' side included Dorman's Tori Augermeier (100 free, 52.06) and Micah Bohon from Ashley Ridge (100 back, 56.80).

Hillis also posted a winning time in the 50 free (20.83). Two other swimmers were double-event champions: North Augusta's Eric Collins (200 free, 1:41.87; 100 breast, 58.14) and Jonathon Boland, representing Spring Valley (100 back, 51.52; 100 fly, 50.30). Wando's Zach Lierley, who placed second to Boland in the 100 back (51.61), emerged on top in the 200 IM (1:54.03). Wando's Dirk Bell edged out A. Faciszewski from Bluffton in the 500 free, 4:34.50-4:34.57.

Fort Mill and Wando tied for first in the girls 400 free relay, each posting a 3:36.68. Fort Mill also topped the field in the 200 free relay (1:39.94), and J.L. Mann was first in the 200 medley (1:50.47). Three different squads claimed the top spot in boys relay action. Wando edged Spring Valley in the 200 medley, 1:38.47-1:38.51; Fort Mill was victorious in the 200 free relay (1:29.14) and Clover's 3:13.03 earned them the win in the 400 free.

Wando edged out Fort Mill for the girls championship title, 330-320. J.L. Mann followed closely in third with 305, just ahead of Riverside (299). Mauldin finished in fifth with 281.5 points. Wando also claimed the boys title with 310 points. Riverside was second (288), followed by J.L. Mann (262), Spring Valley (252) and Clover (231).

Division 3A
Division 3A swimmers took the pool for their portion of the state meet in the afternoon session. Hilton Head, with 498.5 points, easily took the girls team title. Greenville placed second, just ahead of St. Josephs (302.5-299.5). James Island grabbed fourth (261), ahead of Academic Magnet (248). Academic Magnet was tops in the boys competition, scoring 428 points. Bishop England was second (367), followed by Socastee (330), Waccamaw (241) and St. Josephs (234).

Bishop England's Matthew Adams, with his 1:41.27 in the 200 free, was the only record setter in Division 3A action. He bettered Justin Ashcroft's 2008 time of 1:41.64. Adams also was first in the 100 back (51.92). Adam Dear from Waccamaw was first in the 100 fly (50.77) and 200 IM (1:55.71). Single-event champions included Academic Magnet's Nate Silvestri (50 free, 22.37) and James Koval (500 free, 4:44.84); A.C. Flora's Garrett Ocker (100 free, 47.53) and Socastee's Walker Harwell (100 breast, 59.96).

The only girl to claim more than one individual event was Katrina Konopka from St. Joseph's, who scored wins in the sprint free events (50 free, 24.01; 100 free, 52.18). Individual titles went to James Island's Hannah Craig (200 free, 1:55.56) and Caty Hueske (100 back, 59.95); Hilton Head's Camille Felix (500 free, 5:07.98) and Cassie Ley (200 IM, 2:10.05); Christ Church's 100 breast, 1:09.66) and Greenville's M. Whisenhunt (100 fly, 58.96). Kate Kelly from St. Joseph's finished 5-hundredths slower than Whisenhunt in the 100 fly (59.01).

In relay action, Hilton Head claimed the girls 200 medley (1:52.64) and 400 free (3:38.84), with James Island spoiling a sweep with their 1:40.73 triumph in the 200 free. The Bishop England boys swept the freestyle relay events (200 free, 1:29.07; 400 free, 3:16.75), and Socastee finished a fingertip ahead in the 200 medley over Greenville, 1:41.32-1:41.33.

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