2016 North Carolina High School State Championships: Pine Lake Prep Victorious in Taking 1A/2A Division Title, Carrboro A Close Second

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By Sophia Chiang, Swimming World College Intern

Pine Lake Preparatory High School was victorious in taking the combined overall 1A/2A NCHSAA high school state championship title on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary, North Carolina. Winning in a total of 486 points, with second place Carrboro High School right on their tail in 449 points, both teams led the way for an exciting 1A/2A division meet. Their swims, along with many others, made it an exciting meet from start to finish.

The Lake Norman Charter ladies set the tone of the night in the first event, the women’s 200 yard medley relay, where the squad of Carole Fish, Riggan Ayscue, Ariel Hopper, and Andrea Gartner won in 1:50.39, slightly out touching the women of Carrboro, Paloma Baca, Audrey Costley, Mia Morrell, and Annaliese Merry (1:50.81). Although the Carrboro women missed out on the medley state title, the Carrboro men were victorious next in the men’s 200 yard medley relay, where the team composed of Will Macmillan, Simon Deshusses, Myles Miller, and Jack Dozier pulled ahead of second place Bishop McGuinness for a 1:37.63 finish.

Lincoln Charter’s Christina Lappin lit the way at the start of the individual events in the 200 yard freestyle, where she clocked 1:49.95, out several seconds ahead of second place, Raleigh Charter’s Sydney Willis (1:52.65). On the men’s side, Carrboro’s Macmillan was back in the pool already after the relay for his first individual state title of the night, clocking 1:36.99, nearly eight seconds ahead of his prelims time, and sweeping second place Lake Norman Charter’s Padgett Powe (1:42.52).

Lincoln Charter’s women took home a second individual state title in the 200 yard individual medley with Alexandra Baker winning in 2:05.75, with East Surry’s Kelsey Tunstall in second in 2:09.15. Mount Pleasant’s Danny Dilks won the men’s individual medley in 1:52.27, and Lincoln Charter’s Taylor Powell in close second in 1:52.80.

Alyssa Marsh of Pine Lake Prep scorched the women’s 50 yard freestyle in 22.83, pulling nearly two seconds ahead of the pack, and of second place finisher Lily Whalen of Raleigh Charter. Marsh, the daughter of USA swimming’s legendary coach David Marsh, is committed to Duke University, and is already a 2-event Olympic Trials qualifier. West Davidson’s Alex Van Der Linden was victorious in the men’s 50 yard freestyle, sprinting for the win in 21.17. Close behind was Pine Lake Prep’s Christian McDonough (21.68) and in third, Bishop McGuinness’s Alex Strasser (21.96).

Marsh won her second state title of the night in the women’s 100 yard butterfly in 53.23, knocking out Salisbury’s Kathryn Morrison (55.27). For the men, Carrboro’s Macmillan was victorious once more in 48.26, taking out Bishop McGuinness’s Strasser (50.50).

Lincoln Charter’s Lappin also took her second state title home in the 100 yard freestyle, clocking in at 50.64, way ahead of second place finisher KK Rasbornik of Pine Lake Prep (53.96). Van Der Linden also saw his second state title of the night in the 100 yard freestyle, taking the win in 47.07 ahead of Forest Hills’s Andrew Tucker (48.64).

Willis claimed her first state title of the night in the women’s 500 yard freestyle, knocking almost fifteen seconds off her prelim time in a finish of 5:06.99, followed closely by Carrboro’s Paloma Baca (5:07.87). Meanwhile, First Flight’s Hunter Crook also took home his first title in 4:36.37, taking out his heat and second place finisher Powe (4:41.53).

Pine Lake’s women grabbed a relay title in the next event, the women’s 200 yard freestyle relay, in 1:36.84, in a team consisting of Allyson Accordino, Rose Auten, Rasbornik, and Marsh, several seconds ahead of second place finisher Lincoln Charter (1:39.72). On the men’s side, Bishop McGuinness was victorious, in a team of Strasser, Sean Farley, Thomas Hamlet, and Jeffery Davidson (1:28.98), ahead of second place Mount Pleasant (1:30.49).

The women’s 100 yard backstroke was a great race, too — Parkwood’s Lexi Souther grabbed her title in 54.64, with Salisbury’s Morrison clocking in right after her in (54.83). Washington’s Kevin Andrews won the men’s title in 51.76, ahead of Bishop McGuinness’s Hamlet (53.46). The 100 breaststroke saw close finishes between Lake Norman Charter’s Riggin Ayscue (1:06.28) and Lincoln Charter’s Alexandria Baker (1:06.91). For the men, Danny Dilks won his second title of the night in 56.51, beating Lincoln Charter’s Powell (58.09).

Pine Lake took home another relay victory in the final event of the evening, the 400 yard freestyle relay. Marsh, Rasbornik, Lindsey Allison, and Accordino clocked in at 3:34.51, ahead of Carrboro’s team (3:38.10). However, Carrboro’s men were victorious in their 400 yard freestyle relay; Macmillan, Caleb Bollenbacher, Jack Dozier, and Simon Deshusses grabbing the title in 3:12.49, ahead of Lincoln Charter’s men (3:16.02).

That’s a wrap for this year’s NCHSAA High School Swimming Championships, and for tonight’s 1A/2A championship events. Please visit this page for meet results. Stay tuned for more coverage as we here at Swimming World continue to bring to you high school and college championship meets across the country.

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Bill Bell

8 years ago

Alysssa Marsh has prs of 22.48r/48.77r (50-100 frees) and 52.95 (100 fly), all @ last December’s NJOs/East in Atlanta for SwimMAC.

Guess her dad DOES know a ting or three about developing top swimmers. She could make a big impact @ next year’s ACCs for the Blue Devils. Wonder if she can also shoot the 25-foot jumper?