High School State Championships: Louisiana Boys and Girls, Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4

SULPHUR, Louisiana, November 24. DURING a four-day period from Nov. 16-19, several hundred of Louisiana's top high schoolers competed in four divisions at the Louisiana State High School Championships in Sulphur.

Division 1: Nov. 18-19
Two state and two divisional records fell, all on the women's side. Fontainebleau junior Kara Kopcso lowered the state mark in the 100 fly to 55.70, and added a division record to her resume with a 2:04.88 in the 200 IM. The other state standard was set by the Mandeville 200 medley relay of senior Emma Levendoski, sophomore Alexandra Cloutet, freshman Lia Joslin and junior Jonna Frantz, who combined for a 1:49.13. Levendoski also lowered the divisional mark in the 100 back with her 56.22 victory.

Fontainebleau captured both freestyle relays. In the 200, they managed a 1-hundredth victory with their squad of senior Haley Goertz, freshman Grace Tucker, junior Alicia Rattigan and Kopcso (1:38.84) over Mandeville's quartet of Frantz, Levendoski, Cloutet and freshman Megan Loop. Fontainebleau's quartet had a much easier time in the 400 free, cruising to a 3:36.99.

St. Joseph's came in first in the team title by 2-1/2 points in front of Northshore, 354-351.5. Mandeville was third (261), followed by Fontainebleau (222.5) and Dominican (157).

On the boys side, two seniors tied for first in the 100 fly. Baton Rouge Catholic's Grant Grenfell and Archbishop Rummel's Eric Klein each posted a 49.95. Grenfell also was first in the 100 back (50.50), and Klein was victorious in the 200 IM 91:53.04). Another exciting race took place in the 50 free, where Fontainebleau senior Thomas Beckstrom's 21.40 put him 3-hundredths ahead of Archbishop Rummel senior Andy Melcher (21.43).

John Owens, a senior at Manderville, was a double event winner, scoring firsts in both the 100 free (46.78) and 200 free (1:41.84).

Baton Rouge Catholic emerged as the team champion (344.5 points), with Jesuit taking second (323), Fontainbleau third (287), Mandeville fourth (211) and Archbishop Rummel in fifth (179.5).

Division 2: Nov. 16-17
St. Scholastica dominated the girls competition, coming away with a first-place total 495 points. Pineville came in second (205), with South Lafourche in third (170) and Baton Rouge Magnet fourth (153). Alexandria squeaked into the fifth spot with 145 points, just ahead of Caddo Magnet (142) and St. Thomas More (141).

Three St. Scholastica girls emerged as double-event champions. Senior Liana Soileau was victorious in the 200 free (2:00.68) and 100 fly (1:03.72). Sophmore Kristen Jennings topped the field in the 100 back (1:00.12) and 200 IM (2:16.03). And freshman Madeleine Rawls touched first in the 100 free (54.28) and 100 breast (1:08.69).

Alexandria earned the first-place boys team trophy with their 319-point victory to Pineville's second-place 227. Holy Cross outswam Natchitoches for third, 188-186, with Baton Rouge Magnet close behind in fifth (177).

Collecting two wins apiece were Dylon Rykosky, a senior at East Jefferson, in the 200 free (1:43.89) and 100 fly (53.20); and Zack Begnaud, a junior at Natchitoches, in the 500 free (5:05.02) and 200 IM (2:04.04).

Division 3: Nov. 18-19
Both the boys and girls squads from Vandebilt Catholic took first in the team championships. The girls team amassed 277 points, with Episcopal in second (227), St. Charles Catholic third (215) and University fourth (160.5). Parkview Baptist grabbed the fifth position, one point ahead of Ursuline Academy, 134-133.

University senior Caroline Forbes captured the sprint free titles with her 24.85 in the 50 and 54.10 in the 100. Ursuline Academy senior Katie Stahel stroked to victory in the 200 free (2:00.17) and 500 free (5:17.74).

The boys team totaled 327 points for their win, with St. Charles Catholic second (250), E.D. White in third (231), Lutcher fourth (227) and Parkview Baptist fifth (202).

Clay Furr, a senior at University High, posted Division 3 records in both the 200 free (1:45.53) and 100 fly (51.19). John Miller, a sophomore at Parkview Baptist, lowered the 500 free Division 3 mark to 4:48.45.

Gage Alleman, a junior at St. Charles Catholic, was victorious in the 100 back (54.93) and 200 IM (2:00.05).

Division 4: Nov. 16-17
Newman took charge of the Division 4 championships, placing first in both the girls (354 points) and boys (367 points) divisions. Dunham was second in girls scoring with 347 points. McGehee, with 152 points, edged out St. Martin's (151) and Ascension Episcopal (149) for third. St. Martin's took second with 207 points. Cedar Creek and Patrick F. Taylor both totaled 158 points for a third-place tie, with Westminster coming in fifth with 119.

Four swimmers enjoyed the thrill of victory twice. Newman junior Angele Cherbonnier was first in both the 50 free (25.18) and 100 breast (1:12.02). Episcopal School of Acadiana junior Anna Buttaci captured the 100 fly (1:01.97) and 200 IM (2:19.57). Pat Taylor senior Brennan Edler was tops in the boys 50 free (22.42) and 200 free (1:49.65), and Patrick Riess took home titles in the 100 free (49.89) and 100 back (54.97).

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