This past weekend, Savannah-area high school swimmers made a big splash taking home three Georgia High School Association swimming state titles. The GHSA Swimming and Diving Championships took place at the Georgia Tech Aquatics Center, and local student-athletes made a name for themselves. Two gold medals went to Savannah Arts Academy Aaron Seymour and one to Richmond Hill's Stephen Jones.
On Saturday, Aaron Seymour of Savannah Arts Academy would have a
big day in the pool, winning a pair of Class A-AAA state titles. With a time of 20.26 seconds, he won the 50-yard freestyle. He also won state in the 100-meter backstroke for the third year in a row, with a time of 48.74 seconds.
Alex Wayner in the girl's pool was another standout making waves for the Panthers. Wayner finished third twice, one with a time of 1:02.87 in the Class A-AAA Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke and in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:05.41.
Stephen Jones of Richmond Hill won the Class AAAAAA state
championship in the Boys 500 Yard Freestyle. Jones finished in 4:33.85 seconds. Jones would also take third place in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 48.85 seconds.
Jones's Wildcat teammates Sebastian Rosales and Aiden Gray also had strong performances. Rosales would place fifth in the Class AAAAAA 50 Yard Freestyle in 21.69 seconds, and Gray would rank fourth in the 200 Yard Freestyle with a time of 1:46.16.
Combine these three Wildcat swimmers and add a fourth they scored more team points. The Boys 400 Freestyle team of Jones, Rosales, Gray, and Josh Mattison finished third with a time of 3:11.41 and added Xander Brion on the 200 Medley Relay team to finish fourth with a time of 1:37.18. As a team the Wildcats boy's team finished 4th.
Photo (l-r) - Sebastian Rosales, Aiden Gray, Josh Mattison, Stephen Jones
Reese Whelan of Benedictine finished second in the Class AAAA-AAAAA Boys 100 Yard Breaststroke with a time of 59.41 seconds. Kaiden Dibkey, a Cadet teammate, finished third in the 500 Yard Freestyle with a time of 4:50.40.
Reese Whelan - Benedictine
Kaiden Dibkey - Benedictine
The St. Vincent's Saints swim team came in third place in Class A-AAA. The 200 Yard Medley Relay team for St. Vincent's Academy, with a time of 1:52.44, also took third place as a team. The 200 Yard Medley Relay team from St. Vincent's Academy, Avery Nelson, Ella Nelson, Molly O'Rourke, and Elizabeth Penniman, took third place. The 200 Yard Free Relay team of Avery Nelson, Ella Nelson, Beth Ann Ward, and Elizabeth Penniman placed fourth with a time of 1:41.75
Photo (l-r) - Avery Nelson (10th), Ella Nelson (9th), Molly O'Rourke (10th), Elizabeth Penniman (12th)
The last splash in the pool in the Class A-AAA Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke, Yenna Park of Savannah Country Day, finished fourth with a time of 1:06.10.
Photo credits - GHSA Twitter acount, Richmond Hill High School Facebook page, WJCL Frank Sulkowski, Savannah Country Day Facebook, Savannah Arts Academy Coach Laura Mills
Optim Orthopedics supports Benedictine Military School, Calvary Day School, Richmond Hill High School, Savannah Country Day, South Effingham High School, and St. Vincent's athletics. Benedictine Military School's team doctor is Dr. David Sedory. Dr. David Palmer is the team doctor for Calvary Day School, South Effingham, and Richmond Hill. Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander.
