Overall No. 1 Aqua Ads; CCS Mid-Level champs
HVA is Large Division runner-up; Bearden No. 4; KCHS finishes ninth
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Farragut High School swimmers are excited about a Knox-area Interscholastic Swim League overall first-place finish in UT’s Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center Saturday night, Jan. 28. This was the second straight KISL crown for the Aqua Admirals, who captured this year’s “City Meet” in convincing fashion. - Alan Sloan
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Concord Christian School swimmers celebrate a Knox-area Interscholastic Swim League Mid-Level Division first-place finish in UT’s Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center Saturday night, Jan. 28. CCS was third overall among a 31-team field during the two-day meet. - Alan Sloan
KNOXVILLE — It was dominant, with 716 points, and “it was very exciting.”
That quote summed up head coach Jessica Abrahamson’s feelings after her Farragut High School swim and dive team ran away with the 2023 Knox-area Interscholastic Swim League Meet (716 points), which ended with a strong finals showing Saturday, Jan. 28, in UT’s Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.
“This is the second year in a row we won this meet after an undefeated dual meet season,” the Admirals skipper added. “Prior to last year, FHS had not won a KISL championship in over 14 years — back when I swam with FHS. It’s just so cool to see this program coming back to life and showing off its full potential.”
CCS Lions Mid-level champs, other teams
Annie Abraham’s Concord Christian School Lions, while finishing third overall, were crowned Mid-Level Division KISL champions Saturday (320).
Hardin Valley Academy finished second overall (459), while Bearden took fourth (3.04.50) and Knoxville Catholic ninth (167) among a 31-team field.
Top Lady Ads, FHS boys
The Lady Admirals’ 200-yard medley relay team of Kendall Hudgens, Karley Wolfgram, Aydan Skelton and Grace LaCharite was champs (1:49.94), as was Skelton, Karolina Nosarzewski, Sophie Lu and Wolfgram in the 200-freestyle relay (1:41.02).
Nosarzewski, a sophomore, also was champ in the 100-breaststroke (1:06.40).
LaCharite, a senior, was second in the 200-yard freestyle and 100-free, as was Wolfgram, a sophomore, in the 200-IM.
Ella Roettger, a freshman, was second in the 500-freestyle, as was the Lady Ads foursome in the 400-freestyle relay.
Wolfgram also was third in the 100-butterfly.
Top Admirals boys were Camden Gerchar, a senior, who took second in the 50-freestyle. Leo Karnitz, a junior, finished runner-up in the 100-butterfly and 100-backstroke.
A pair of Admirals relay teams also were runner-ups: 200-medley and 400-freestyle.
Top Lady Lions, CCS boys
Freshman Anna Whitley was a double CCS Lady Lions champion, finishing first in 50-freestyle (:24.52) and No. 1 in 100-freestyle (:53.26).
On the Concord Christian boys side, champions included the 200-medley relay foursome of Logan Hall, Christopher Rector, Charlie Houston and Kolby Leach (1:37.02). The same Lions foursome also won the 200-freestyle relay (1:28.38).
Hall, a junior, also finished first in 50-freestyle (:21.36) and 100-freestyle (:47.13). Houston took third in the 200-freestyle, while Leach was third in 50-free.
“This was a remarkable season, and it’s been a great pleasure coaching these CCS middle and high school teams,” said Abraham, in her second season leading the teams. “... I truly believe our swimmers are getting better each year. ...”
Other local champs
Hayden Hall, an HVA freshman, was champion in the 100-butterfly (:51.53), while Hall was a contributor to the Hawks’ 400-freestyle relay team’s top finish, also including Coleman McCay, Ian Estep and Braden Salsbury (3:18.25).
Ben Walls, a Webb School of Knoxville junior, finished first in 500-free (4:51.62).
Mary Sims, a Bearden senior, was champ in 200-freestyle (1:54.42), while Sims teamed up with Claire Henry, Cama-Jane Richards and Alina Hafner to win the 400-free relay (3:43.96).
Gracie Pardue, a KCHS senior, finished first in 100-backstroke (:58.17).
State meet Feb. 10-11
The Allan Jones Center will host the state meet Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10-11.
“Our biggest competitor we will face there is Baylor,” Abrahamson said about the Chattanooga perennial swimming powerhouse.
