3 swim-dive state champs; CCS roars
BHS-Webb dive pair, HVA Hall, Lion Hall among TISCA highlights
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Sophomore Landon Hall was at the top among Concord Christian School swimmers during TISCA State Meet Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7-8, in Allan Jones Aquatic Center at the University of Tennessee. Hall finished third in men’s 100-yard breaststroke, third in 200-IM and was a leg on the Lions’ third-place 200-medley relay. - Action photo courtesy of Tony Cox/other photos by Alan Sloan
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Among 1-meter diving, Webb School of Knoxville senior Brooks Barber earned a state title (479.10), while Bearden sophomore Sarah Griffith was women’s state champ (480.45). - Action photo courtesy of Tony Cox/other photos by Alan Sloan
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HVA junior Hayden Hall, far right, state champ in the 200-freestyle, is among Aqua Hawks teammates, from left, senior Connor Daniels, sophomore Landon Cleland and junior Cole McIntosh who hold the boys team’s eighth-place trophy. - Action photo courtesy of Tony Cox/other photos by Alan Sloan
KNOXVILLE — Three state champions representing Hardin Valley Academy, Bearden High School and Webb School of Knoxville combined with HVA and Concord Christian School’s high boys team finishes — CCS with just 11 swimmers — to make a big splash at last weekend’s state meet.
Throw in Farragut High School’s girls finishing an East Tennessee best seventh as a team and you have a number of headline performances during TISCA State High School Championships in Allan Jones Aquatic Center at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, which ended with finals competitions Saturday evening, Feb. 8.
Aqua Hawks led by Hall
In the men’s 200-yard freestyle, Hardin Valley Academy junior Hayden Hall finished as state champion (1:37.45) and also finished fourth in the men’s 100-freestyle (:44.94), helping to lead his Aqua Hawks to an eighth-place boys finish and a combined ninth-place among teams with boys and girls participants — 12th among all teams.
As for Hall, “He is now an All-American and has his Winter and Summer Jr. National Cut,” HVA head coach Cori Glafenhein said. “He also is a Scholastic All-American.”
Overall, “I want to express how proud I am of all the athletes involved with Hardin Valley Aquatics, both middle and high school,” she added. “The swimmers on this team are so supportive of each other, they celebrate each others victories ... (and) they build each other up when they may feel defeated. ...”
Griffith, Barber champs
• In 1-meter diving, it was a West Knox County sweep: Bearden sophomore Sarah Griffith was women’s state champ (480.45), while Webb School of Knoxville senior Brooks Barber earned a state title (479.10). Bulldog Garrett Bailey took third among the boys (463.30).
CCS Lions success
The Lions boys finished seventh (122.50), while CCS was eighth overall in the combined results among schools with both girls and boys competitors — 11th combined counting all schools.
• In the men’s 100-breaststroke, Concord sophomore Landon Hall took third (54.81) while also finishing third in 200-IM (1:49.24).
• The first leg in the Lions’ 200-yard medley relay, Hall joined seniors Christopher Rector, Charlie Houston and Kolby Leach to earn third place (1:32.33).
About Concord’s high finishes, Rector, Lions team captain, spoke for the team.
“It’s been a truly incredible run for such a tiny Christian School — we have just over 200 kids in our high school,” Rector said.
“And we come to a meet like this and compete with teams that can recruit, teams that have thousands of kids in their high school, and we come in seventh for boys and eighth combined,” he added.
Other HVA/FHS finishes
• In the women’s 500-freestyle, HVA freshman Katelyn Dutrow earned the runner-up spot (4:55.73).
• In the women’s 200-freestyle relay, FHS took fourth with senior Karley Wolfgram, junior Aydan Skelton and seniors Kendall Hudgens and Karolina Nosarzewski (1:38.84).
