NORTH CHARLESTON – Nation Ford senior Austin Lockhart pulled off the rare feat Monday evening winning state titles in both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events at the 5A boys state swim meet.
Lockhart set a new state record in the 50-yard freestyle winning in 20.27 and then came back 22 minutes later and won the 100-yard freestyle in 44.37 and in the process set another state record he set himself just a week earlier at the Region 3-5A meet. Lockhart finishes his career at Nation Ford with five state titles – three individual titles and two relay titles.
“It felt great to swim in a fast pool with great competitors, and also to represent my team so well,” Lockhart said.
Nation Ford finished in third place as a team overall with 228 points, while JL Mann won the boys 5A state title with 376 points. The Falcons also won titles in the 200-yard freestyle relay event, which added a third title on the night for Lockhart and gave George Bujoreanu, Lucas Grigat and Nick Martin state titles as well in the event. Nation Ford also finished second in the 400-yard freestyle in 3:13.84, missing out on another state title by 0.33 of a second to winner JL Mann. Bujoreanu, Grigat, Lockhart and Ethan Black were part of the 400-yard freestyle relay team.
Bujoreanu finished second in two events – the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke as well, and Grigat finished second in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard breaststroke also.
“We are so proud of our Nation Ford boys swim team,” said head coach Lori Glasco. “Their dedication to the sport of swimming, and their great work ethic really paid off. Finishing third overall was such a great ending to year of dedication for our three senior boys.”
Fort Mill finished in fifth place in the meet with 186.5 points. The Jackets were led by Drew Fey, who scored four top 10 finishes including being part of a fourth-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Owen Fey has three top 10 finishes and was also part of the 400-yard freestyle relay, along with Cesar Gavilan and Stratton Byers. Gavilan had two top 10 finishes and Max Reichert had a top 10 finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay, along with Gavilan and the Fey brothers.
In the 4A state boys meet, Catawba Ridge finished in 11th place with 98 points. Alexander Ritz led the team with four top 10 finishes including a third place in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:01.67 and a fourth-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:01.60. He was part of the 400-yard freestyle relay event that finished ninth in 3:43.91 and the 200-yard medley relay event that finished 10th in 1:52.35. Along with Ritz on both of those relay teams were Ethan Curtin, Alex Montgomery and Jonathan Gawlik.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
