Bentonville teams sweep Class 6A swimming and diving state championships

Both teams breezed to wins

By Jeff Halpern 

Berntonville’s boys and girls won the Class 6A state swimming and diving championships Saturday at the Donaghey Student Center at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. 

Bentonville’s boys won the meet with 447 points, outpacing Little Rock Central, which had 392. Bentonville’s girls won their fifth consecutive state championship with 417 while Bentonville West was second with 338

On the boys side, Bentonville won four events and finished second in six others. The Tigers were led by Evan Carter, who won the 50-yard and 100 freestyle in 21.66 and 46.40 seconds. In addition, Gage Johnson won the 100 backstroke (51.06). The 200 medley relay team of Johnson, Carter, Ethan Before and Lex Obrient won in 1:38.22.

Bentonville’s girls won seven events with one silver and one bronze medal. The Lady Tigers were led by Lienfang You, who won the 200 individual medley (2:05.73) and the 100 breaststroke (1:02.70) for the fourth time. Susie Lee won the 100 backstroke (54.66) and the 200 freestyle (1:50.92). Junior Emma On-the-Hill won the 500 freestyle (5:04.00). The Lady Tigers won the 200 medley relay (1:46.32).

CLASS 5A

Batesville won the boys title with 319 points, outpacing Russellville, which had 259 at the Russellville Aquatic Center. On the girls side, Russellville won with 333 points, topping Hot Springs Lakeside which had 288 points.

Batesville won four events while finishing second and third one each. The Pioneers were led by the success of its relay teams. The 200 medley relay won in 1:47.93. The 200 freestyle relay team won in 1:35.63. The 400 freestyle relay team won in 3:33.72. Ethan Blyler won the 100 butterfly in 57.35.

Russellville’s girls won the strength of its depth. While the Lady Cyclones won one event, finishing first in the 400 freestyle relay in 4:10.15. They finished second in four events and third in four others.

Jennifer Belongia was second in the 200 freestyle (2:08.33) and 500 freestyle (5:59.27). Izzy Clements was second in the one-meter dive with a score of 337.20. Russellville won second in the 200 freestyle relay (15:53.53).

Finishing third for Russellville were Madison Correia in the 100 butterfly (1:08.41) and 100 breaststroke (1:18.26). Maddy Ritchie was third in the 100 backstroke (1:08.25). Emj Hubbard finished third in diving (325.75).

When it came to records, Anna Lewis of Lakeside set a Class 5A record in diving with a score of 388.70.

CLASS 1A-4A

Magnolia swept the boys and girls team titles at the Pinkerton Fitness Center in Texarkana, Texas.

Magnolia won the boys title with 448 points, topping Clarksville which had 169 points. Magnolia won the girls title with 330 points, beating Pulaski Academy which had 229 points.

The boys finished first in five events including all three relays and finished second in three others events.

Riley McCook won the 100 freestyle (49.62) and was second in the 200 freestyle (1:52.72). Grant Wiggins won the 1-meter diving competition with 351.35 points. The 200-individual medley relay team of Brandon Sanchez, Hunter Manuel, Carson Waters and McCook won with a time of 1:44.92. Finishing second for the Panthers were Manuel in the 50 freestyle (22.96) and Sanchez in the 100 butterfly (59.48).

The girls won all two relays and finished second in two others events. The 200 freestyle relay team of Sophie Ellington, Addison Boyd, Lily Manuel and Cecily Sanchez won with a time of 1:40.54. The 400 freestyle relay team of Talynn Watson, Boyd, Manuel and Caroline Daniel won in 4:11.89. Ellington was second in the 200 freestyle.

Winning multiple events for the boys included Ethan Priddle of Pulaski Academy, who won the 200 freestyle (1:48.45) and the 100 backstroke (54.73). William Wheeler of Haas Hall Fayetteville won the 100 breastroke (57.59) and 50 freestyle (21.63).

Haas Hall Springdale had three multiple winners. Hayden Gibson won the 200 individual medley (2:07.04) and the 50 freestyle (24.94). Riley Gibson won the 100 backstroke (1:06.23) and 100 butterfly (59.79)