AHSAA State Swim Meet Results

AUBURN- Madison Academy’s Katie Pollard and Taylor Young were the big winners representing the local high schools at the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s State Swimming and Diving Championships held at James Martin Aquatics Center on the campus of Auburn University. Teams from both Bob Jones and James Clemens finished among the top 10 in team standings.

“Our goal was for our girls’ team was to finish among the top five and our boys in the top 10 and we did just that as our athletes did every well, especially since we had only three seniors partake in the State Meet,” said Kate Wade head coach of James Clemens.

The overall team standings were in Class 6-7A Boys: 1. Huntsville 321, 7. Bob Jones 124, 8. James Clemens 120; Girls: 1. Auburn 339.50, 2. Huntsville 263, 4. Bob Jones 159, 5. James Clemens 151; Class 1-5A Boys: 1. St. Paul’s 357, 2. Randolph 199, 19. Madison Academy 20; Girls: 1. Westminster Christian Academy 331, 6. Randolph 91, 10. Madison Academy 36.

Pollard, a sophomore for the Lady Mustangs, finished first in the 200-yard IM with a new state record of 2 minutes, 06.85 seconds. She took third place in the 100-yard freestyle with a time 52.99 seconds. Meanwhile, junior Taylor Young won the Class 1-5A boys’ diving title for the second year in a row with a score of 369.85 and a new state record in the one-meter board competition.

There were no medal winners for Bob Jones and James Clemens, but freshman Alex Benzek of the Jets took fourth place in the diving competition with a score 312 points, Eric Messer was fourth in the 100-yard butterfly (53.37) and the Jets took fourth in the girl’s 200-yard freestyle relay (1:41.35). The highest finish for the Patriots came in the girl’s 400-yard freestyle relay (3:39.81).

“Going into the season I thought both of our squads could finish in top 10 especially since our girls won the sectionals and to finish fourth was a big jump for us,” said Wade Thaxton head coach of Bob Jones. “Becoming head coach this year from being an assistant I felt the pressure a little more. I’m excited to where our program is headed as we had just five seniors on our squad this season.”

For Pollard, who first took to the water with swim lessons at age seven, said she was very pleased with performances at the State Meet. “I didn’t expect to break my own state record as I went out fast but did not take the lead in the IM until the third leg of the race. My breaststroke and freestyle are my best strokes and that showed as I came back to win. In the 100 freestyle, I was very happy with my finish as I did not expect to get top three.”