Madison Academy Leads State Swim & Diving Championships
AUBURN- The 2018 Alabama High School Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championships have been completed and was another banner event for Madison Academy as both Katie Pollard and Taylor Young repeated as state champions for the Mustangs.
Young, a senior, won his third consecutive state championship in the Class 1-5A Boys one-meter diving with a score of 341.15 points a far distance from the runner-up by 60 points. Pollard won her second straight state titles in both the girls 200 IM (2:09.83) and 100 breaststroke (1:04.46), as well as, a member of the girl’s 200-yard medley relay team that posted a winning time of 1:58.55. Besides Pollard, a junior, the remaining members of the state title team were Rachel Culbreath, (Jr.), and her sister, Haley Culbreath, (Eighth Grade), and seventh grader Hallie Mitchell.
“It was the most exciting meet and our most exciting season ever as last year our relay team did not even qualify for the state meet,” said Pollard who has had interest from both Auburn University of the University of Kentucky for her talents upon graduation in 2020. “To win three gold medals was certainly a thrill.”
Young is possibly looking at the diving teams of Auburn, Birmingham-Southern and Sam Houston State where he wants to enter medical school and become a dentist. His diving talents began at age four as his mother asked him to take diving or swimming lessons at the Piedmont Community Pool in southeast Huntsville. He chose both.
“I also participated in gymnastics and competitive cheerleading before I really began to concentrate on diving,” said Young. “I qualified for the state meet in both my seventh and eighth grade years while diving for Huntsville High School. I transferred to Madison Academy in the ninth grade, but was ineligible due to transfer rules. Since then, I’ve won the state each year.”
His best dive is the inward one and a half while the toughest dive for him to maneuver is the reverse one and a half with a one and a half twist. Young says he has been partaking in events for the Magic City Diving Club of Birmingham for three years and he attributes much of his success to the coaching he has received.
The 18-year old is actually a current two-sport athlete as he’s also a bull rider as part of the Southeastern Professional Rodeo Association.
In Class 6-7A, Alexander Benzek of James Clemens finished fifth in boys competition. The sophomore Jet scored 296.75 points. Max Stevens, So., of Bob Jones was ninth (245.65). In girls action, Ashley Ahrens (Fr.) of James Clemens had a sixth place finish with 290.20 points.
The James Clemens girls finished fourth in the Class 6-7A team standings. The Lady Jets took runner-up, silver medal in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:39.30. Members of the relay team were Anna Mead, (So.), Lusiana Levan (So.), Rebecca King (Jr.) and MacKenzie Holtcamp (Sr.).
Bob Jones finished third in the girl’s 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:41.65. The squad featured Sabrina Morgan (Sr.), Elise Rinehart (Sr.), JoAnne Stevens (Sr.) and Grace Palenapa (Sr.).
The 53rd AHSAA event was held on the campus of Auburn University at the James Martin Aquatics Center.
