Before the school year began, there was some question as to whether Columbus High School would have a swim team.
But Chris Chain stepped up to coach the team on a volunteer basis. His decision has allowed the Falcons to qualify two swimmers for the Mississippi High School Activities Association State Meet today at Delta State University’s Aquatics Center in Cleveland.
“I think there was some talk of that, but we were able to keep it going,” Chain said of thoughts of canceling Columbus High’s swimming program. “We are really excited about the success we have had this year and look forward to even more in the future.”
Sophomore Corey Persons will compete in the 100-yard backstroke. He finished second in the event at the North State meet at the Courthouse Swimming Center in Jackson.
Eighth-grader Ladd Chain will take compete in the 100 butterfly and the 200 freestyle. Chain finished fourth in both events at the North State meet. The top eight finishers from the North and South meets advanced to state as well as the top eight additional qualifiers by time.
Each competitor was allowed to compete in two individual and two team events at the North State meet.
“We are hoping to have enough people to fill out the relay events next year,” coach Chain said. “Things look promising.”
Joining Persons and Ladd Chain at the state meet, which will begin at 9:15 a.m. today, are three competitors from the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science and 19 from Starkville High School.
The Columbus and Starkville swimmers will compete in Class 2, which is made up of Classes 5A and 6A, while MSMS is in Class 1 for Classes 1A-4A.
Representing Mississippi School of Math and Science will be Elizabeth Dobronski in the 100 girls free, Aaron Ng in the 100 fly and Wilhelm Liano in the 50 free and 100 back. Ng won the North State in the fly with a time of 55.32.
Starkville’s Laken Vickers took first in the girls 100 breaststroke in North State with a time of 1 minute, 10.76 seconds. She also qualified in the 50 free with a third-place finish.
Cheng Ye took Starkville’s other first in the North State Meet, posting a time of 1:02.40 in the boys 100 breast. He also qualified in the 200 individual medley with a fourth-place finish.
Other Starkville High School boys swimmers and the events they qualified for state in are: David McKell, 200 free and 500 free; Andy Bond, 200 IM and 50 free; Adam Bond, 100 fly, 100 backstroke; Jace Hobart, 100 fly; Tristen Grantham 200 IM, Grant Woomer, 50 free and 100 free; David Yan, 50 free and 100 free; and Marshall Adair, 200 back.
Other SHS girls swimmers and the events they qualified for state in are: Adina Harris, 200 IM, 100 free; Angie Harri, 100 back; MarkAnne Hobart, 100 fly; Melinda Xu, 100 fly; Savannah Hobart, 100 fly, 100 back; Alessandra Otondo, 100 free; Walker Mattox, 500 free, Kristen Lacy, 100 back, and Sarah Byrd, 100 breast.
Starkville also qualified girls relay teams in the 200 medley, 200 free, and 400 free and boys relay teams in the 200 medley, 200 free, and 400 free.
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