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Watauga Swim Team Competes at State Meets

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Back Row (left to right): Julianna Silver, Caroline Forsyth. Front row: Lauren Patterson, Greta Klein, Lindsay Scott, Virginia St. Clair

 

Several swimmers from Watauga Swim Team qualified for and participated in the state meet over the last two weekends in February. The team’s “short course” season–they race in 25 yard, indoor pools–is winding down, and in order to go to state, each swimmer must meet a difficult time standard in individual events.

“For a team our size to take this many swimmers to state is really outstanding. These girls have worked so hard since August, and it’s been thrilling to see their work pay off,” said WST Head Coach, Nathan Fields.

Caroline Forsyth (age 15) led the way by qualifying for state in seven individual events. She was joined by Julianna Silver (16) at the Senior Championships at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary on Feb. 19-22. Silver competed in three events. Greta Klein (10) led a younger cohort of girls by qualifying in five individual events at the 14 & Under Short Course Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center on Feb. 28-Mar. 1. Lindsay Scott (10) and Lauren Patterson (9) each swam in one individual event. Klein, Scott, and Patterson were joined by Virginia St. Clair (10) to swim in two relay events.

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Relay team (left to right): Lindsay Scott, Lauren Patterson, Virginia St. Clair, Greta Klein

Forsyth advanced from prelims to finals (top 24 participants) in the 100 breastroke, 200 breastroke, and 200 individual medley. Her times in those three events are considered “sectional” times, which gives her the option of competing against swimmers from six other states at the Eastern Section Southern Zone meet in Greensboro. She achieved personal records (PRs) in her 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 100 butterfly, and 100 backstroke. Klein and Patterson also grabbed PRs in the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke, respectively, and qualified for 14 and Under sectionals in Atlanta. Additionally, the girls’ 9-10 medley relay team dropped six seconds off their previous best time for a new PR.

Assistant Coach Faye Kelley added, “All of the WST coaches are extremely proud of all of our swimmers. This is a great group of girls, and it’s encouraging for our younger or newer swimmers to see these swimmers meet their goals.”

Watauga Swim Team is a non-profit, year-round swim team for children ages 5-18. For more information, go to wataugaswimteam.com.

Below are the events for each swimmer including any top 20 finishes:

Caroline Forsyth:

  • 100 breaststroke–1:05.70, 4th place
  • 100 butterfly–1:01.51
  • 50 freestyle–25.71
  • 200 brst–2:22.93, 7th place
  • 100 backstroke–1:01.69
  • 100 free–55.16
  • 200 individual medley–2:10.63, 12th place

Juilanna Silver

  • 100 brst–1:13.20
  • 200 brst–2:41.17
  • 200 free–2:10.17

Greta Klein

  • 50 free–31.96
  • 100 free–1:09.36
  • 200 free–2:31.55
  • 100 back–1:18.07
  • 200 IM–2:55.96

Lindsay Scott

  • 100 brst–1:32.24

Lauren Patterson

  • 100 brst–1:28.69, 14th place

Girls 9-10 200 freestyle relay (Klein, Scott, Patterson, St. Clair)–2:16.46

Girls 9-10 200 medley relay (St. Clair/back, Scott/brst, Patterson/fly, Klein/free)–2:29.18, 17th place