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Region 4D Swimming: Western sweeps boys and girls titles

It’s nice to win a region title, no question about it. But the way swimming is structured, there’s an incentive to use the region championships to try and get as many swimmers qualified for the state meet on top of the swimmers who’ve already qualified for states before the region even begins. 

 

Sometimes though, you can do both.

 

Western Albemarle girls and boys swimming swept the Region 4D swimming and championships Wednesday in Christiansburg while sitting several key competitors to open the door for more Warriors to earn spots in the state tournament, with another powerhouse, Blacksburg, employing a similar tactic. 

 

The Western girls rolled 184-89 over second place Blacksburg while the Western boys took first 159-134 over runner-up Jefferson Forest.

 

Louisa County’s girls took fifth, the Lions’ boys took seventh and the Orange boys took sixth to round out the local contingent. 

 

Western’s boys got a huge boost from sweeping the relay championships, winning the 200 medley relay, the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay. 

 

Jonathan Alexander (200 free), Thomas Olson (200 IM) and Noah Johnson (100 backstroke) each tacked on individual event titles to help the Warriors stack up points. Johnson also took fourth in the 100 fly while Olson finished fourth in the 500 free. 

 

Henry Addison took third in the 100 back and fourth in the 200 IM, Jeremiah Nicholson took second in the 200 and fourth in the 100 free and Ryan Kennedy grabbed fourth in the 50 free and third in the 100 breaststroke. Lucas Quatarara took third in the 50 free and Jack Burry took fourth in the 100 breaststroke. 

 

The Western girls’ title run got an identical boost from the relays as the boys squad, winning the 200 medley relay, the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay. 

 

Sophia Garono (500 freestyle) and Hannah Shannon (100 butterfly) picked up event wins and Garono also took third in the 200 free. Annabeth Stancil took second in the 100 free and fourth in the 200 free, Gigi Hathaway took third in the 50 freestyle and second in the 100 breaststroke, Molly Streit took second in the 500 free and fourth in the 50 free and James Smith took fourth in the 200 IM and fourth in the 100 breaststroke. 

 

Elke Beaumont took second in the 100 backstroke, Noa Steven took third in the 100 backstroke, Ellie Shaps took third in the 200 IM, Lauren Britt took third in the 100 fly, Sarah Moore took third in the 500 free and Sophia Ma took third in the 100 free. 

 

For Orange County, Charlotte Samuels had a big day, winning the 200 IM and taking second in the 50 freestyle. For Louisa County, Dyllan Hartman took second in 50-free and second in the 100 free while Grace Hobbs took fourth in diving. 

 

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