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Lewis, McDonald finish second in state swimming/diving meet

By Carey Phillips
SMHS's Swim Team medalists

Smoky Mountain's Abigail Lewis (middle) is on the medal stand after she finished second in the 200 freestyle at last week's state swim meet at Raleigh.

Smoky Mountain's swimmers turned in strong performances at the State 3-A/2-A/1-A Swimming and Diving Meet held Thursday and Friday at Raleigh.

Leading the way was Abigail Lewis, who set two team records and finished second in the 200 freestyle.

On the men's side, Nick McDonald was second in diving.

Coach Pat Briggs said the second-place finishes were the highest ever for SM.

As a team, the Mustangs placed 11th while the women were 13th. East Chapel Hill won the men's and women's championships.

"We swam great," Briggs said. "All the swimmers dropped times. This was the fastest meet ever."

Lewis swam the 200 free in 1:58.60, two seconds off the winning time. She was fifth in the 500 free in 5:16.97, which also set a school record.

McDonald was second in diving while Jonah Jurss finished fifth.

In women's diving, Majestic Melton finished fourth and Amy Schmidt placed 13th.

Travis Debnam, the only SM senior swimming at the state meet, was fifth in the 100 breaststroke in 1:04.87. He was ninth in the 200 individual medley at 2:11.55.
SMHS's swimmer Nick McDonald

Smoky Mountain's Nick McDonald placed second in last week's state diving competition at Raleigh.

The women's 400 free relay team of Cari Heckert, Katie Loughlin, Amanda Floerchinger and Lewis was eighth in 4:00.31.

The Lady Mustangs were 15th in the 200 medley relay. The team of Loughlin, Heckert, Floerchinger and Lewis was 15th in 2:05.81.

"The depth of swimming on the women's side over the past four years has grown and grown," Briggs said.

For the men, Justin Stephens was 11th in the 50 free with a time of 24.73. Caleb Corwin was 13th in the 500 free at 5:50.75.

The 200 medley relay team of McDonald, Debnam, Corwin and Stephens was 12th in 1:54.60.

"The whole season they picked it up and went after it," Briggs said. "It was a real enjoyable season for me. I couldn't have had a greater bunch of kids. Thank goodness I'll have a whole bunch of them back next year plus a few new ones."

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