RAEFORD — A combination of experience and new talent propelled the Richmond Senior High School boys’ swimming team to a top-three finish on Wednesday.
Beginning their Sandhills Athletic Conference season at the James A. Leach Aquatic Center, the Raiders notched 135 points to claim third place out of six teams.
A total of 11 swimmers participated in the meet, as Richmond secured points in six different events. Ten Raider swimmers competed in multiple events.
“This was a great way to start the season,” head coach Andy Shuler said. “We were able to see what we have in several events and can grow from that. I’m encouraged by how much we’ve already improved.”
Taking the meet victory was Pinecrest High School with 292 points, followed by Union Pines High School (202).
Other programs competing were Scotland (91), Southern Lee (26) and Hoke County (8) high schools.
Richmond cashed in with 48 combined points in a pair of relays (24 points each) — the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay.
The same four swimmers competed in both events, helping the Raiders take third place in both relays. They were seniors Brent Humann and Matteo Rubbiano, along with sophomores Brandon and Connor Thrower.
In the 200-yard medley relay, Brandon Thrower opened with the backstroke (41.97 seconds), and was followed by Rubbiano (breaststroke, 34.32), Humann (butterfly, 32.21) and Connor Thrower (freestyle 33.06).
Richmond was just 0.31 seconds behind second-place Scotland (2:19.35).
Switching up the order in the 200-yard freestyle relay, the Raiders clocked in with a final time of 1:57.49. The team went with Humann (29.95), Connor Thrower (32.90), Brandon Thrower (33.68) and Rubbiano in the anchor (20.96).
Rubbiano, a foreign exchange student from Italy, was the highest individual point earner for the team with 25 points across two other events (50 and 100-yard freestyle).
Humann and senior Xaviar Lowry each had 22 points in two individual events, while Brandon Thrower and senior Matthew Leggett each notched nine points in one event.
In the 50-yard freestyle, Rubbiano and Humann earned third and sixth overall, respectively. Rubbiano completed the lap in the pool in 25.90 seconds for 12 points, just 0.33 seconds out of second place.
Humann’s time of 28.45 seconds was a new personal record, which collected nine more points for the team.
Capping his swimming debut in the 100-yard freestyle, Rubbiano finished second overall. He clocked in at 57.82 seconds and added 13 points. Brandon Thrower swam the event in 1:11.35, putting him in sixth place for nine points.
Lowry secured all of his individual points in two distance events — the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyles. He placed fifth in the 200-yard (3:32.98, 10 points) and was third in the 500-yard event (8:49.49, 12 points).
Humann also swam in the 500-yard race, taking second overall and adding 13 points with a personal best time of 7:53.99.
Rounding out Richmond’s scoring in the 100-yard breaststroke was Leggett, who earned seventh overall in his debut (1:55.49, nine points).
The Raiders also had several swimmers compete in exhibition heats in the 50-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle relay.
In the open 50-yard race, times were — Brandon Thrower (28.66 seconds), senior Zane Searcy (32.80), Leggett (33.70), junior Gavin Applewhite (34.64), senior Chance Spivey (35.81) and Michael Jurzyk (40.23).
The team of Searcy, Applewhite, Leggett and Lowry combined for a time of 2:19.77 in the 200-yard freestyle relay.
The Raider swim team will compete in its second SAC meet of the season next Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. The meet will be held at the Leach Aquatic Center.
