ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Senior High School boys’ and girls’ swimming teams weren’t looking to make the biggest splash in the pool this season in the standings — instead, the Raider and Lady Raider swimmers were aiming to get better as program for the coming years.
In just its second season since joining the Sandhills Athletic Conference, the Richmond swimming program and head coach Mike Way set its 2018-19 sights on competing each week, while also putting the pieces together for a strong future using plethora of underclassmen.
Jack Britt and Pinecrest high schools have had long-time swimming programs, and the Buccaneers and the Patriots duked it out for the top spot in both boys’ and girls’ action. The Jack Britt girls’ team earned the SAC title this season, with the Pinecrest boys just edging the Buccaneers.
Way made it clear at the beginning of the season his hope was to contend with both of his swim teams with the other five SAC schools, many of which also have newer swimming programs. And while the Raiders finished fifth overall at season’s end, and the Lady Raiders nabbed a sixth-place finish, Way still saw the season as a success.
“We made some good progress from the start of the year to the finish,” Way commented. “We had a different group of kids (from last year), so we were basically starting over. This group showed improvement consistently through the year.”
There were several returners to the boys’ and girls’ teams, including seniors Natalie Davis and Greyson Way, and junior Dakota Locklear. But new the pool and making an impact this season for the future were sophomore Thomas Barbee and freshmen Ellie Buck and Kassie Smith, among others.
Despite the newcomers, Way lost a lot of seniors on both teams, and had several more female swimmers than male swimmers. One obstacle with having limited overall numbers and experience on the entire team was not being able to participate in all events, thus leading to fewer available points to earn during meets.
“Yeah, it was a struggle to fill events for the boys so that part was tough,” Way admitted. “And the girls worked hard and competed well in the relays toward the end of the season.”
During the Sandhills Athletic Conference championship meet, the foursome of Davis, Way, Kelsey Murray and Haleigh Poston earned the Lady Raiders a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay. It was the only team or individual placement for Richmond during the championship meet.
Many swimmers improved on their individual times throughout the season, even managing to post new personal records. Locklear set a new PR for himself in the 50-yard freestyle in the final meet of the season, going the length in 26.90 seconds.
Fellow junior Jerry Austin completed his 100-yard breaststroke in 1:33.09, a PR, and both are set to return as experienced swimmers next season.
Richmond did not have any swimmers qualify for the regional or state tournaments this season, but is something Way hopes to achieve in the coming seasons.
“Improvement is always the goal of new and young teams,” Way said. “So a lot of the time you are competing against yourselves almost as much as you are your opponents.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the differences when kids start earlier as opposed to being juniors and seniors when they get started,” he concluded. “I hope more freshmen and sophomores will come out and get going early next year.”
