ROCKINGHAM — All but four members of the Richmond Senior High School boys’ swim team are returners this winter, which bodes well for the Raiders.
With the new high school swimming season just two days away from officially starting, the Raiders will need to rely on that experience if they want to remain in the top three spots of the Sandhills Athletic Conference.
After a third-place finish in the final standings a season ago, the Raiders will be under the direction of first-year head coach Lauren Brewer.
Leading the team last season were Andy Shuler and Ryan Mercer, both of whom moved on after one season.
As noted in the Lady Raider swimming team’s season preview, the SAC will move its meets back to St. Andrews University after competing at the Leach Aquatic Center in Hoke County during the 2023-24 campaign.
Boasting a roster of nine swimmers, five Raiders are back with experience. However, the team will be without its top three pointer earners from a season ago — Brent Humann, Zaviar Lowry and Matteo Rubbiano — all of whom have since graduated.
Each of those swimmers averaged more than 20 points in individual events, but the current Raiders are confident they’ll be able to fill the gaps.
Returning with experience for Richmond are seniors Gavin Applewhite, Jaxon Chavis, Michael Jurczyk, Matthew Leggett and junior Cole Thrower.
Of those five swimmers, only Thrower swam more than the 50-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle relay. As a sophomore, Thrower made regular appearances in the 100-yard freestyle and was a member of the 200-yard medley relay team.
With the other three members of the medley relay roster no longer on the team, Richmond will look to recast the winter.
Applewhite, Chavis, Jurczyk and Leggett will all compete for larger roles on the team.
Joining the swimming team for the new campaign are senior Erik Reichert, juniors DJ Gainey and Luke Gilliam and freshman Victor Nguyen.
All four participated in either soccer (Gainey, Reichert) or cross country (Gainey, Gilliam, Nguyen) during the fall sports season and Brewer is hopeful that their athleticism will transfer to the pool.
The Raiders have been working a similar preseason regimen to that of the Lady Raiders, fine-tuning their stroke techniques in the water, working on controlling their breathing and building their stamina and endurance.
Conditioning is a major factor for success and that’s helping Brewer determine which swimmers are best suited for which events.
Any of the relay races are the biggest point-getters during meets, so the Raiders will look to capitalize on their experience to compete in as many as they can. Remaining competitive week in and week out is a top priority.
The SAC is a strong swimming conference, annually controlled by the teams from Pinecrest and Union Pines high schools.
Starting their season Wednesday, the Raiders’ will face the SAC’s other programs at St. Andrews University. Races will start at 6 p.m.
SCHEDULE: Below is the complete 2024-25 schedule for the Richmond girls’ swimming team. All of the meets are against SAC opponents and will be held at St. Andrews.
Richmond’s “home meet” is marked by an asterisk. The host schools are listed for each meet.
Nov. 20 at 6 p.m.
Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. Hoke County, Scotland
Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. Pinecrest, Union Pines
Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. Hoke County, Richmond *
Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. Lee County, Southern Lee
Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. SAC Championship Meet
The Richmond Observer will continue its award-winning coverage of the swimming program this winter.
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