ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Senior High School girls’ swimming team starts its new season later this week, and with it the aspiration to see continued progress.
One of the school’s newer programs, the Lady Raider swim team will have its third head coach in three seasons this winter.
Ashleigh Buie took over the girls’ team when former head coach Andy Shuler stepped down after just one season.
Entering its eighth season of competition, the Lady Raider swim team returns a handful of experienced swimmers and has added depth to its roster.
Buie, who also coaches the boys’ and girls’’ cross country teams, made an effort to add runners to the swim team this winter.
A change this season for the Sandhills Athletic Conference will be the venue meets are held. After a year away from St. Andrews University to swim at the Leach Aquatic Center in Hoke County, all of the meets will take place in Laurinburg.
Of the 11 members on the team this season, six of them have experience, including five returners from the 2023-24 season.
Those returning are seniors Samantha Barnes, Nelly Cadena and Alivia Webb, and sophomores Sulleigh Bruce and Natalie Richardson. Senior Jamison Hubbard is back with the program after a year off.
Barnes, Bruce, Cadena, Richardson and Webb all participated in the 50-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle relay last season. Each swimmer helped the team pick up points throughout the campaign, and intend to use those events to do so again this winter.
During her sophomore season, Hubbard was also a member of the relay team and swam to 50 free.
New to the program this winter are seniors Lilly Stubbs and Mascha Theijs, junior Jada Scott, sophomore Lillian Hill and freshman Mackenzie Quick.
Buie noted that all of the team’s swimmers, returning and new, have shown progress through the first couple of weeks of practice. The main areas of focus for the Lady Raiders have been building endurance and learning the proper techniques.
As the season progresses, the Lady Raiders’ goal is to remain competitive in a very tough conference which is dominated annually by Pinecrest and Union Pines high schools. Last season, the Lady Raiders placed sixth out of seven teams.
One thing that can bolster the team’s placement in the SAC is upping the number of events the Lady Raiders participate in.
Richmond only competed in two events last year and is hoping that other events like the 100 and 200-yard freestyles can be added as the team shows growth.
The Lady Raiders’ season opens Wednesday at St. Andrews University. Events 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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