ROCKINGHAM — A junior swimmer is making a splash as the first Official Richmond County Male Student-Athlete of the Week for the new year.
Cole Thrower, a member of the Richmond Senior High School swim team, earned the recognition presented by Rockingham NC Self Storage following the team’s fourth meet of the season.
Leading the Raiders in individual points, Thrower swam in four different events to help the Raiders collect a season-high point total last Wednesday.
A three-year veteran of the program and a local lifeguard in the summer, Thrower registered his first career selection.
Athletic Profile
Year: Junior
Winter sport: Swimming
Events: 50, 100-yard freestyles, relays
Varsity experience: 3 seasons
Other sports: Soccer
“CLASSROOM CREDITS” WITH COLE THROWER
As studious as he is effective in the water, Thrower is a dual-enrollment student at Richmond who has made it a priority to put his schoolwork ahead of his time in the pool or on the soccer pitch.
An A/B honor roll student, Thrower is currently ranked third in the Richmond graduating class of 2026. He has a 4.558 weighted grade point average and is a member of the National Beta Club.
In the throes of final exam week for the first semester, Thrower entered the exam period with high marks in all of his classes. He earned As in Art 111 (96) and English 111 (96) and a B in Mathematics 171 (89).
At the high school, Thrower took two Advanced Placement classes and made As in AP United States Government (97) and AP English Language and Composition (95).
During the spring semester, Thrower will take Chemistry Honors and Weight Training Honors at Richmond. At RichmondCC, he’s set to take English 112, Mathematics 172 and Spanish 112.
With more than a year and a half until he graduates high school, Thrower plans to attend a four-year university and said he's interested in biology and the medical career pathways.
“MAKING A SPLASH” WITH COLE THROWER
The Raiders returned to the pool for their first meet of the new year last Wednesday and recorded a season-high 100 points for a third place finish.
Competing in the Sandhills Athletic Conference meet at the Leach Aquatic Center, Thrower swam in two individual events and two relay races to help the Raiders. Both relay race teams set season-fastest times and Thrower also set a season-best in one other event.
As Richmond’s fastest swimmer in the freestyle, Thrower swam that leg of the 200-yard medley relay, the final leg. The team clocked in at 2:48.56, nearly 13 seconds faster than its previous best time, for 22 points.
Anchoring the 200-yard freestyle relay, Thrower cemented a team season-best time of 2:09.69. That put the Raiders in third place for another 24 points.
In his two individual events, Thrower combined for 19 points, the most on the team.
Making his season debut in the 100-yard freestyle relay, Thrower set a personal record time of 1:08.90. He placed fifth overall and collected 10 points.
His other event was the open 50-yard freestyle, which saw him place sixth overall (nine points). He completed the lap in the pool in 28.86 seconds.
Both of Richmond’s swimming teams will compete in their regular-season finale Wednesday in Raeford. The first event will start at 6 p.m.
“RAPID RESPONSE VIDEO” WITH COLE THROWER
The Richmond Observer will publish two more Official Richmond County Student-Athletes of the Week next week.