Draughn boys swimming wins NWFAC Championship

 Lenoir- For just the fifth time in program history and the first time since 2013, the Draughn boys swimming team wins the conference championship in their final season of the Northwestern Foothills 2A Conference Friday night at the Lenoir Aquatic Center.

"It was really special to get a conference championship in our final season in the Northwestern Foothills 2A Conference," said Draughn swimming coach David Harmon. "We've enjoyed some great competition and rivalries from our neighbors Patton and East Burke (and) this last conference meet was no exception."

The Wildcats scored 358 total points and were led by individual wins from Jaxon Smith (100 free 48.79, 100 back 55.33), Jake Hudson (200 IM 2:18.65), and the 200 medley (1:55.20) and 400 freestyle (3:53.67) relays featuring Smith, Hudson, Sean Owens, and Trey Jensen.

Jensen (50 free 2nd, 100 breast 2nd), Owens (200 free 3rd, 100 back 3rd), Clay Davis (100 fly 2nd, 200 IM 4th), and Brady Carswell (100 breast 3rd, 200 free 4th) were other key individual swimmers.

"Our team had some great swims from the entire team, Karson Ingram and Elias Phipps stepped up big filling in the gaps swimming new events just for this meet."

The Lady Wildcats finished runner-up to Hibriten scoring 258 points with Rhyannon Reasoner (500 free 6:19.61, 100 back 1:08.95), Georgia Goulding (100 fly 1:04.59), and the 400 freestyle relay (4:13.74) compiled of Reasoner, Goulding, Abby Wood, and GiGi Smith all taking first place event wins.

Goulding (50 free 2nd), Smith (200 free 2nd, 50 free 4th), Wood (100 free 2nd), and Sarah Mull (200 IM 3rd, 100 breast 4th) also made key finishes for the Lady Wildcats.

"Very proud of the girls team with only having six members to finish runner-up to Hibriten with more than double the members," said Harmon.

The East Burke boys finished third (241 pts) and were led by Landon Lennex (200 IM 2nd, 500 free 3rd), Davey Stamey (50 free 3rd, 100 free 3rd), and Robbie Stringfield (100 back 2nd).

The Lady Cavaliers placed in fourth (226 pts) with Dessie Maiella (200 free 4th, 100 back 3rd), Gracie Hall (100 free 3rd), and Rachel Stephens (200 free 5th).

Draughn and East Burke next head to 1A/2A regionals next Friday in Huntersville.