Charlotte-area swimmers to chase NCHSAA state titles this weekend
This is Sofia Plaza’s last chance for an appearance on the medal stand. Michael Rice probably has two more years of that to look forward to.
But both Charlotte-area swimmers have the same goal at this weekend’s N.C. High School Athletic Association swim and diving championships.
“We want to win a state championship again,” said Plaza, a Myers Park senior.
“We think we’ve got enough to win it all,” added Rice, a Marvin Ridge sophomore.
Competition actually began Wednesday with 3A diving in Raleigh, and it continues with 1A-2A diving Thursday and 4A diving Friday. But the majority of events are Thursday (3A), Friday (1A-2A) and Saturday (4A).
Four of the defending state team champions are from the Charlotte area.
Plaza, a University of Florida swim commit, will compete in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 breaststroke, along with the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.
She had the area’s fastest 200 IM time this season until teammate Avery Klamforth edged her for first place at last Friday’s West Regional meet. The two are expected to battle for the state title Saturday.
“This being my last year, I want to make the most of it,” Plaza said. “We’ve won the state (title) two straight years, so we know what it takes.”
Plaza, got her start in swimming as a 6-year-old summer-league swimmer at Foxcroft Swim and Racquet Club. She became a year-around swimmer at the age of 10 and said she prefers the breaststroke when swimming the individual medley.
“The butterfly is hardest,” she said. “But I’ve worked a lot on that, and I think I can handle it pretty well now.”
Rice got his start in swimming at age 1, when his parents put him in a back-yard pool.
“They made sure I didn’t drown,” he said with a laugh. “But I’ve always enjoyed it.”
By the time he was 6 years old, Rice was swimming year around with the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club. He has qualified for the state championship in the 200 freestyle (with the second-fastest time), the 100 freestyle (third-fastest), and the 200 medley relay. In the 100 freestyle, he’ll be battling Ardrey Kell’s standout senior, Christopher Zhang.
Rice said the Mavericks have an idea of what it takes to win a state championship.
“We missed the title by a little bit last year,” he said, referring to a second-place finish to Providence.
He and his 200 medley relay teammates — Charles Helsig, Jordan Willis and Troy Keen — won the event with a state-meet record time last year.
“We want to beat that state record this year,” he said.
In last week’s regional, the Maverick quartet finished 1.24 seconds faster than the state meet time.
“We’re really excited about that possibility,” he said.
State swim and diving
Diving championships are at Pullen Aquatic Center in Raleigh. The 3A finals were Wednesday, with 1A-2A Thursday (noon) and 4A Friday (noon).
Swim championships are at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary, with 3A Thursday, 1A-2A Friday, and 4A Saturday. Swim competition begins at 8:45 a.m. each day.
Defending team champions:
4A boys: Providence (dethroned five-time champ Green Hope last year)
4A girls: Myers Park (two-time champion)
3A boys: Carrboro
3A girls: Carrboro
1A-2A boys: Community School of Davidson (two-time champion)
1A-2A girls: Lincoln Charter (two-time champion)
