The Highlands Hurricanes Swim Team recently traveled to Murphy to compete with Cherokee County Aquatics Club and Jackson County Swim Team. The Hurricanes won 365 to 297 JCST to 248 CCAC.
The Hurricanes were led by first time Jr. Olympic Qualifier Bella Batista and Jr. Olympians Jasmine Abranyi and Chase Kenter. All three scored 24 points. Abranyi and Batista won four events and Kenter won three. Abranyi broke team records in the 100 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.
Another first time Jr. Olympic qualifier Xincheng Zhang brought home 23 points, two blue ribbons, and two second place finishes. Wylie Hinton, first time Jr. Olympic qualifier Alex Lopez and Jr. Olympians Conner Hughes and Justin Powell all scored 22 points with two firsts and one second each. Hughes broke the team record in the 100 butterfly.
Junior Olympian Lilliana Chambless won three events and brought home 21 points. Jr. Olympians Paolo McCrae and Corena Dearth won one event and two events respectively, McCrae with 20 points, Dearth with 19.
Ian Batista scored 18, Jayce Powell 17, Annemarie Hinton 16, Charlie Hinton 13, Andre Jimenez and Penelope McRae 14 all won a race. Max Jestin scored 15 points including a second place finish, sister Agatha Jestin scored 14 points and two first places. Cooper Fisher swam well and scored a point.
The Highlands Hurricanes Swim Team is a year round Highlands Recreation Park Team that practices mostly in the evenings at the Highlands Recreation Park Pool. The only requirement to join is that a prospective swimmer must be able to swim 25 yards (the length of the Highlands Recreation Park Pool) unassisted. For further information please contact Steve Hott, head coach at 828-421-4121.