Newton County High School swimming began its season on a high note at the Vicksburg/Warren Central Fun in the Sun Invitational on Aug. 24. Traditionally, the team aims to qualify for the North State Championships and measure up against mid-level teams. However, this year's competition featured both the 2023 Class II girls and boys champions, raising the stakes significantly.
Despite facing faster teams, NCHS rose to the occasion and won several races.
In the boys 100-yard breaststroke, Easton Baker took an early lead, maintaining his pace even after his swim goggles slipped off — a mishap that often adds two seconds to a swimmer’s time. Unfazed, Baker won the race by more than a body length and set a new NCHS team record for the event.
The boys 50-yard freestyle saw NCHS dominate, securing both first and second place. Mason Cheatham narrowly beat Baker by just three-hundredths of a second.
Other notable performances included:
Erin Tullos: After not qualifying for the North State Championships last year in the 50-yard or 100-yard freestyle, Tullos easily qualified for both events this year, shaving five seconds off her time in the 50-yard freestyle and 18 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle.
KaiDee Faith Hill and Emma Ward: Competing in their first meet, both swimmers qualified for the North State Championships. Hill qualified in the 50-yard freestyle with one second to spare and in the 100-yard freestyle with three seconds to spare. Ward qualified in the 50-yard freestyle with three seconds to spare and the 100-yard freestyle with four seconds to spare.
Overall, the team exceeded expectations across all events, with 80% of the swimmers achieving qualifying times for the North State Championships. The qualifiers are as follows:
Edie Pippin: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard breaststroke
Erin Tullos: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle
KaiDee Faith Hill: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle
Emma Ward: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle
Emma Vaughn: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle
Rhaley Easley: 50-yard freestyle
Mary Lee Gregory: 100-yard breaststroke
Easton Baker: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard breaststroke (New NCHS record)
Mason Cheatham: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard breaststroke
Gage Barnett: 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle
Maddux Cheatham: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke
The relay teams also delivered strong performances:
Girls 200-yard medley relay: Tullos, Gregory, Pippin, Hill
Girls 200-yard freestyle relay: Tullos, Ward, Vaughn, Pippin
Boys 200-yard medley relay: Maddux Cheatham, Mason Cheatham, Baker, Barnett
Boys 200-yard freestyle relay: Baker, Maddux Cheatham, Barnett, Mason Cheatham
With such a strong start to the season, Newton County High School swimming looks poised for continued success as it heads toward the North State Championships.
