On October 22, 2022, NCHS Swimming sent eleven swimmers to compete in the MHSAA Class I State Championships in Tupelo. This was a preliminary/final meet with all swimming in prelims, and the top 8 swimmers advancing to finals.
The first swim in prelims was the Girls 200-yard Medley Relay. Swimmers on the relay were Lauren Hopkins, Ashlee McCall, Edie Pippin, and Emory James. On the NCHS relay team were two 8th-graders who just started swimming 5 months ago. This relay team was lucky to be at State. These facts did not deter these girls. They gave their all and cut 4.7 seconds off their best time to advance to finals. In finals, they finished 8th in the state. The average 8th grade swimmer at NCHS, over a year, usually cuts between 5-10 seconds off their time. If these girls continue their training, next year they will be the team to watch.
The top individual athlete for NCHS at this meet was Ashlee McCall. She easily advanced to finals in the 100-yard Breaststroke, cutting 4 seconds off her best time. This was her first year to make finals at State. In finals, she finished in 4th place. Based on McCall’s swimming data and her progress, she will be in good position for the gold in 2023.
Before this 100-yard Breaststroke race, all 11 records for Girls swimming at NCHS was held by Maya Olmstead, but McCall surpassed, setting a new Breaststroke record. Olmstead attended this meet and was the first to congratulate McCall on her record.
McCall also surprised everyone in the Girls 50-yard Freestyle. She was ranked 11th going into State. At prelims, she improved her ranking to 8th and advanced to finals. At finals, she cut more time, improved her ranking, and finished 7th in the state.
The other big individual swim of the night was by team captain Landon McConnell, who placed 8th in his 100-yard Backstroke, placing him in position for the finals.
At finals, just before McConnell got on the block, Coach Bryan Olmstead encouraged McConnell, “This is your moment. Don’t let those other boys take it away from you.” After the horn, McConnell cut 3 seconds off his best time and overtook 2 other swimmers to finish 6th in the State.
The other races at State were:
Landon McConnell: 100-yard Freestyle 12th place
Lauren Hopkins: 200-yard Freestyle 10th place; 100-yard Backstroke 11th place
Easton Baker: 200-yard IM 9th place; 100-yard Butterfly 13th place
Relays:
• Girls 200-yard Freestyle 11th place
• Boys 200-yard Freestyle 10th place; Boys 400-yard Freestyle 10th place
