Justin Nuzzo

Staff Reporter

PILOT MOUNTAIN — Surry Central’s girls swimming team captured first place during a meet with West Stokes and Wilkes Central held at Armfield Civic Center on Thursday.

Central amassed 117 points to earn the top spot. West Stokes finished second with 46 points, and Wilkes Central placed third with four points.

In the boys meet, West Stokes came out on top, earning 85 points. Surry Central was second with 33 points, and Wilkes Central, third, with 10.

Leading the Golden Eagles’ girls squad, Lyncee Kowalcik, Karmen Gardner and Kirstin Gardner each won a pair of individual events. Kowalcik won the 200-yard Individual Medley (2:32.66) and the 100-yard Backstroke (1:14.99). Karmen Gardner took home firsts in the 500-yard Freestyle (6:09.80) and the 100-yard Butterfly (1:12.04). Kirstin Gardner captured firsts in the 100-yard Freestyle (1:00.33) and the 200-yard Freestyle (2:15.76).

Central won two relays at the meet — the 200-yard Freestyle Relay (1:50.76) and the 400-yard Freestyle Relay (4:05.89). Swimming on the 200 Freestyle Relay team were Paige Martin, Karmen Gardner, Kirstin Gardner and Kowalcik. That foursome also swam on the victorious 400 Freestyle Relay team.

Leading Central’s boys team, Jesse Martin finished first in the 100-yard Freestyle (1:06.75) and Granath Musson took first in the 100-yard Breaststroke (1:22.76).

“It was a great meet,” Surry Central swimming coach Amber Flippen said. “We earned state times. It was nice to compete against non-conference teams. All of our kids had great swims.”

Surry Central is not competing for a conference title this season, because the Mountain Valley 2-A Conference could not field five full teams. North Wilkes and Wilkes Central only had one swimmer each.

“It’s sad,” Surry Central coach Amber Flippen said. “Technically, we won’t have a so-called conference championship. It will be an invitational where we will have awards. It’ll be exactly like a conference championship meet, but with no title.”

Surry Central’s swimming program has a rich history that includes three conference championships in the last three seasons.

“We won’t have the opportunity for four in a row,” Flippen said. “We miss out on conference Wachovia Cup points, but we still get them for state competition.”

Due to conference realignment Surry Central will have more competition next season, thus, a conference championship battle will be inevitable.

“Next season, the conference will be redistributed,” Flippen said. “So, it won’t be an issue.”

Coach Flippen said several of her swimmers are having big years, including senior Paige Martin, juniors Allee Taylor, Kirstin Gardner, Lyncee Kowalcik and freshman Karmen Gardner.

“We have 26 swimmers,” Flippen said. “That’s the largest team we’ve fielded since I’ve been here.”

Girls Results

SURRY CENTRAL 117, WEST STOKES 46, WILKES CENTRAL 4

200 Medley Relay — West Stokes (Victoria Goldbach, Brett Benson, Erica Boles, Elly Welder), 2:16.25; Surry Central (Reba Stanley, Allee Taylor, Karie McLamb, Haley Comer), 2:18.91; Surry Central (Anna Martin, Hannah Odum, Breanna Coleman, Megan Stanley), 2:31.51

200 Freestyle — Kirstin Gardner (SC), 2:15.76; Laura Lowery (SC), 2:39.70; Megan Stanley (SC), 2:48.20

200 Individual Medley — Lyncee Kowalcik (SC) 2:32.66; Allee Taylor (SC), 2:43.50; Breanna Coleman (SC), 3:14.63

50 Freestyle — Paige Martin (SC), :27.52; Elly Welder (SC), :28.88; Reba Stanley (SC), :31.92

100 Butterfly — Karmen Gardner (SC), 1:12.04; Karie McLamb (SC), 1:13.30; Victoria Goldbach (WS), 1:32.06

100 Freestyle — Kirstin Gardner (SC), 1:00.33; Paige Martin (SC), 1:01.43; Karie McLamb (SC), 1:05.93

500 Freestyle — Karmen Gardner (SC), 6:09.80; Emma Belcher (SC), 8:29.85; Sara Trites (WS), 9:20.47

200 Freestyle Relay — Surry Central (Paige Martin, Karmen Gardner, Kirstin Gardner, Lyncee Kowalcik), 1:50.76; West Stokes (Erica Boles, Brett Benson, Becca Tatum, Elly Welder), 2:02.33; Surry Central (Megan Callaway, Haley Comer, Karie McLamb, Allee Taylor), 2:07.91

100 Backstroke — Lyncee Kowalcik (SC) 1:14.99; Laura Lowery (SC) 1:24.80; Angela Baroncian (WC), 1:29.13

100 Breaststroke — Allee Taylor (SC), 1:20.02; Brett Benson (WS), 1:20.70; Hannah Odum (SC), 1:39.88

400 Freestyle Relay — Surry Central (Paige Martin, Karmen Gardner, Kirstin Gardner, Lyncee Kowalcik), 4:05.89; West Stokes (Erica Boles, Becca Tatum, Brett Benson, Elly Welder), 4:34.60; Surry Central (Laura Lowery, Reba Stanley, Hannah Odum, Megan Stanley), 4:59.75

Boys Results

WEST STOKES 85, SURRY CENTRAL 33, WILKES CENTRAL 10

200 Medley Relay — West Stokes (Dylan Harmon, Kyle Brooks, Brendon Patterson, Jordan Hudgins), 2:11.49

200 Freestyle — Jessy Dodson (WS), 3:14.08

200 Individual Medley — Ben Goldbach (WS), 2:31; Gunnar Hunsberger (WC), 2:58.54

50 Freestyle — Austin Jarvis (WS), :25.74; Jesse Martin (SC), :27.58; Dylan Cahoon (WS), :29.28

100 Butterfly — Brendon Patterson (WS), 1:10.31

100 Freestyle — Jesse Martin (SC), 1:06.75; Chase Needham (SC), 1:12.45; Luke Holyfield (SC), 1:18.78

500 Freestyle — Jordan Hudgins (WS), 6:56.91; Dylan Cahoon (WS), 7:45.38

200 Freestyle Relay — West Stokes (Jordan Hudgins, Brendon Patterson, Ben Goldbach, Austin Jarvis), 1:52.65; West Stokes (David Garcia, Dylan Harmon, Ronnie Hicks, Kyle Brooks), 1:58.89; Surry Central (Jesse Martin, Luke Holyfield, Chase Needham, Granath Musson), 2:00.94

100 Backstroke — Gunnar Hunsberger (WC), 1:17.94; Dylan Harmon (WS), 1:20.82; Ronnie Hicks (WS), 1:21.06

100 Breaststroke — Granath Musson (SC), 1:22.76; Kyle Brooks (WS), 1:23.40; Chase Needham (SC), 1:30.39

400 Freestyle Relay — West Stokes (Jordan Hudgins, Brendon Patterson, Ben Goldbach, Austin Jarvis), 4:22.38; West Stokes (David Garcia, Dylan Harmon, Ronnie Hicks, Kyle Brooks), 4:52.87; Surry Central (Jesse Martin, Luke Holyfield, Chase Needham, Granath Musson), 4:59.22

Contact Justin Nuzzo at jnuzzo@mtairynews.com or 719-1922.