The Franklin Amateur Swim Team’s campaign is in the home stretch.
On July 2, the Fins returned to the Macon County Rec Park to host Waynesville in their fourth Mountain Swim League meet. With another blowout win they entered the last week of their regular season, extending a 17-plus-year unbeaten streak.
Daisy Courtney led the way for FAST’s 6 & under girls, winning the 25-yard freestyle with a time of 32.79 seconds. Zane Strum claimed the same event on the boys side (43.65).
Maverick Brabson dominated the 8 & under boys, winning the 25 free (18.93), 25 breaststroke (30.89) and 50 free (46.26). On the girls side Abigail Samuelson won the 25 breast (29.72) and 100 medley (2:06.55).
Two Fins claimed five events between them in the 9-10 boys, led by Owen Baillio in the 50 breast (49.43), 50 butterfly (57.39) and 100 medley (1:44.08). Xzavier Rios took home the 50 free (42.39) and 50 backstroke (52.65). On the girls side Nyla Rivera won the 50 free (40.57), 50 back (51.31) and 50 breast (52.37).
Nathan Jessup impressed in the 11-12 boys, claiming the 50 back (35.72), 50 breast (40.27) and 50 fly (37.26). Emerson Maddrey took home both the 50 (36.63) and 100 (1:25.10) free. On the girls side three Fins won one event apiece, including Larken Lynch in the 50 free (32.92), Leila Pinkston in the 50 breast (43.27) and Olivia Banks in the 50 fly (42.47).
Two Fins claimed multiple events in the 13-14 boys, including Michael Canzone in the 100 breast (1:32.43) and 100 free (1:13.40), and Ethan Malan in both the 50 (28.58) and 100 (1:06.70) free. On the girls side Ann Marie Hinton also swept the free events (31.74, 1:11.40).
Two Fins won five events between them in the 15-18 boys, led by Xincheng Zhang in the 100 breast (1:18.60), 100 fly (1:01.79) and 200 medley (2:33.12). Malik Walker took home the 50 (25.54) and 100 (56.05) free. Kenna Keyworth led the way on the girls side, claiming the 50 free (27.30), 100 breast (1:22.60) and 100 fly (1:07.25).
In addition to individual events, FAST also won 14 out of 18 relays, both medley and free. As a team Franklin’s girls were the meet’s high scorers, earning 434 points to Waynesville’s 117. Franklin’s boys outpaced their rivals by an even bigger margin, 411-33. Overall, the Fins triumphed 845-150.
After routing Waynesville, FAST prepared for their last regular-season meet, a home contest with Highlands and Cherokee County July 9. They’ll then host the MSL Championships July 18, at which they’ll seek their 22nd straight conference title.
Will Woolever can be reached at sports@thefranklinpress.com.