Swim and Dive has put two more meets in the books on their way to the Mountain Six Conference championship.
In a year in which the COVID-19 pandemic has caused attrition for many Western North Carolina swim teams, FHS returned to action Jan. 4 after its previous meet against Murphy was cancelled due to the school’s inability to field a team. At the Haywood Health and Fitness Center against Mountain Six Conference rival Pisgah and traditional WNC powerhouse Tuscola, the Panthers posted several low times in the tri-team meet.
Four swimmers, including 2019 All-WNC selections Claire Holland, Hunter Cabe, and Clayton Guynn, took first place in multiple events for the Panthers. For the boys Guynn finished first in the 100-yard breaststroke and 100-yard freestyle, while Cabe took the top spot in the 100 backstroke and 200 free. On the girls side Holland placed first in both the 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke, while Nya Canzone took home both the 100 and 200-yard freestyles. Led by the four swimmers’ times the Panthers outscored Tuscola 127 to 84 on the girls side and 124-74 for the boys. Pisgah scored 19 points in boys events and did not enter any female swimmers. After the meet FHS coaches Dina and Dwain Picou said they were pleased with the Panthers’ times against a respected team in WNC.
“Due to it being a tri-meet, we had to limit our entries to two per event and only one relay. So, we did have to leave some swimmers at home, which is very difficult,” said Dwain. “But, we were successful and beat Tuscola in girls and boys. They are traditionally very strong, but did not seem to be as strong this year.”
After their successful meet Monday evening, the Panthers returned home to prepare for their meet against Mountain Six rival Smoky Mountain Jan. 9. Because Smoky Mountain has just a few swimmers on its roster this year, the meet’s results looked a bit lopsided - FHS’s girls outscored the Mustangs 121-9, while the boys took the meet by a more modest 126-17. Holland, Cabe, Guynn, and Canzone again had good meets, while Joseph Vernelson, Michael Frazier, Callie Roper, and Natalie Ballard all earned multiple 1st-place times. After securing the win against Smoky Mountain, the Panthers will host Hayesville at Franklin Health and Fitness Jan. 16. It is the final meet until the Mountain Six Conference Championship. Jan. 23.