ECHHS Men and Women’s Swim Team, Courtesy of CHCCS
If you haven't been paying attention to what's happening in the pool at East Chapel Hill High School… now's the time to start.
The Wildcats men's swim and dive team capped off a perfect season by winning the state championship. The women's team finished second in the state. And together? East Chapel Hill took home the overall combined Women's and Men's 6A state title. Let that sink in for a second — the best swim and dive program in the state, right here in Chapel Hill.
Coach Gregory Cain shared some highlights with us, and honestly, "highlights" doesn't do it justice. This is a full-on record-smashing, All-American-earning, legacy-rewriting kind of season.
Isabel Wolk and Colton Chaires were named State Championships MVPs — and when you see what they did, you'll understand why.
Isabel won the 200 freestyle with an automatic All-American time, then came back and won the 500 free with an All-American consideration time and a new school record. She also set a new school record in the 50 free on the leadoff leg of the 200 free relay. Three events, three records or All-American marks. Unreal.
Colton won the 200 IM and the 500 free — earning All-American consideration in the IM and an automatic All-American time in the 500 free, setting a new school record in the process.
And they were far from alone:
John Zhang won the 100 backstroke with an All-American consideration time, finished 2nd in the 200 IM (also All-American consideration), and anchored two winning relays — including setting a new school record in the 100 freestyle on the leadoff of the 400 free relay, breaking a record that had stood for 12 years.
Peyton James won the 200 IM with an All-American consideration time and a new school record on the women's side, then finished 2nd in the 100 breaststroke — again, All-American consideration, again a new school record.
Alex Nelson won the 100 butterfly, finished 2nd in the 50 free, and was part of two first-place relay teams.
Max Halpern took 1st in the men's 200 freestyle and 2nd in the 100 freestyle, plus anchored the winning 400 free relay.
Max Wolk finished 3rd in the men's 50 free and swam on two first-place relay teams including the 200 medley relay that set a new school record and earned All-American consideration.
William Zhang finished 2nd in the men's 200 free and 3rd in the 500 free.
Rosie Gutierrez finished 3rd in the 100 freestyle and was part of both the 200 and 400 free relay teams on the women's side.
Leah Platts-Mills swam on both of those women's relay squads — including the 400 free relay that broke a school record that had stood for seventeen years.
And we can't forget the divers — Laila Kwong finished 2nd and Graham Hagler finished 4th in the 1-meter diving state championships.
Every point matters at a state meet, and a whole crew of Wildcats made sure those points added up: Josh Kim, Jason Cao, Jason Sliwowski, Jacob Su, Eddie Feng, Santiago Jimenez, Ames Wu, Catherine Powell, Sydney Simon, Guaynyan Chen, Bailey Whelchel, Danielle Crossman, Siena Joshi, and Lauren Collado all contributed to the team's success.
A perfect season. A state title. An overall combined championship. School records falling left and right. All-American times across the board.
Not a bad year to be a Wildcat. 🐾
Congratulations to the entire East Chapel Hill swim and dive family — athletes, coaches, and all the parents who spent their winter poolside. Chapel Hill is proud of you.