Seahorses finish 41st in NCHSAA 1A/2A State Championship

Owen swim team wraps up strong season in Cary

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
February 13, 2022

The Owen Seahorses finished 41st among the top 1A/2a teams in the state, following the Feb. 12 state championship meet at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. Photo courtesy of Owen Seahorses

The 2021-22 swimming season, in which Owen won the Western Highlands Conference and earned a spot in the NCHSAA 1A/2A State Championship, ended Feb. 12, with the Seahorses finishing 41st among the 86 teams. 

Owen advanced beyond the morning preliminary round at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary, qualifying to compete in four events in the afternoon finals. 

Senior Chloe Little finished 8th in the 100 yard breaststroke, with a time of 1:13.81, and scoring 11 of Owen’s 21 points in the meet. Sophomore Elsa Quam posted a time of 1:20.14 in the event, placing 23rd.

The girls 400 meter freestyle relay team of Little, Isabella White, Quam and Olivia Hale finished 15th in the state, while the 200 meter medley relay team of Little, White, Hale and Grace Vale finished 16th. Abby Carter joined Hale, Little and White on the 200 meter freestyle relay team, earning a spot in the 18th position.

From left to right: Stephen Henson, Chloe Little, Olivia Hale, Isabella White, Dennis Luchinin and Riley Johnson were among the 12 swimmers on the roster for Owen, which finished 41st in the 2021-22 state championship meet. Photo courtesy of Owen Seahorses

The boys 200 meter medley relay team of senior Dennis Luchinin, juniors Stephen Henson and Riley Johnson and sophomore Logan Dash, finished 15th. The team also grabbed 23rd in the 400 meter freestyle relay. Henson, a junior who qualified to compete in the 200 meter individual medley, placed 23rd in the event.

Alternates Ian Shirk and Caden Little traveled with the Seahorses, warming up with the team and ready to swim, if needed, according to second-year head coach Beth Dalton Rathbone. They took on the additional role of supporting their teammates in the meet, Rathbone added.

“This group has been so much like a family this year, the way they’ve all stepped up to be there to get behind each other and help the team as a whole,” she said. “Another example of that support was from our athletic trainer, Crystal Shirk. We were the only team in states to come with our own athletic trainer, and she was quick to jump in and help. A lot of the other swimmers from our conference know her, so she was busy helping a lot of them, too. It was amazing to see.”

After capturing the WHC championship, the Seahorses qualified for the state championship with a combined 9th place finish in the Western Regionals.

Rathbone has coached 11 of the 12 swimmers on the Owen roster in the Black Mountain Stingrays youth swimming organization, and some of them for eight years. She stepped into the head coaching role for Owen’s swim team last season, when the Seahorses were represented by one swimmer in the state championship meet.

Witnessing both teams qualify for this year’s state championship meet, something that has not happened in at least 15 years, was “an amazing feeling,” according to the head coach.

“I’m very open with these kids in telling them what they need to do to get to where they want to go, and achieve the goals they set for themselves,” Rathbone said. “But, they’re responsible for doing the work. That’s one of the things that’s special about this group, that family-like connection helps them drive each other to success.”

The willingness to use the tools she was given to compete at the highest level was evident in the performance of Little this season, according to her coach. The senior earned a silver medal in the 100 yard breaststroke in the Western Regionals, before taking 8th in the state.

Little joined the Stingrays in 2015, and earned the program’s Scholarship of Hope last summer.

“Her work ethic is phenomenal, and she is one of those swimmers with natural gifts,” Rathbone said. “Seeing her put in all the work she has to get to this level has been great, because Chloe loves swimming and she loves giving back, especially to the younger swimmers who look up to her.”

None of the swimmers on the Owen roster had participated in a state championship before arriving in Cary, according to the coach.

“They were tired, but super excited after prelims,” Rathbone said. “It was a little overwhelming for them, because we were the smallest team on the deck, with other teams having 30-40 swimmers. But, they came out in the finals and gave it their best, which is all I ask of them.”

While a conference championship and strong performances in the regional and state championship meets are undoubtedly highlights of the season for the Seahorses, witnessing the bond between the athletes strengthen was the most fulfilling aspect of the season for the coach.

“All of the laps on the pool deck and the time we’ve spent together are memories I want us all to hold on to,” Rathbone said. “From the laughing, to the crying, to the nerves, this has been a true team effort all season. It’s truly been a joy to watch.”

As the Seahorses look ahead to 2022-23, the head coach believes Owen’s swimming program is poised for another good year.

“They set the bar pretty high this year,” Rathbone said. “I know a lot of them are already thinking about how to get prepared for next year, and they all want to get back to states.”