Swimmers set ACHS records at regionals: Boys place 2nd overall

The Appomattox Raiders boys swim team took second place at the VHSL Class 1 & 2 Region C Championship Meet on Thursday, Feb. 10 at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center, which was a first in the swim program’s history. The Lady Raiders placed fifth.

The Raider boys started off the evening with a second place finish in the 200-yard Medley Relay team of Charlie Drinkard, Tyler Burton, Bennett Goodman and Gabe Thompson, and they never looked back. Sophomore Burton then took fourth in the Boys 200-yard Freestyle, which qualified him for his first trip to the state championship meet in an individual event.

Juniors Charlie Drinkard and Bennett Goodman each won individual events. Drinkard won the 50-yard Freestyle, setting a new school record and personal best, and Goodman did the same in the Boys 100-yard Butterfly, beating his old school record.

Drinkard then placed third in the 100-yard Backstroke and Goodman third in the 50-yard Freestyle. Drinkard additionally broke his school record in the backstroke.

Burton also scored individual points for the team by taking sixth in the boys 100-yard Freestyle. Junior Parker Cheatham did the same for the Raider boys by taking eighth in the 100-yard Backstroke, and sixth in the 500-yard Freestyle. In the process, Cheatham dropped 35 seconds from his previous time and was only two seconds from making the state championship meet.

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