Lady Devils 14th at record-breaking state swim finals

Published 3:00 pm Monday, February 7, 2022

By Becky Taylor

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ATLANTA — Tift County’s Lady Devils placed 14th overall at the Class 7A state swim meet Saturday at Georgia Tech, but just as importantly, the teams keep breaking through barriers.

“We had a good showing,” said head coach Ivey Vickers, whose squad accumulated 81 points. Walton won the meet at 367.5. “Eden (Troxell) and (Ainsley) Toews finished in the top 10.”

The best event finish for the Swim Devils was by Toews, who was 8th in the 100-yard breaststroke. Toews swam in 1:06.15 and in so doing, broke a record that has stood for nearly 20 years. Lindy Dorminy Bengston swam the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.94 at the 1993 state meet.

Troxell also entered the top 10, with 10th place in the 500 freestyle finals. Earlier in the meet, Toews placed 14th in the 200 individual medley in 2:11.93.

Several records were broken, Vickers said.

Freshman Anna Lupo qualified for the 100 butterfly finals, where she finished 18th. Lupo joined Toews, Troxell and Cason Johnston for 13th in the 200 freestyle relay and 11th in the 400 freestyle relay.

Troxell finished 16th in the 200 freestyle finals, an extremely competitive group that meant her finish time was less than three seconds behind the leader.

Tift’s opponents nearly universally hail from Metro Atlanta, which makes their results even more special. The only other team from outside Atlanta to point was Colquitt County, who exclusively did so in diving.

Others participating at state:

Boys 200 medley relay: Tucker Dowdy, Ethan Stalnaker, Ian Mobley and Alex Shepherd.

Girls 200 medley relay: Raylee Walker, Ava Wilson, Brynna Burke and Kendall Sasser.

Girls 200 freestyle: Burke.

Boys 200 individual medley: Hayden Roberts.

Girls 50 freestyle: Cason Johnston.

Boys 100 butterfly: Roberts.

Girls 100 freestyle: Johnston.

Girls 500 freestyle: Burke.

Boys 200 freestyle relay: Roberts, Dowdy, Shepherd and Mobley.

Girls 100 backstroke: Lupo.

Boys 400 freestyle relay: Roberts, Dowdy, Shepherd and Mobley.

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