WILKESBORO — A New Year’s Invitational swim meet was held at the Wilkesboro YMCA on Friday, Jan. 3, to kick-off swim competition in the new year. Six local teams participated, with the Wilkes County teams hosting the event. West Wilkes, Wilkes Central, Alexander Central, Surry Central, East Surry and Elkin High Schools all gathered on a bitter cold night. However, the pool deck quickly warmed up as competition got underway. Despite missing several swimmers due to holiday travel, the Buckin’ Elks of Elkin High School managed to take decisive victories for both the men and women’s teams.
Elkin got off to a great start by sweeping the first event of the meet, the 200-yard medley relays. Swimming for the ladies, Sarkika Hatcher, Mikayla Dickerson, Amara Simmons and Mya Brown (2:12.09) edge out Kynlee Venable, Claire Hull, Ashlyn Comer and Kiyah Rehberg (2:14.85) of East Surry. Surry Central, represented by Mallory Cave, Laura Robson, Kaitlynn Kreger and Cenia Salgado, (2:20.44) took the third place finish.
Swimming for the men, Elkin’s Dylan Zamudio, Evan Baker, Caleb White, and Sawyer Poindexter (2:05.65) outpace Johnathon Bischoll, George Bynon, Griffin Duncan, and Zackary Zirkle (2:09.82) of Alexander Central. East Surry swimming with Ethan Butler, Colby Goins, Zachary Brannon and Matthew Needham (2:21.36) took the third place finish. Christopher Howard, Eli Fortner, Rakin Dagenhart and Lucas Ritchie (2:29.65) picked up a fourth place finish for Alexander Central. Jaciell Palacios, Joshua Dyer, Kaidan Greene and William Eller-Roope (2:35.29) come in fifth place for West Wilkes while Wilke Central picked up a sixth place finish with Beckett Matthews, Pino Costagliola, Jackson Miller and Ian Arrowood (2:47.10)…