In the morning on Friday, February 11, the West Carteret Swim team went to Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary to compete in prelims in order to determine who will compete in the NCHSAA 3A State Finals. After prelims were completed, five individual swimmers and five relays were set to compete later that day in the NCHSAA. The swimmers of the men’s 200 freestyle relay– Cameron Johnson, Cooper Law, Colton Ellis, and Briggs Cloutier– seeded first after swimming a 1:32 in prelims that morning, on the brink of a state championship.
Adeline Cloutier, Stella Higgs, Bennett Sanborn, and Ashlyn Lewis lit a fire beneath our patriot swimmers when they claimed a third place finish in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:56.21. Ashlyn Lewis, anchor of the relay, finished that race, out-touching Central Cabarrus by 0.03 seconds. Lewis out-touched the same team by the same amount of time earlier that morning in prelims. These four women set a new West Carteret High School record in this event. The men of the 200 medley relay, Cameron Johnson, Kai Taylor, Briggs Cloutier, and Colton Ellis, finished in seventh place with a time of 1:45.89.
Following these first relays, four of the five Patriots swimming in individual events competed. Sophomore Bennett Sanborn placed fourteenth in the 200 freestyle and thirteenth in the 100 freestyle. Sophomore Cameron Johnson completed his individuals with a fourth place medal in the 100 butterfly (54.15) and a sixth place finish in the 500 freestyle (5:01.78). In Adeline Cloutier high school state finals debut, she medaled up in third place in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.77 and in the 100 butterfly with a time of 56.26. For senior Briggs Cloutier, his last high school state finals concluded with two third place individual medals: the 50 freestyle with a time of 21.91 and the 100 freestyle with a time of 47.50.
Sanborn, Higgs, Lewis, and A. Cloutier teamed up for a final time in the women’s 200 freestyle relay, finishing in seventh place with a time of 1:47.10.
By now, the four men of the 200 freestyle relay, Cameron Johnson (sophomore), Cooper Law (junior), Colton Ellis (junior), and Briggs Cloutier (senior), were suited up and ready to race. Their chosen walkout song, “The Kiss” by The Cure played and it was time. More ready than ever, these four lined up, Johnson up on the block, ready for the race to begin. The buzzer sounded and they were off. Johnson dove in and finished with a split of 22.97, followed by Law and his split of 23.52. By the time Ellis finished his split of 23.87, three teams were neck and neck with the final swimmers entering the water at the same time. Cloutier, the final swimmer in his final race, dove from the block. He pulled ahead of the other swimmers with a final split of 21.63 and with that secured these four Patriots first place in the 200 freestyle relay with a final time of 1:31.99. The entirety of the West Carteret Swim Team and their supporters erupted in cheers. Cameron Johnson, Cooper Law, Colton Ellis, and Briggs Cloutier are State Champions. After the regional meet the weekend prior, Ellis announced the realy’s goal of dropping their 1:33 to a 1:31, and not only did they do it, they secured that first place title as well. Coaches Taylor and Dustin Wilson were the first amongst the men to congratulate them. Nobody, though, was more excited for this result than Johnson, Law, Ellis, and Cloutier themselves. All of their hard work and determination paid off. They are State Champions.
Even with the excitement of the 200 freestyle relay, there were still two more events left for West Carteret Swimmers: Kai Taylor’s 100 breaststroke and the Men’s 400 yard freestyle relay. Junior Kai Taylor swam the 100 breaststroke, finishing tenth. In this race, he broke the previous West Carteret school record time, setting a new one at 1:05.65. Taylor also joined junior Lukas Taylor, sophomore Braxton Morris, and junior Cooper Law in the 400 freestyle relay. They finished thirteenth with a time of 3:39.31.
What a way to end the season for these Patriots. The hard work and dedication paid off. Both the men and women saw huge successes in conference, regionals, and states. These Patriots are more than ready for next year’s season to come, already anticipating another big year. Congratulations to Adeline Cloutier, Ashlyn Lewis, Stella Higgs, and Bennett Sanborn who all medaled at states, as well as Briggs Cloutier, Colton Ellis, Cooper Law, and Cameron Johnson on their big win. You all make our Patriot family proud.
