Cougars send four to state meet

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 6, 2012 1:48 PM

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CARY -- Another week of workouts.

Another chance to add to Goldsboro High's record books.

The Cougars' foursome of Logan Cole, Timmy Vick, Zach Darden and Steven Morton turned in consistent performances during the Classes 1-A/2-A Eastern Regional swim meet contested Saturday at the Triangle Aquatic Center.

Now, they're headed to the state meet next Friday.

Cole, a junior, logged bronze-medal and state-qualifying efforts in the 50-yard freestyle (22.96 seconds) and 100 butterfly (55.21). Darden touched the wall seventh in the 200-yard individual medley (IM) in 2:18.18, while Vick finished right behind him in 2:18.44.

Vick collected a bronze medal with a third-place effort of 1:06.14 in the 100 yard breaststroke. Darden captured sixth overall in the 100 free in 52.67.

Morton hit the pool just twice and helped both relays punch their tickets to the N.C. High School Athletic Association championship meet. The 200 medley relay finished a scant .15-hundredths of a second from taking the bronze medal. The quartet placed ninth in the highly-competitive 200 free relay, and turned in a time of 1:41.33 -- half a second faster than their seed time.

"My kids have worked hard all season," said first-year GHS head coach Tammy Yates. "They have set their goals high. For the veteran swimmers, regionals is just a stepping stones to states. We didn't rest, didn't shave. They swam the times they needed ... placed great."

Goldsboro and Corinth-Holders shared seventh place in team action with 132 points apiece.

The Cougars haven't had a state champion in the pool since Chuck Darden won the 200 IM and 100 backstroke during the Class 4-A meet in 1986. Darden also helped the Cougars claim the state title in the 200 medley relay.

Rosewood's foursome of Andrew Henn, Garner Beasley, Steven Jennings and Christian Scheu competed in the 200 free relay, but did not place.

The Eagles' quartet of Brianna Gattison, Ciera Satterfield, Megann Tyndall and Jessica Mitchell took 17th overall in 2:06.38 during the 200 free relay. The group finished five spots from qualifying for the state meet.

Goldsboro's foursome of Kristin Huddleston, Mikayla Huf, Maddie Vera and Heather Wuertele participated in the girls' 400 free relay.