SWIMMING: CBA's Chastain completes season-ending goal

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 13, 2017 9:59 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

CARY -- Just 24 hours before the final swim meet of his career, Zech Chastain wanted only one wish -- to stand on the medal podium.

The Charles B. Aycock senior did it twice.

Chastain posted top-three finishes in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke during the season-ending N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A men's swimming championships Saturday evening.

"It's the best feeling ever to see that all that hard work you put in finally paid off," said Chastain, who swims with Eastern Carolina Aquatics (ECA) out of Greenville in the offseason.

Indeed.

Chastain touched the wall third in the 50 free in 21.77 seconds -- .42 seconds behind runner-up Boyd Poelke, a freshman from Marvin Ridge.

Later in the evening, Chastain returned to pool for the 100 back. Once again, he and Chapel Hill senior Ang Li battled toe-to-toe through the preliminaries -- similar to last week's east regional, which was won by Chastain.

This time, Li claimed the 3-A crown in 50.24.

Chastain seized second in 51:19. He became the first Wayne County swimmer to "double medal" in the state championship meet since 2009 when Eastern Wayne alum Mason Chenier emerged as the state title-winner in both the 50 and 100 free.

"It was a silver and bronze night spent with good people," Chastain said. "If it wasn't for all of my coaches and friends, I wouldn't be here. I couldn't have ended the season in a better way."

His performances capped a stellar senior campaign.

Chastain didn't lose a meet during the regular season and earned all-Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference honors in two events.

"We are so proud of Zech and this 'swim' adventure he is on," said CBA head coach Linda Chastain, who is also Zech's mother. "What a year!"