Pensacola 3A swimmers and 1A golfers compete at FHSAA state champs, area postseason recap

[ASFN Admin]

Pensacola area 3A swimmers and divers and 1A golfers wrapped up their seasons this weekend at their respective state championships. Below is a local recap from each event.

FHSAA Swimming and Diving 3A Championship (Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training, Ocala)​

Booker T. Washington senior Ian Malone and Pace junior Donovan Lawrence both finished as state runners-up.

Malone finished second in the 200-yard freestyle in an automatic All-American time of one minute, 37.70 seconds, just under a second behind Clay sophomore Noah Stotler (1:36.74).

Malone also finished third in the 50 freestyle (20.74), tying the All-American consideration time.

Lawrence finished second in 1-meter diving (407.20 points). Fort Lauderdale junior West Pocker won the state title (563.40).

The Booker T. boys finished 14th with 44 points, while Pace finished 29 with 17 points. Nease and Jesuit tied for the team title with 215 points.

This is the first time in FHSAA history two boys swimming teams have tied for the team title. It’s Nease’s fourth straight state title and Jesuit’s first since 2020 and fourth overall.

The Gulf Breeze girls finished 30th with 11 points, while Navarre finished tied for 36th with four points and Tate 38th with two points. Ponte Vedra won its fifth straight state championship with 378 points.

Below are full results for area swimmers. The top 16 finishers in each swimming event advanced to the finals

Girls

• 200 medley relay: Gulf Breeze (Rigby Whiteley, Caroline Smith, Grace Walen, Amelie Kortman, 21st, 1:59.81)
• 200 freestyle: Lauren Armstrong, Tate (17th, 1:59.03)
• 1 meter diving: Jada Jones, Pace (22nd, 112.25)
• 500 freestyle: Lauren Armstrong, Tate (15th, 5:21.92, 5:19.53 prelims)
• 100 backstroke: Audrey Turner, Tate (20th, 1:03.75)
• 100 breaststroke: Caroline Smith, Gulf Breeze (8th, 1:08.58); Brynlee Kurtz, Navarre (14th, 1:11.05, 1:10.77 prelims)
• 400 freestyle relay: Tate (Lauren Armstrong, Audrey Turner, Jordana Wright, Kiley Menser, 18th, 3:51.57)

Boys

• 200 freestyle: Ian Malone, Booker T. Washington (2nd, 1:37.70)
• 50 freestyle: Ian Malone, Booker T. Washington (3rd, 20.74); Aidan Hall, Booker T. Washington (10th, 21.64); Brandon Carney, Pace (24th, 22.67)
• 1 meter diving: Donovan Lawrence, Pace (2nd, 407.55); Dylan Harrison, Booker T. Washington (19th, 203.75); Kamden Grissett, Gulf Breeze (20th, 196.20)
• 100 butterfly: Aidan Hall, Booker T. Washington (22nd, 53.73)
• 200 freestyle relay: Booker T. Washington (Aidan Hall, Kouper Kraus, Ian Malone, Elam Shively, 15th, 1:29.97, 1:29.03 prelims)
• 100 breaststroke: Nathan Yoon, Gulf Breeze (17th, 1:02.07)
• 50 freestyle disability: Alex Witte, Tate (6th, 49.73)
• 100 freestyle disability: Alex Witte, Tate (6th, 1:46.52)

FHSAA 1A Golf State Championship (Nov. 14-15, Mission Resort + Club, Howey-in-the-Hills)​

Pensacola Catholic junior Elle Palmer was the top area finisher, placing 14th at the 1A girls championship.

Palmer finished at 2-over par 144 (71-73) across the two days. She finished 29th at the 1A state championship in 2024.

Northview senior Anna Kunkel also competed in the girls state championship, finishing 40th at 11-over par 153 (76-77).

Circle Christian won its second state title and first since 2013, beating FAU High by five strokes. Circle Christian senior Isabella Dohvey won the individual title in a playoff after five players were tied at 5-under par at the end of 36 holes.

Pensacola Catholic senior Ian Morris was the only local golfer to compete in the 1A boys championship, finishing 82nd at 21-over 165 (85-80). Crusaders junior Wilmer Mitchell also qualified but withdrew.

Benjamin School won its fifth state title and second in the last three years, beating First Academy by five strokes. First Academy senior Mingbo Jiang won the individual title, shooting 8-under par (68-68).

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola area FHSAA state swimming and golf postseason recap

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