Orange’s Matthew Geib, Noah Jamison, Abby Dease and Ashley Behringer have all ensured a trip to the Greensboro Aquatics Center next week, and possibly another one after that.
On Wednesday night, the Orange and Cedar Ridge men’s and women’s swimming teams competed in the Big 8 Swimming Championships at the Taisean Aquatics Center at Duke University.
Though no Panthers or Red Wolves came away with individual conference championships, several qualified for the 3A Mideast Regionals, which will be held next Friday at the Greensboro Aquatics Center next to the Greensboro Coliseum.
Orange’s Matthew Geib qualified for the Mideast Regionals in three different events. In the 200 yard medley relay, Geib teamed with Noah Jimison, Cross Roman and Owen Rasinske to finished 3rd at 1:43.63.
Geib also finished 2nd in the 100 yard butterfly at 52.82 seconds. In the 100 yard backstroke, Geib finished 4th at 57.15, which earned him a spot at regionals.
Rasinske also qualified for regionals in three events. In addition to the 200 relay, Rasinske finished 3rd in the 50 yard freestyle at 23.49 seconds. In the 100 yard freestyle, Rasinske also finished third at 51.44.
Orange’s Roman picked up a spot in regional qualifying in the 50 yard freestyle, as well, with a 5th place finish at 23.64 seconds.
Jamison broke the Orange High School record in the 200 yard individual medley at 2:05.44. He finished 4th to earn a spot next week in Greensboro.
Cedar Ridge senior Devin Bunner came in second in the 200 yard individual medley, the highest finish of any Red Wolf swimmer. Banner touched the wall at 2:02.27, behind only Chapel Hill’s Peter Bretzmann.
Orange’s Ashley Behringer automatically qualified for the Mideast Regionals in three events. She finished fifth in the 200 yard individual medley at 2:21.11, just under the NCHSAA-mandated automatic regional qualifying team of 2:21.99. Behringer also qualified in the 100 yard butterfly, where she finished third at 1:02.92. East Chapel Hill’s Emily Regelsberger captured the 100 butterfly championship.
Orange’s 200 yard medley team of Behringer, Brooke Walker, Abby Dease and Calla Walker qualified for the Mideast Regionals. They finished 2nd at 1:59.76. East Chapel Hill’s Sofia Georgallis, Mary Holmes, Regelsberger and Bri Acome finished first at 1:58.94.
Orange’s Calla Walker finished 2nd in the 50 yard freestyle at 25.81 seconds, behind only Northern Durham’s Bridgette Ervin. Walker also finished 7th in the 100 yard freestyle at 59.44 seconds.
Orange’s Abby Dease qualified for two regional events. In addition to the 200 relay, she finished 2nd in the 200 yard freestyle at 2:07.96. East Chapel Hill’s Margaret Sept came in first at 2:00.69.
For Cedar Ridge, Olivia Aitkin finished 13th in the 50 yard freestyle at 27.37 seconds. Aitkin could potentially finish on the All-Big 8 Conference team, which would be the second sport she’s received league honors this year. Aitkin made All-Big 8 in women’s golf during the fall. Her main sports is softball, which starts practice in three weeks.
The regionals will start at 4 o’clock next Friday afternoon.
In addition, Orange diver Stasz Zitko has qualified for the 3A Mideast Men’s Regional Diving Championships next week. Zitko, who won the 2019 Big 8 Conference Men’s Diving Championship, will compete Thursday morning. He qualified for the state championships last year.