The Tallulah Falls Schools boys’ 200-yard medley relay team swam to a sixth-place finish with a time of 1:39.98. The team is comprised of seniors, shown from left, Riley Barron of Roswell, Hunter Weyrich of Alto, John Nichols of Clarkesville, and Caden Griffis of Tallulah Falls. (Photo courtesy of Tallulah Falls School)
Swimmers representing Tallulah Falls School showcased its stellar season at the 2020 Georgia High School Association 1A-5A State Championship Swim Meet held Feb. 6-8 in at Georgia Tech’s aquatic center.
According to Head Coach Rachel Nichols, the meet started with high expectations for time-dropping swims.
“These expectations were blown away with nine season-best swims, six new school records and seven personal record swims throughout the preliminary and finals sessions,” Nichols said.
The fast-paced racing began with the boys 200-yard medley relay comprised of seniors Caden Griffis of Tallulah Falls, Hunter Weyrich of Alto, John Nichols of Clarkesville, and Riley Barron of Roswell. The boys swam to a sixth-place finish with a time of 1:39.98.
Weyrich then swam the 200-yard individual medley, placing seventh with a time of 2:01.37, a new personal and school record.
Up next, Nichols and senior Reid Kafsky of Clarkesville swam the 50-yard freestyle. Kafsky swam to a time of 26.21, a season-best, and placing 49th overall, improving from her original seed by 14 places.
Nichols swam to a fourth-place finish in his 50-yard free with a time of 21.51, a new personal record and a new school record.
Nichols then swam the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 52.79, a new personal and school record. Nichols finished sixth overall in the event.
Next up, the girls’ relay team of freshman Samantha Hartman of Clermont, junior Halle Weyrich of Alto, sophomore Tamia Moss of the Bahamas and Kafsky swam to a season-best time of 1:51.22 in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The girls placed 47th overall.
The boys’ 200-yard freestyle relay of senior Chris Geiger of Sautee-Nacoochee, senior Gabe Iluma of Nigeria, freshman Nelson Wilkinson of Cleveland and Griffis swam to a 14th place finish with a time of 1:35.53.
Hunter Weyrich swam next in the 100-yard breaststroke, with a time of 1:00.79, a new personal record and a new school record.
Weyrich then joined Barron, Nichols, and Griffis again in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Nichols led off the relay with a 46.84, a new school and personal record for the 100-yard freestyle. Together the boys swam to a time of 3:21.20, a new school record in that event.
“The boys ended up placing seventh in the 1A-3A division, this is the first time in TFS history that the team has placed in the top 10 at state,” Nichols said. “We are so incredibly proud of our swimmers and their performance this year. The hard work, time, and effort put into practice by swimmers this season was reflected at this meet.”
