COLUMBIA – In the end it was a numbers game.
The Eastside Eagles had more swimmers than Fort Mill leading to them winning the 5A Division II state championship over the Jackets Thursday afternoon in Columbia at the USC Natatorium.
Eastside scored 617 points compared to second place Fort Mil which scored 465 points, despite the Jackets winning seven events (five individual and two relay) of the 11 events. The Jackets biggest competition in the meet was Eastside who brought 18 male swimmers compared to 15 for Fort Mill.
“Our team is a little younger than theirs,” said Fort Mill head coach Cindy Van Buskirk. “They have a little more depth. 2025 is looking good. We are only graduating one. I have never been more proud of a team.”
Van Buskirk also won 5A boys swimming state coach of the year.
Fort Mill started strong and won the 200-yard medley relay in 1:34.43. The relay featured Turner Wiand, Dominic Impens, Adrian Paredes, and Tate Preston.
Paredes came back two events later and dominated the 200-yard individual medley winning in 1:55.31. The short break wasn’t an issue for Paredes.
“It’s mental,” he said. “You have to control your mind. When you step on the block, you have to think you are going to win. That is how you win.”
Wiand and the 50-yard freestyle were next and he didn’t disappoint either winning in 21.59. One thing Wiand said helps him prepare for the fastest race in the meet is the atmosphere.
“The hype of the meet helps,” he said. “You are always ready to go.”
Wiand pulled off a second state title winning the 100-yard backstroke in 50.57 later in the meet.
Impens came out and won the 100-yard freestyle in 46.93. He also pulled off a second state title winning the 100-yard breaststroke in 56.15 setting a new state record in the process. Like his teammates, the more amped up Impens feels the better he swims.
“I just try to get hyped,” he said. “I had some sweet tea. As long as I’m hyped, it helps.”
Fort Mill bookended the meet by winning the last event-the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:12.43. Wiand, Preston, Paredes, and Impens participated in the event for Fort Mill. That gave both Impens and Wiand four state titles in the meet. Paredes had three state titles.
Nation Ford’s Gray Reiger finished second in the 100-yard butterfly in 51.74. He also placed third in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:50.78 to lead the Falcons. Nation Ford also had a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:30.41.
Nation Ford finished fourth with 302 points. Riverside was third with 320 points.
“We did really well,” said Nation Ford head coach Alyssa McAllister. “It’s amazing.”
Catawba Ridge was ninth with 115.5 points. Their best finisher was Ethan Curtis in seventh place in the 100-yard butterfly.
The 5A Division II girls state swim meet will be held Saturday back in Columbia.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
