AHSAA Swim and Dive State Championship: An Unexpected Challenge

Picture of the AHSAA Swim and Dive State Championship in Huntsville, Alabama

This past weekend, heading into Thanksgiving break, the VHHS swim and dive team traveled to Huntsville, kicking off the week with their final meet of the 2025 season. The Lady Rebels entered with high expectations for a state title, while the young men’s team also had a strong chance to bring home a map.

For the girls, state individual qualifiers included Rilie Reid (Sr.), Angela Zhang (Sr.), Emily Jin (Sr.), Kathryn Fulton (So.), Anna Reece Handey (8), Lucy Comer (Fr.), Ivy Comfort (8), and Elle Lourie (7). 

Representing the boys were Andrew Hilsmer (Jr.), Wyatt Farrell (So.), Bennett Lowther (So.), Shepherd Rubin (So.), Tucker Hicks (Fr.), and Parker Jordan (7).

Friday morning began with multiple Rebels qualifying for the top 16 and earning spots in the finals. The women’s 200 medley relay started strong, posting the 2nd-fastest prelims time and coming within .12 of the school record, while the men qualified 3rd. In individual events, Zhang was seeded 12th in the 200 free, with Fulton 15th. In the 200 IM, Lourie and Handey were seeded 4th and 7th, with Rubin placing 4th for the boys. In the 50 free, Reid earned the 2nd seed and Jin the 9th, while Lowther led the men as the top seed. Hilsmer closed prelims strongly, securing the 1st seed in the 100 fly.

In the Friday night finals, Jordan competed in diving between sessions, placing 7th and earning 12 points for the boys. The women’s and men’s 200 medley relays both earned podium finishes, placing 3rd. In the 200 free B final, Zhang finished 9th with a personal best, and Fulton placed 13th with one as well. In the 200 IM A final, Handey finished 6th and Lourie 8th, with Rubin placing 4th for the boys. Comer won the para-ambulatory 50 free. Reid followed by winning the 50 free in a blazing 23.78, a school record and personal best, while Jin won the B final with her own best time. Lowther placed 4th for the boys. Hilsmer capped the night by winning the 100 fly with a school record and a personal best of 49.67.

At the halfway point, the Lady Rebels sat in second by 10 points, and the boys held 3rd; however, that night, one of the Lady Rebels suffered an injury, forcing major relay adjustments and putting pressure on the team to make up for the gap. Comfort’s 8th-place finish in diving helped move the girls into a narrow 1-point lead over Huntsville heading into the finals.

In the final night of competition, Comer opened with the para-ambulatory 100 free. Reid placed 5th in the 100 free, with Lowther winning the men’s event. Zhang and Fulton earned 4th and 7th in the 500 free, while Rubin secured 3rd for the boys. The restructured women’s 200 free relay placed 13th. In the 100 back, Jin finished 14th, and Hilsmier placed 3rd. Handey added a 6th-place finish in the 100 breast. To close the meet, the women’s 400 free relay finished 7th, and Hilsmer, Lowther, Rubin, and Hicks won the men’s 400 free relay.

Despite scraping together every possible point, the Lady Rebels were not able to fill the gap, finishing 4th overall, the highest placement in VHHS swim and dive history for the ladies. The boys also placed 4th, an impressive outcome for such a young team with tremendous potential ahead.

Congratulations to both teams for their grit, resilience, and adaptability under unexpected circumstances! And a special thank you to Coach Campbell, Coach Aaron, and Coach Joe for their leadership and support!