A year after he qualified for five different events in the 3A State Swimming championships, Luke Roman has already printed his name in the record book to start his sophomore season.
In the opening dual match of the season, Roman set the Orange High record in the 200 yard freestyle at the Orange County Sportsplex in Hillsborough. Competing against Northwood and Eastern Alamance, Roman established a new school mark of 1:51.69, instantly qualifying him for the Mideast Regionals.
Roman also qualified for regionals in three other events to open the season. In the 100 yard freestyle, Roman beat out Eastern Alamance’s Jesse Sikes for first place. Roman’s time of 51.51 seconds was well ahead of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association standard of 54.99. Sikes also automatically qualified.
The quartet of Roman, Alex Andre, Evan Phillips and Nick Baczara qualified for regionals in two different events. In the 400 yard freestyle relay, they captured first place with a time of 3:39.64. In the 200 yard medley, Andre, Roman, Phillips and Baczara finished first at 1:48.65, the only team among four who automatically qualified for regionals.
Last year, Roman, Andre, Phillips and Baczara finished ninth in the 3A State Championships in the 400 yard freestyle relay.
In those same state championships, Roman finished 8th in the 200 yard freestyle. In all, Roman qualified for the state championships in four relay races, as well as the 200 yard freestyle individually.
In the 200 yard medley relay last year, Roman, Phillips, Andre and Ian Moore (now graduated) finished 8th in the state championships.
In all, five Orange men’s swimmers qualified for regionals in individual events. Andre, a sophomore, captured the 50 yard freestyle at 23.84 seconds, edging Sikes. In the 100 yard butterfly, Andre swam a qualifying time of 58.70 seconds, finishing second behind Eastern Alamance’s Owen Sawyer, who touched the wall at 55.84 seconds.
Baczara also earned a spot in regionals in the 100 yard butterfly, finishing third at 59.52 seconds.
Phillips earned a spot in regionals in two different events. Phillips won the 100 yard breaststroke at 1:05.07. He finished second in the 200 yard individual medley at 2:08.20. Northwood’s Wiley Sikes took first place. Orange senior Andrew Weeks finished third, but also earned a spot in regional in the 200 medley at 2:24.70.
Weeks also got a bid to regionals in the 100 yard backstroke, winning the 100 yard backstroke at 1:03.00.
In the women’s events, Orange’s Katie Belle Sikes, the defending 3A State Champion in the 50 meter freestyle, immediately qualified for regionals in her top event. Sikes, who committed to the University of Georgia during the fall, cruised to victory with a time of 23.48 seconds. Last February, Sikes became the first female swimmer from Orange to win a state championship at 23.24 seconds, which earned her consideration as an All-American.
Sikes also qualified for the 100 yard freestyle with a victorious time of 52.73 seconds.
The relay team of Sikes, junior Riley White, freshman Piper White and freshman Ainsley Rasinske qualified for regionals in two different events. They won the 200 yard medley relay with a time of 2:00.96. They also won the 400 yard freestyle relay (4:03.31).
Piper White, in her first varsity race, qualified for the 200 yard freestyle with a winning time of 2:04.73.
Junior Riley White won the 100 yard backstroke at 1:04.51. She also captured the 100 yard butterfly at 1:03.36.
Rasinske qualified in the 500 yard freestyle. She finished second with a time of 6:31.36 in her first varsity race. Northwood’s Bianca Perez came in first place at 5:56.59.
On the night, the Orange men’s team won both of its dual matches. The Panthers outscored Northwood 209-97. Orange also defeated Eastern Alamance 225-81.
in the women’s dual matches, Orange won 110-43 over Northwood. The Lady Panthers defeated Eastern Alamance 113-41.
The 3A Central Regionals will be held at the Greensboro Aquatic Center on February 2.