Reagan High has produced several individual state champions in girls swimming since it opened in 2005 but has yet to have a boys champion.
Ryan Michel, Reagan's coach, is hoping Sawyer Hubbard can change that Thursday in the NCHSAA 4-A championships at the Triangle Sportsplex in Hillsborough.
Hubbard set the table for a run at a title when he won the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races at Sunday's Central 4-A Regional in Raleigh.
Michel said that Hubbard swam on a 200 freestyle relay team that won a Class 3-A championship in 2007 but that individual titles have eluded him.
"Something has always happened where there is a great kid in his event," Michel said. "And I spent a lot of time studying last years 4-A results because Sawyer can swim any event. The state was loaded with senior sprinters last year, so we agreed these are his best events for state championships.
"We were really excited after Sunday, especially the way he is sprinting."
The three NCHSAA championship meets in swimming and diving will run today through Saturday in the Triangle area. Class 4-A diving will be today and 4-A swimming will be Thursday. Class 3-A diving will be Thursday with swimming Friday, and Class 2-A/1-A diving will be Friday with swimming Saturday. All diving will be at the Pullen Aquatic Center in Raleigh; all swimming will be at the Triangle Sportsplex in Hillsborough.
In addition to Hubbard, Reagan has other title hopefuls in Lillian Gordy and Alison Menzies. Gordy won the 200 and 500 freestyles at Sunday's Central 4-A Regional. Menzies -- a junior and winner of the last two 3-A diving titles -- won the 4-A regional title with a meet-record score of 403.65.
Christian Jones of West Forsyth and Anna Ratana of Reynolds also won regional titles Sunday -- Jones in the 500 freestyle and Ratana in the 100 butterfly.
As for Hubbard, who is being recruited by N.C. State and Virginia Tech, he could have his best shot at a title in the 50 freetstyle, when he will be rested.
"He is hungry, he is ready to go," Michel said. "He is more determined and excited than I have ever seen him."
In the 2-A/1-A championships, three area girls have a combined six No. 1 seeds. West Davidson's Kelly Ann Baird is No. 1 in the 200 free and 500 free, Elkin's Sarah Singleton is No. 1 in the 100 back and 100 fly, and Elkin's Laken Reynolds is No. 1 in the 500 free and 100 free. Baird (200 free, 500 free) and Reynolds (50 free, 100 free) also are defending state champions.
mlinker@wsjournal.com
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