Engel leads Rams to state swimming championships

Havelock’s Jacob Engel qualified for the state 3A swimming championships in two events and also helped a Ram relay team reach the state meet at the 3A regionals on Saturday in Goldsboro.

Engel, a junior, finished eighth in the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 1 minute and 3.55 seconds. In the 200 individual medley, Engel placed 10th in a time of 2:21.04. The top 12 finishers at the regional advance to the state championships.

Engel teamed up with Wesley Carlo, Sam Smith and Brandon Woods to finish 11th in the 200 medley relay in a time of 2:21.04 to reach the state championship.

Havelock’s 200 freestyle relay was just .13 away from reaching the state meet. Engel, Smith, Woods and Scott Whitley were 14th in a time of 1:41.50.

Havelock’s 400 freestyle relay team of Smith, Whitley, Patrick McMahon and Joseph Whitley was 20th in a time of 4:08.31.

As a team, the Havelock boys finished 16th in the regional with 36 points.

The Havelock girls swim team also had state qualifiers.

Abby Clark finished in a tie for eighth in the 50 freestyle in a time of 27.42 to reach the state championships. In the same event, Sarah Glasbrenner finished with a time of 31.31, but she did not make the finals.

Clark and Glasbrenner teamed with Christina Rudd and Emily Snell to place 11th in the 400 freestyle relay in 4:26.52 to reach the state finals.

Havelock’s 200 freestyle relay of Rudd, Snell, Clark and Madi Dryden was 17th in a time of 1:59.78.

Individually, Clark was 14th in the 100 freestyle in 1:02.35. Snell placed 14th in the 100 backstroke in 1:12.87 and finished 21st in the 200 freestyle in 2:22.57.

Amanda Buffa finished in a tie for 20th in the 100 butterfly in 1:16.98.

As a team, the Havelock girls finished 15th in the region with 28 points.

The 3A state swimming championships are scheduled for Thursday in Cary.