By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Western Alamance senior Michaela Bentley became a two-time state champion in girls’ diving last Thursday.
Bentley won the Class 5-A title in competition at Pullen Aquatic Center in Raleigh.
Bentley racked up 390.85 points to finish ahead of Shelby Crest’s Camryn Russe, who had 365.40 as runner-up. Seaforth’s Olivia Tewes was third with 343.80.
Bentley has captured back-to-back state titles following a runner-up finish in 2024.
In the swimming portion of the championships Friday, several area entrants turned in strong efforts in the Class 5-A competition at Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary.
Western’s Kensley Gasaway finished fourth in the 100-yard backstroke in 1 minute, 6.35 seconds. Gasaway placed sixth in the 500-yard freestyle in 5:34.53.
Western’s Cooper McMillan swam the boys’ 500 freestyle in 5:46.37 for 13th place. He was 16th in the 100 backstroke in 1:05.31.
Southeast Alamance’s Ben Alonso claimed seventh place in the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.60. Alonso was eighth in the 200 individual medley in 2:16.53.
Eastern Alamance’s Elijah Mayle was 13th in the boys’ 100 freestyle in 54.82 seconds and 15th in the 100 breaststroke in 1:12.85.
Class 6-A
Sophomore Madisyn Upton of Southern Alamance had high finishes in two events Friday at Triangle Aquatic Center.
In the 100 butterfly, Upton completed the race in 55.58 seconds as the runner-up, with Charlotte Catholic’s Madi Hertzig the winner in 55.30.
Upton claimed third place in the 100 backstroke in 57.53 – one second off the time posted by champion Delaney Schwab of Asheville.
The Williams girls’ 200 freestyle relay of Reagan Wieting, Madison Gregory, Alejandra Gonzalez Palacios and Elizabeth Stokes was 18th in 2:02.11.
On the boys’ side, Southern’s 400 freestyle relay of Davis Slott, Brody Clark, Matthew Furmage and Alex Coon was 12th in 4:05.08.
Liam Miller of Williams finished 13th in the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.37.
