The Rocky Mount Academy Varsity Swim Team competed in the conference championship meet on Friday, February 6th at the Twin River’s YMCA in New Bern. They competed against five other teams including The Epiphany School, Faith Christian School, The Oakwood School, Halifax Academy and St. Thomas More Academy. RMA was well represented in the awards for both relays and individual events. For the 200 Freestyle Relay, the team of Clara Lord, Gracie Cox, Anna Scott Wingfield and Briana Winham was awarded second place in the conference. The second relay team to receive medals placed second in the 400 Freestyle Relay. This team (the fantastic four) included Gracie Cox, Clara Lord, Vivian Rogers and Briana Winham. Overall, the girls swim team placed a close third in the conference behind Epiphany and Halifax.

Swimming standout Bri Winham not only received medals for relays, she was also awarded third place overall in the 200 freestyle and the 100 freestyle. She was awarded All-Conference female swimmer for Rocky Mount Academy. Senior Stephen Ward was named All- Conference for RMA also, a great way to end his high school swimming career. Junior Gracie Cox was named All-Conference Honorable Mention along with Freshman Stephen Tucker. Many of the Rocky Mount Academy swimmers have qualified to attend the State Meet at the Greensboro Aquatic Center on February 15th. Briana Winham, Gracie Cox, Clara Lord, Stephen Ward and Stephen Tucker qualified for individual events and Anna Scott Wingfield and Vivian Rogers for relays.

New coaches Brian Winham and Margaret Godwin (Magoo) brought with them an intense practice schedule and vast knowledge of swimming. They challenged the team and helped them to improve everything from flip-turns and dives to breathing and kicking. With an overall young swim team, there is great possibility for them to continue to improve and grow stronger. Having only four members, the RMA boys’ team did a great job competing against schools with much larger teams. With some prospective all-star swimmers in lower school, the team has nowhere to go but up!

Be sure to wish the swimmers good luck at the State Meet as they represent RMA!