Eric Lusk
Sports Editor
elusk@elkintribune.com

WINSTON-SALEM — The Yadkin Stingrays swim team held its end-of-season banquet on Monday evening.

The event may have proved bittersweet for many in attendance.

On the one hand, team members celebrated one of the best seasons in the history of the Stingrays program. On the other hand, swimmers and parents knew this night closed the books on what has been a great summer of swimming in Yadkin County.

The crowning jewel of the Stingrays’ 2009 campaign came over the weekend, with the team finishing third in the Tri-County Swim Association’s championship meet.

In the past, the ‘Rays have been outmatched in this meet, which features mostly bigger clubs from the greater Winston-Salem area. But this season, a growing Yadkin program more than held its own — matching its best-ever finish in the meet.

The Stingrays finished third in back-to-back years in the 1990s but hasn’t been that high in the standings since then. Last year’s team placed fifth, which at the time was considered a stellar performance.

“The swimmers all gave everything they had every time they swam and it showed,” coach Joy Prim said. “There were so many personal best times and many head-turning swims. I can’t really think of one swim that stands out as there were so many spectacular swims in all age groups and so many swimmers dropped so much time and had great swims. “

Five high-point trophy winners helped push Yadkin into the upper echelon of teams in the seven-team meet. Seven others placed in the top four overall in their respective age groups. The Stingrays won four relays and had six others touch in the top three.

Long Creek/Brookcliff took the overall championship, piling up 1,105 points. The Chadwyck Flyers were second with 894, followed by Yadkin 788, North Forsyth 517, Greenbriar Farm 477, Armfield Civic Center (Pilot Mountain) 336 and Glenridge/Pinebrook 281.

While it’s customary to see teams lose swimmers as they get older, Yadkin seemed to buck that trend this season. The Stingrays had a dominant older group, as evidenced by Friday night’s performance from the 11-and-older crowd that put the team in second place overall heading into Saturday.

Four of Yadkin’s five high-point winners came Friday. Julianna Prim, coach Prim’s younger sister, won the 15-18 girls age division, while Jay Lomax won the 15-18 boys. Noah Medwin and Grace Cesare were tops in the 11-12 age group.

The Stingrays dominated among the 15-18 girls, snapping up the top four places in the overall points competition.

Julianna Prim, a recent Starmount graduate who has signed to swim for Pfeiffer, won four individual events — the 100 individual medley, 50 freestyle, 50 backstroke and 50 butterfly. Hannah Cesare, who finished second in points for 15-18 girls, won the 50 breaststroke and touched second in the IM, freestyle and butterfly.

Lyncee Kowalcik was third in points. The Surry Central High standout placed second in the 50 back, fourth in the 50 breaststroke, fifth in the 50 free and 6th in the 50 fly. Sarah Cesare placed fourth in points on the strength of four top-eight swims — third in the 50 breaststroke, fourth in the 50 free, fifth in the 50 back and eighth in the 100 IM.

Prim, Hannah Cesare, Sarah Cesare and Bethany Eaton paced Yadkin to first place in the 200 free relay. Kimberly Benton joined Prim, Hannah Cesare and Kowalcik on the winning 200 medley relay team.

Benton placed third individually in the 100 IM and fourth in the butterfly. She also was eighth in the 50 free. Eaton touched seventh in the 50 backstroke.

Lomax won three of his four events in the 15-18 boys division. The Elkin High standout aced the 50 free, 50 breaststroke and 50 butterfly, and took third in the individual medley. Cory Eaton won the IM event and placed second in the 50 free, fourth in the 50 breaststroke and fifth in the 50 butterfly — giving him third place overall in points for his age group.

Like the girls, Yadkin won the 15-18 boys medley relay. Lomax anchored the Stingrays, which was locked in a tight race with Long Creek the whole way. Cory Eaton, Micah West and Taylor Waddell made up the rest of the team.

“After our girls won in commanding fashion, they went down to cheer on our 15-18 boys relay as we raced Long Creek,” Coach Prim said. “The atmosphere during that race was a competitive friendliness as both teams crowded all around the pool to support their teams.

“When our guys came out on top Im not sure who was happier the guys themselves or their teammates who had cheered them on.”

Yadkin had plenty of depth in the 15-18 boys division. West placed fourth in the backstroke and seventh in the 50 free. Hunter Carter was fifth in the 50 breaststroke. Brian Norman touched sixth in both the 100 IM and 50 fly, and was seventh in the 50 breaststroke.

Waddell raced to seventh in the fly and eighth in the IM.

Noah Medwin earned two golds and two silvers in his races. He won the 11-12 boys 50 free and 50 breaststroke and touched second in the 50 back and 50 fly. Tyler Eaton won the 100 IM in that age group, placed second in the 50 breaststroke and earned third in the 50 free and 50 fly.

The two helped power Yadkin to a pair of 11-12 boys relay wins. Ian Medwin and Ian Grooms swam the other legs on the two relays.

“This was a great surprise and much-deserved two wins,” Coach Prim said.

Grace Cesare was a triple-winner among 11-12 girls. She touched first in the IM, 50 free and 50 breaststroke. She was third in the 50 fly.

Bryan Winters gave the Stingrays a strong presence in the 13-14 boys division. He won the 50 breaststroke, placed second in the IM, fourth in the backstroke and fourth in the butterfly.

Sierra Winters, Tessa Cesare and Sean Evans led the way during the Saturday session, featuring 10-and-under swimmers.

Sierra Winters won the 9-10 girls high-point award by posting an undefeated day. She earned gold in the 100 IM, 25 breaststroke, 25 backstroke and 25 butterfly.

Tessa Cesare won the 25 freestyle, placed fourth in the 100 IM and 25 backstroke, and captured sixth in the 25 butterfly to snare third place in points behind Sierra Winters.

The dynamic duo joined Sarah Hayden and Gina Myers on a silver medal medley relay team. Cesare, Winters, Myers and Taylor Baity placed third in the freestyle relay.

Sean Evans placed fourth in points in the 9-10 boys age group. Evans touched second in both the 25 free and 25 breaststroke. He was fourth in the backstroke and butterfly.

While six-and-under age group swimmers didn’t earn team points, Yadkin’s Tanner Hartness enjoyed a couple of strong swims. Hartness was second in the 25 free and fourth in the 25 not-freestyle (breaststroke).

Other season highlights for the Stingrays included placing first among small teams in the Greater Winston-Salem meet and beating foes like Pinebrook/Glenridge and Greenbriar in dual meets. The Greenbriar win came down to the final couple of events, with the Stingrays rallying from a 10-point deficit.

“At the end of this season I could not be happier to have coached these swimmers, and it is with great pride that I call my self the coach,” Prim said.

Tri-County Swim

Association Championships

July 10-11 • at Gateway YMCA • Winston-Salem

Team Scores

Long Creek/Brookcliff 1,105, Chadwyck 894, Yadkin 788, North Forsyth 517, Greenbriar Farm 477, Armfield Civic Center 336, Glenridge/Pinebrook 281

High Point Winners

1st - Julianna Prim (15-18 girls), Jay Lomax (15-18 boys), Noah Medwin (11-12 boys), Grace Cesare (11-12 girls), Sierra Winters (9-10 girls)

2nd - Hannah Cesare (15-18 girls), Bryan Winters (13-14 boys)

3rd - Lyncee Kowalcik (15-18 girls), Cory Eaton (15-18 boys), Tessa Cesare (9-10 girls)

4th - Sarah Cesare (15-18 girls), Sean Evans (9-10 boys)

Yadkin Stingrays Individual Results

GIRLS

Ages 6-and-under

Carissa Hurst: 10th in 25 freestyle (1:12.04)

Ages 8-and-under

Rachel Dixon: 12th in 25 butterfly (38.87), 18th in 25 freestyle (27.69), 19th in 25 backstroke (37.41)

Suzie Beamguard: 24th in 25 backstroke (47.15), 28th in 25 freestyle (36.63)

Hailey Gomez: 20th in 25 backstroke (37.91), 30th in 25 freestyle (47.75)

100 Freestyle Relay: Yadkin “A” (Rachel Dixon, Suzie Beamguard, Hailey Gomez): 8th place in 2:29.04

Ages 10-and-under

Sierra Winters: 1st in 100 IM (1:27.37), 1st in 25 breaststroke (20.11), 1st in 25 backstroke (18.60), 1st in 25 butterfly (16.80)

Tessa Cesare: 1st in 25 freestyle (15.66), 4th in 100 IM (1:35.60), 4th in 25 backstroke (21.00), 6th in 25 butterfly (19.96)

Gina Myers: 14th in 25 freestyle (18.72), 15th in 25 butterfly (23.45), 17th in 25 backstroke (26.66), 21st in 25 breaststroke (27.28)

Sarah Ring: 21st in 25 backstroke (27.82), 24th in 25 freestyle (21.76)

Sarah Hayden: 22nd in 25 breaststroke (27.34), 28th in 25 backstroke (30.02), 41st in 25 freestyle (26.66)

Makayla Hartness: 29th in 25 butterfly (31.21), 33rd in 25 breaststroke (30.03), 37th in 25 freestyle (23.46), 38th in 25 backstroke (34.15)

Taylor Baity: 30th in 25 freestyle (22.53), 34th in 25 butterfly (33.05), 35th in 25 backstroke (32.77), 38th in 25 breaststroke (37.53)

Hallee Dewees: 42nd in 25 backstroke (51.15), 47th in 25 freestyle (29.87)

100 Freestyle Relay: Yadkin “A” (Sierra Winters, Tessa Cesare, Gina Myers, Taylor Baity) 3rd place in 1:18.83; Yadkin “B” (Sarah Ring, Makayla Hartness, Hallee Dewees, Sarah Hayden) 9th place in 1:48.29

100 Medley Relay: Yadkin “A” (Tessa Cesare, Sarah Hayden, Sierra Winters, Gina Myers) 2nd place in 1:29.92

Ages 12-and-under

Grace Cesare: 1st in 100 IM (1:23.39), 1st in 50 freestyle (32.92), 1st in 50 breaststroke (43.56), 3rd in 50 butterfly (41.55)

Rachel Evans: 12th in 50 butterfly (54.07), 18th in 100 IM (1:54.65), 25th in 50 freestyle (46.23), 26th in 50 backstroke (1:00.38)

Taylor Wood: 19th in 50 breaststroke (56.80), 20th in 50 freestyle (44.66)

Amber Hurst: 19th in 50 backstroke (54.96), 21st in 50 freestyle (45.23)

Hannah Pearson: 21st in 50 backstroke (55.41), 35th in 50 freestyle (1:03.58)

Maris Bey: 33rd in 50 freestyle (55.68)

Sophia Barron: 33rd in 50 backstroke (1:09.72), 36th in 50 freestyle (1:17.14)

200 Freestyle Relay: Yadkin “A” (Grace Cesare, Rachel Evans, Amber Hurst, Taylor Wood): 6th place in 2:48.75

200 Medley Relay: Yadkin “A” (Rachel Evans, Taylor Wood, Grace Cesare, Sarah Ring) 7th place in 3:43.94)

Ages 14-and-under

Rebecca Ray: 24th in 50 freestyle (50.97), 25th in 50 backstroke (58.50)

200 Freestyle Relay: Yadkin “A” (Rebecca Ray, Hannah Pearson) 7th place in 3:37.03

Ages 18-and-under

Julianna Prim: 1st in 100 IM (1:07.44), 1st in 50 freestyle (27.04), 1st in 50 backstroke (31.78), 1st in 50 butterfly (29.77)

Hannah Cesare: 1st in 50 breaststroke (37.84), 2nd in 100 IM (1:11.04), 2nd in 50 freestyle (28.04), 2nd in 50 butterfly (31.37)

Lyncee Kowalcik: 2nd in 50 backstroke (34.31), 4th in 50 breaststroke (41.53), 5th in 50 freestyle (29.94), 6th in 50 butterfly (34.20)

Sarah Cesare: 3rd in 50 breaststroke (41.40), 4th in 50 freestyle (29.62), 5th in 50 backstroke (36.02), 8th in 100 IM (1:17.89)

Kimberly Benton: 3rd in 100 IM (1:14.68), 4th in 50 butterfly (33.15), 8th in 50 freestyle (30.55)

Bethany Eaton: 7th in 50 backstroke (37.50), 11th in 100 IM (1:20.17), 12th in 50 breaststroke (44.25), 15th in 50 freestyle (32.82)

Linda Hurley: 13th in 50 backstroke (42.10), 14th in 50 breaststroke (50.16), 22nd in 50 freestyle (34.92)

Grace Medwin: 16th in 50 breaststroke (50.27), 18th in 50 backstroke (47.32), 18th in 50 butterfly (44.59), 28th in 50 freestyle (37.53)

Stephanie Pittman: 17th in 50 breaststroke (51.72), 17th in 50 backstroke (46.91), 19th in 50 freestyle (33.65), 20th in 100 IM (1:34.36)

Libby Hurley: 19th in 50 breaststroke (59.13), 20th in 50 backstroke (53.32), 22nd in 100 IM (1:50.69), 26th in 50 freestyle (37.13)

Chelsea Davis: 19th in 50 backstroke (48.72), 29th in 50 freestyle (39.22)

Tiffany Varner: 22nd in 50 backstroke (1:04.29), 30th in 50 freestyle (47.71)

200 Freestyle Relay: Yadkin “A” (Hannah Cesare, Bethany Eaton, Sarah Cesare, Julianna Prim) 1st place in 1:57.92; Yadkin “B” (Kimberly Benton, Grace Medwin, Stephanie Pittman, Lyncee Kowalcik) 3rd place in 2:09.60; Yadkin “C” (Linda Hurley, Chelsea Davis, Tiffany Varner, Libby Hurley) 9th place in 2:39.07

200 Medley Relay: Yadkin “A” (Lyncee Kowalcik, Hannah Cesare, Julianna Prim, Kimberly Benton) 1st place in 2:11.76; Yadkin “B” (Linda Hurley, Bethany Eaton, Sarah Cesare, Libby Hurley) 5th place in 2:39.32; Yadkin “C” (Tiffany Varner, Stephanie Pittman, Grace Medwin, Chelsea Davis) 9th place in 3:15.85.

BOYS

Ages 6-and-under

Tanner Hartness: 2nd in 25 freestyle (32.95), 4th in 25 not freestyle (43.19)

Ages 8-and-under

Tanner Baity: 22nd in 25 freestyle (33.43), 23rd in 25 backstroke (52.91)

100 Freestyle Relay (Tanner Baity, Tanner Hartness): 7th place in 2:18.45

Ages 10-and-under

Sean Evans: 2nd in 25 freestyle (16.82), 2nd in 25 breaststroke (23.12), 4th in 25 backstroke (21.23), 4th in 25 butterfly (20.35)

Jamie Beamguard: 14th in 25 breaststroke (31.86), 33rd in 25 freestyle (24.76)

Samuel Marler: 20th in 25 backstroke (29.78), 38th in 25 freestyle (29.96)

Winston Fleming: 24th in 25 backstroke (31.39), 30th in 25 freestyle (24.22)

100 Freestyle Relay: Yadkin “A” (Sean Evans, Jamie Beamguard, Winston Fleming, Samuel Marler) 7th place in 1:40.43

100 Medley Relay: Yadkin “A” (Samuel Marler, Jamie Beamguard, Sean Evans, Winston Fleming) 6th place in 1:47.47

Ages 12-and-under

Noah Medwin: 1st in 50 freestyle (32.14), 1st in 50 breaststroke (41.32), 2nd in 50 backstroke (46.21), 2nd in 50 butterfly (40.44)

Tyler Eaton: 1st in 100 IM (1:32.82), 2nd in 50 breaststroke (47.15), 3rd in 50 freestyle (36.10), 3rd in 50 butterfly (41.51)

Ian Medwin: 9th in 50 breaststroke (57.27), 13th in 50 freestyle (41.69), 14th in 50 backstroke (1:00.33)

Ian Grooms: 13th in 50 backstroke (57.18), 15th in 50 freestyle (42.89)

200 Freestyle Relay: Yadkin “A” (Noah Medwin, Tyler Eaton, Ian Grooms, Ian Medwin) 1st place in 2:31.07

200 Medley Relay: Yadkin “A” (Ian Medwin, Noah Medwin, Tyler Eaton, Ian Grooms): 1st place in 2:59.42

Ages 14-and-under

Bryan Winters: 1st in 50 breaststroke (42.58), 2nd in 100 IM (1:22.86), 4th in 50 backstroke (40.05), 4th in 50 butterfly (37.32)

Nick Weidner: 9th in 50 backstroke (46.02), 10th in 50 freestyle (35.48)

Connor Ring: 22nd in 50 freestyle (47.01)

200 Freestyle Relay: Yadkin “A” (Bryan Winters, Nick Weidner, Connor Ring) 5th place in 2:33.80

200 Medley Relay: Yadkin “A” (Nick Weidner, Bryan Winters, Connor Ring): 5th place in 3:06.59

Ages 18-and-under

Cory Eaton: 1st in 100 IM (1:09.15), 2nd in 50 freestyle (27.04), 4th in 50 breaststroke (37.54), 5th in 50 butterfly (31.18)

Jay Lomax: 1st in 50 freestyle (26.49), 1st in 50 breaststroke (36.80), 1st in 50 butterfly (29.51), 3rd in 100 IM (1:10.78)

Micah West: 4th in 50 backstroke (33.92), 7th in 50 freestyle (28.46), 10th in 100 IM (1:17.62), 11th in 50 butterfly (33.54)

Hunter Carter: 5th in 50 breaststroke (38.40), 9th in 50 freestyle (29.65)

Brian Norman: 6th in 100 IM (1:13.31), 6th in 50 butterfly (31.34), 7th in 50 breaststroke (40.51), 10th in 50 freestyle (29.66)

Taylor Waddell: 7th in 50 butterfly (31.50), 8th in 100 IM (1:15.29), 11th in 50 breaststroke (41.78), 16th in 50 freestyle (31.80)

Will Wooten: 9th in 50 breaststroke (41.45), 16th in 50 backstroke (53.46), 24th in 50 freestyle (38.75)

Dakota Wallace: 10th in 50 backstroke (37.79), 12th in 50 freestyle (30.36), 13th in 100 IM (1:21.50), 13th in 50 breaststroke (42.33)

Dustin Brannam: 11th in 50 backstroke (38.02), 12th in 100 IM (1:21.18), 13th in 50 freestyle (30.58), 15th in 50 butterfly (35.51)

Adam Wise: 12th in 50 butterfly (33.64), 14th in 50 backstroke (42.91), 15th in 50 freestyle (30.96), 16th in 100 IM (1:23.66)

KC Winters: 15th in 100 IM (1:22.89), 17th in 50 breaststroke (43.17), 21st in 50 freestyle (32.26)

200 Freestyle Relay: Yadkin “A” (Cory Eaton, Micah West, Adam Wise, Jay Lomax) 1st place in 1:50.41; Yadkin “B” (Brian Norman, Hunter Carter, Taylor Waddell, Dustin Brannam) 3rd place in 1:58.54; Yadkin “C” (KC Winters, Will Wooten, Dakota Wallace) 6th place in 2:10.41

200 Medley Relay: Yadkin “A” (Micah West, Brian Norman, Cory Eaton, Jay Lomax) 1st place in 2:06.97; Yadkin “B” (Dakota Wallace, Taylor Waddell, Adam Wise, Hunter Carter) 3rd place in 2:16.18; Yadkin “C” (KC Winters, Will Wooten) 5th place in 2:28.88.