Northwest Guilford swimmers, divers place well at state competition
she wants something she puts some energy into it.” Gillis is also a member of Ultimate Air Diving Club. She said she dives year-round and expects to dive for the University of Notre Dame next year. Last year she finished fourth in the state.
Northwest diver Noah Zawadzki won the state diving competition last year and now dives for Virginia Tech. Muire placed second in the conference and eighth in the region. The relay team advanced to state competition by placing third in the conference and eighth in the regionals.
Courtesy photo
Northwest High School wrestler and senior Chris Garrison finished his high school career last Friday, taking down South Carolina’s 182-pound state champion and finishing undefeated. Garrison was wrestling for the North Carolina All Star team against the South Carolina All Stars at North Myrtle Beach High School. Garrison’s team soundly defeated the South Carolina All Stars 62-9. Garrison, who will wrestler for NC State next year, left his mark at Northwest. He finished his career with back-to-back state individual titles and helped Northwest to its first state team championship. Courtesy photo
Northwest High School diver Samantha Gillis (above, center) finished second in the NC High School Athletic Association state 4A diving championship last month. Swimmers Curtis Peaslee, Logan Shattuck, Eric Muire and Ray Zhang placed 18th in the 200 free relay at the NCHSAA state 4A swim championship, with a time of 1.32.34.
by MEREDITH BARKLEY When a freshman year injury ended her budding gymnastics career, Northwest Guilford High senior Samantha Gillis took her flipping and twisting skills to another sport – diving. It paid off. She finished second last month in NC High School Athletic Association’s state 4A diving championships. “I knew the transition from gymnastics to diving was pretty simple,” said Gillis, who had been a gymnast for nearly a decade. “I thought it would be a good fit.” Northwest swimmers Eric Muire and Curtis Peaslee, both seniors; Logan Shattuck, a junior, and Ray Zhang, a sophomore, also made it to the state tournament. Muire finished
A LITTLE ICE NEVER STOPS US.
19th in the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 22.22 seconds, and Peaslee, Shattuck, Zhang and Muire finished 18th in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:32.34. “To make the states is a pretty big deal and to place is awesome,” said Northwest swim and dive coach Jennifer Lovato. Gillis, in her second year of competitive diving at Northwest, earned her way to state competition by winning the Metro 4A conference as well as the regionals. She finished at the states with a score of 404.17, behind Ashton Zuburg of Leesville Road in Raleigh’s 440.5. Twenty-four divers took part in the Feb. 6 state competition. “She’s a hard worker,” said Gillis’ mom, Eileen Gillis. “When she decides
www.trane.com
Ask about special financing
Subject to credit approval, see store for details
7101 US 158, Stokesdale • (336) 643-7397 NEW SYSTEM INSTALLATION • SERVICE • REPAIR
The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996
MARCH 7 - 13, 2019
19