Freeman Sweeps Boys and Girls Titles at Virginia Class 5 Championships; Nathan Szobota Shines
Decisive. Beginning, and end of statement, as Richmond’s Douglas Freeman boys and girls topped their opposition in the Virginia Class 5 swim and dive competitions held at the Hampton Aquaplex and the Collegiate School Aquatic Center.
Winners? Freeman’ s boys (also victors in 2024) had plenty on their way to the win over runnerup First Colonial, 385-213, in the 28-team field. The Mavericks won two relays and three individual events. The onslaught began with 2023 All-Metro Male Swimmer of the Year and UVA commit Nathan Szobota leading off Freeman’s state record winning 200 medley relay (1:32.40) with a 22.69 backstroke leg. He later anchored (21.21) his team’s first place 200 free relay (1:24.80). In between, he owned both the 200 (1:38.27) and 500 yard freestyles (4:28.62).
Szobota, initially a Notre Dame recruit, had plenty of help. His teammates on the medley were Nicholas Kuriger (26.88), Charlie Duerson (22.58) and Henry Brooks (20.25). On the free relay, he was assisted by Brooks (21.05), Caleb Stuhlmacher (21.27) and Kuriger (21.27). In addition to his two relay stints, senior Brooks, a University of Lynchburg prospect, won the 100 back in an All-American 48.64 and placed third in the 100 free (46.07).
James River junior Matthew Wolfle, who has committed to Virginia Tech, made waves of his own, recording two automatic All-American times in winning the 200 yard IM (1:48.77) and the 100 breast (54.38). He was also a part of two Rapids all-state quartets, a second place 400 free relay and a third place 200 medley relay.
Mataoca senior Zachary Goad followed up his second place 50 free (20.74) finish by blitzing the field in an AA-A time (48.34) to win in the 100 yard fly.
First Colonial sprinter Austin Temple logged firsts, state records and AA-A status in the 50 (20.02) and 100 (43.94) freestyles. The NC State commit also anchored First Colonial’s winning 400 free relay (Chase Wilkerson – 47.26, Parker Knapp – 46.01, Wilson Wood – 48.48, Temple – 44.26) to a quick 3:06.01. Only the team’s false start in the 200 free relay kept Temple from securing a silver medal in that event.
Freeman head coach Steven Gromling was humbled by his teams’ finishes. “I am beyond proud to coach these teams and work with these athletes. This class holds a special place in my heart because their freshman year coincided with my first year as head coach. We have been through a lot.”
Team Scores – Boys Top Five
- Douglas Freeman 385
- First Colonial High School 213
- Independence High School 173
- James River High School 160
- Mills E Godwin High School 150
Girls Meet
On the girls’ side, Freeman didn’t run roughshod but it had sufficient firepower to overwhelm frequent Class 5 champion First Colonial of Virginia Beach.
“The girls triumph came from deep within,” said Gromling. “After finishing as state runners-up the past two years, they were determined to change that outcome. They knew this was their moment, and they sacrificed much to make it happen. We had outstanding performances across the board, including repeat state champions and numerous first-place finishes. Top performances from seniors Allison Bischoff, Molly Sleman, Julia Connor and Katelyn Morrow helped lead the team to its success this season.
“This season was truly remarkable. The girls finished with a perfect 10-0 record while the boys went 9-1. From start to finish, the team carried an incredible level of motivation and a positive energy that was unshakable.”
Freeman girls won from the get-go with senior Allison Bischoff as a part of the Mavericks’ 1:44.36 winning 200 medley relay (Lane Francis – 26.24, Elianna Cuce – 29.90, Bischoff – 24.64, Molly Sleman – 23.58). Bischoff then copped the 200 free in an AA-A time of 1:48.77. The University of Virginia commit also took the 100 fly in 55:34 and anchored the blue and gray’s 1:35.40 first place All-American 200 free relay (Sleman – 23.84, Francis – 23.60, Charlotte White – 24.47, Bischoff -23.49).
As Gromling noted, the victory was a total team effort. Sleman won the 50 free in 23.62. Freshman Francis added a 100 yard back title to her winning ways, topping the podium in a swift 55.85.
Powering Godwin to third place overall were senior Kaitlyn Hotem in the 200 IM (2:02.38) and 500 yard free champion sophomore Mia Eubank (4:59.22). Both girls also contributed to the Eagles second place 200 medley and 400 free relays.
First Colonial was led by 100 free champ Dara Duffy (51.26), sister of seven time Virginia champion Kayleigh, and now at UVA. The younger Duffy also anchored her team’s first and second place 400 and 200 free foursomes. In the former, the Patriots blasted a 3:29.62 thanks to legs by Maris Marchione – 53.31, Norah Everhart -53.65, Sara Teague – 51.56 and Duffy – 51.10). Albemarle’s junior Olympic Trials qualifier Sara Czirjak took top honors in the 100 breast (1:03.52).
Team Scores – Girls Top Five
Team Scores – Girls
- Douglas Freeman Swimming 335.5
- First Colonial High School 294
- Mills E Godwin High School 193
- Midlothian High School 192
- Albemarle High School 168
Diving – The Rest of the Story
Often forgotten, and threatened in the everchanging landscape of college athletics, stands the proud sport of diving. Over the years, divers have contributed to a number of high school swimming state championships. This year, VHSL Class 5 diving was held at Hampton’s Aquaplex.
For the second straight year, boys gold hardware went to Albemarle senior Vincent Popovsky, whose 423.35 points was 103.2 points clear of Freeman’s second place Blaine Nelson. Popovsky only took up the sport in November 2023 and has been goalie on the Albemarle varsity lacrosse team since he was a sophomore.
The girls crown went to former gymnast and now Deep Creek junior diver Sydney Holbach, who beat last year’s runnerup and former two-time state champ Peyton Woman of Hickory.
Holbach has only been diving competitively for three years. “It has been very impressive to watch Sydney’s determination to win the state title,” said her coach Maggie Lamay. “Sydney realized early on that to be the best she had to focus on her mental strength. That paid off this season and she was able to move past a bad dive or bad meet with a lot more ease than previously.”
