Ravenscroft’s boys and girls swim teams competed in the Triangle Independent Schools Athletic Conference Championship Swim Meet on Thursday, Feb. 1, at the Triangle Aquatic Center, with two boys relay teams setting new records.

The boys team took first place overall with 166 points to secure the conference championship, and Kaleb James ’25 was named the Boys Most Outstanding Swimmer, voted on by the conference head coaches. The girls team placed third overall in their meet. 

Individual winners were:

• Drew Davis ’25: 200 Freestyle

• Kaleb James ’25: 200 Individual Medley, 100 Backstroke

• Mattaus Rammel ’26: 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle

• Jackson Bubar ’25: 100 Butterfly

• Frank Hassell ’25: 100 Breaststroke

• Shakira Qian ’24: 100 Freestyle

It was also a big day for members of the boys team in relay events. 

The 400 freestyle relay team comprising Drew Davis ’25, Jackson Bubar ’25, Alexii Cady ’24 and Kaleb James ’25 set a new TISAC meet record with a time of 3:12.07.

“This team has been fun to be a part of because it has a lot of dedicated swimmers on it. They are dedicated not only to the Ravenscroft team but also swim year-round on different club teams around Raleigh,” Jackson said of his experience this year. “Coach Warren has a positive attitude and encourages us to do our best. We’re looking forward to a successful state meet next week.”

The 200 freestyle relay team of Frank Hassell ’25, Kaleb James ’25, Drew Davis ’25 and Mattaus Rammel ’26 set a new school record — for the second time in a week — with a time of 1:27.68. At a regular-season meet on Jan. 25, the team swam the relay in 1:28.14, breaking a 20-year-old school record of 1:29.02 set by Matt McGinnis ’04, Eric McGinnis ’06, Ryan Rimmele ’03 and Alex Steinbaugh ’03 in 2003.

“Going into a regular-season meet, I didn’t think that we would be breaking any records, but when I glanced at the record board from behind the starting blocks before the race, I felt that with such a strong relay squad there was a chance,” Drew said of the 200 freestyle team’s feat on the 25th. “So I told the guys what I was thinking, and we decided to go for it.”

“It feels pretty crazy to set these new records,” Kaleb added. “I never would have thought that my name would ever be on the [Ravenscroft] record wall in the pool — especially for one that has been there for over 20 years.”

Mattaus, another of the 200 freestyle champs, said the team’s hard work and discipline contributed to their success.

“As swimmers, we train nine times a week for 11 months out of the year. Three of those practices are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays before school,” he said. “Coach Warren emphasized our relay exchanges and constantly helped us practice them before meets. All of this helped us set this record.”

“Coach Warren is a motivating coach who wants the best for all of us individually and as a team,” Frank added. “He pushes us on during races, celebrates us and makes sure we have quality recovery before and after each race. He had faith in us, and he knew we were capable of breaking the record. It was great to break the record in home ‘water’ with our supporters and teammates around us.”

Head boys and girls coach Greg Warren emphasized the importance of the strong relay performances in the team’s success.

“The sport of swimming can be very individualized, so I really like the impact that relays play in our swim meets. When you have four swimmers relying on each other, it brings a new level of excitement into the meet — not to mention that relays count as double points so they’re very important as well,” he said. “I was so impressed with each leg of those 200 freestyle relays! The support for each other was amazing. We have a solid group of boys that can swim different events very well. So I think the other two relays are in play for school records at the state championship meet next week.” 

Ravenscroft swim teams will compete in the 2024 NCISAA Division I Championships next Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center. Good luck, Ravens!