The Socastee High boys swim team scored its best finish in school history with a third place showing at Saturday’s Class AAA state swimming championships in Columbia.

Socastee’s Walker Harwell defended his state title in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.58) and also helped the 200 medley relay team to state championship. He also swam for the Braves’ fourth-place relay team in the 200 freestyle (1:34.05).

Joining Harwell on the podium were fellow Braves Eddie Bateson, Ryan Sutton and Jesse Perl, who teamed up to take the 200 medley relay in 1:46.74. Harwell also finished fourth in the 100 freestyle. Perl, Sutton and Chad Bateson finished third, sixth and 10th in the 100 breaststroke, respectively, behind Harwell.

Also for Socastee, Sutton finished fourth in the 100 butterfly (55.46), Eddie Bateson finished fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:08.64) and seventh in the 200 freestyle (1:58.38) and the 400 freestyle relay team took fifth place (3:33.14).

The Socastee girls placed 10th in the 200 medley relay (2:04.73) and Anastasia Liakos finished sixth in the 200 individual medley (2:20.33) and the 100 breaststroke (1:15.24).

Myrtle Beach’s Maggie Langdale finished second in the 100 backstroke (1:02.69), sixth in the 200 freestyle (2:01.33). Skyler Romain finished ninth in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.17).

St. James’ Adam Stenger placed fourth in the 200 individual medley (2:06.53) and fifth in the 100 butterfly (55.64).

North Myrtle Beach’s girls finished seventh in the 200 freestyle relay (1:49.42). Barbara Long finished 10th in the 500 freestyle (5:43.84). Mason Bryan took third in the 100 backstroke (56.93) and ninth in the 500 freestyle (5:12.12).

Socastee’s boys amassed 330 points, finishing behind only winner Academic Magnet (428) and runner-up Bishop England (367). Other local finishers include St. James in 12th place (106 points), North Myrtle Beach in 14th (67) and Myrtle Beach in 18th (48).

Hilton Head won the Class AAA girls title. Myrtle Beach was the top local team, finishing 12th overall with 101 points. Socastee (91) finished 13th, North Myrtle Beach (90.5) placed 14th, and St. James (52) was 17th.

Carolina Forest finished 18th in Class AAAA girls, led by Brianna Strang’s 12th-place showings in the 200 and 500 freestyle. She also helped the 200 and 44 freestyle relay teams to 14th and 13th place, respectively.

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