Michael Bonson Breaks 500 Free Record as Jesuit Boys, St. Joseph’s Girls Win Louisiana 5A Titles

Photo Courtesy: LHSAA Twitter

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The 2018 Louisiana State 5A Swimming Championships took place on Nov. 17 at the SPAR Aquatic Center in Sulphur, La.

Senior Charles Korndorffer won two individual events and was a member of a pair of winning relays to lead the Jesuit boys to successfully defend their State championship crown. On the girls’ side St. Joseph’s used their impressive depth to secure their eighth-straight title.

Northshore junior Michael Bonson set the lone 5A and LHSAA State record of the meet in the 500 free en route to being named boys’ Swimmer of the Meet. Mount Carmel sophomore Emily Schexnayder earned the accolade on the girls’ side.

Click here for full results.

Girls Meet

Top 5 Team Scores:

1. St. Joseph’s – 349
2. Mandeville – 237
3. Mount Carmel – 235
4. Dominican – 202
5. Northshore – 165

The meet began as the Mandeville quartet of Kimberly Dobie, Sarah McField, Ellie Fritscher and Claire Collins won the 4×50 medley relay in 1:51.86, about a half-second ahead of runner-up Northshore (1:52.28).

Barbe’s Natalie Stump dominated the 200 free, winning the event by four seconds in a swift 1:54.45. Dominican’s Hannah Morris knocked off nearly five seconds from her prelims time to win the 200 IM in 2:08.17 and Mount Carmel’s Leah Wortmann won the 500 free in 5:34.67.

Mount Carmel’s Caeleigh Miller splashed and dashed her way to victory in the 50 free, stopping the clock in 24.82 as the only swimmer under the 25-second mark. West Monroe’s Zoe Mekus got her hands to the wall first in the 100 breast, shaving off over a second from her prelims swim to win in 1:04.99.

Schexnayder flew to first in the 100 fly, getting her hands to the wall in 58.30. Also sneaking under the minute-mark was St. Joseph’s Amanda Andrews (59.05). Shortly after, Schexnayder found herself on top of the podium for the second time after winning the 100 free in 54.13. Lafayette freshman Anni Thompson won the 500 free by three seconds in 5:04.08.

St. Joseph’s Julia Brinson, Claire Bass, Anna Webre and Andrews combined to win the 4×50 free relay in 1:42.47, about a half-second faster than runner-up Mount Carmel (1:43.08). St. Joseph’s Kirby Black was the only swimmer to sneak under a minute in the 100 back, getting her hand to the wall the fastest in 58.57.

Just like the meet began, it concluded with a Mandeville victory: Fritscher, Dobie, Rachel Fontan and Collins combined to with the 4×100 free relay in 3:41.23, just over two seconds ahead of second-place finishers St. Joseph’s (3:43.47).

Boys Meet

Top 5 Team Scores:

1. Jesuit – 448
2. Catholic – 405
3. Dutchtown – 147
4. St. Paul’s – 138
5. East Ascension – 124

The boys’ meet began as Jesuit’s Philip Endom, Davis Edwards, Korndorffer and Joel Guerra combined to win the 4×50 medley relay in 1:36.28, three seconds ahead of Catholic (1:39.07).

Northshore’s Michael Bonson was the only swimmer to break the 1:40 barrier in the 200 free, getting his hand to the wall first in 1:39.17. West Monroe’s Connor Widemeier sprinted home to a win in the 50 free, grabbing the gold in 21.23. Also under the 22-second mark was Jesuit’s Connor Schwartz (21.52).

Dropping 12 seconds from his prelims time, Bonson won the 500 free by three seconds ahead of Catholic’s Mason Nyboer (4:31.93). Bonson’s time of 4:28.18 set a new LHSAA State record, breaking the previous one of 4:29.61 set by Robert Looney in 2006.

East Ascension’s David Boylan knocked off three seconds from his prelims swim to win the 200 IM in 1:51.58. Boylan, who will attend LSU next fall, later won the 100 breast after getting his hands to the wall first in 57.88. Auburn commit Davis Edwards of Jesuit finished second in both the 200 IM (1:53.09) and 100 breast (58.42).

Not too long after helping his relay team to victory, Korndorffer claimed an individual gold in the 100 fly in 49.31 as the only swimmer in the field under 50 seconds. He is still the LHSAA record-holder in the event with the 49.13 he swam last year. The Notre Dame commit then went on to win the 100 back in 49.99, again as the only person to crack the 50-second barrier but just off his own State record of 49.72.

Hahnville’s Joey Richard won the 500 free in 5:09.26 and Jesuit’s Mike Foley led the charge in the 100 free, powering his way to the win in 45.67. Foley then joined teammates Conner Daigle, Guerra and Schwartz in the 4×50 free relay as they posted a three-second victory in 1:25.62 ahead of Catholic (1:28.57).

Jesuit secured their team victory and relay sweep as Korndorffer, Daigle, Schwartz and Foley concluded the meet with a 4×100 free relay win in 3:09.48, seven seconds ahead of Catholic (3:16.37). Jesuit was just shy of the LHSAA record of 3:09.22 set in 2013.

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Thomas A. Small

5 years ago

Congratulations all