Loyola’s Nicolosi wins MVP, Calvary boys 2nd at state swim meet

JOURNAL STAFF

SULPHUR – Loyola’s Gus Nicolosi won two events and was named meet MVP in Division III at the LHSAA State Swim Meet held Thursday at the SPAR Aquatic Center.

Nicolosi, a junior, won the 50-meter free with a time of 21.64 and the 100 free in 47.04. With his wins he becomes the first Flyer to capture state MVP honors in the sport.

The Calvary Baptist boys finished second in Division IV with 274 points behind first-place Pope John Paul II’s 375. The Cavaliers were led by senior Sam Ponder, junior Zachary Ponder, senior Joshua Roper and sophomore Eli Haase.

Zachary Ponder had a pair of first-place finishes. He swam a 1:57.13 in the 200 IM and 53.29 to win the 100 backstroke. Roper also had a couple of individual firsts with a 22.02 in the 50 free and 48.58 in the 100 free. Sam Ponder was second in the 100 back with a 56.16. Both Ponders, Roper and Haase teamed up to win the 200 free relay with a 1:33.66 and finished second in the 200 medley relay in 1:44.07.

Calvary’s Claire Roper won a pair of races in the girls Division IV meet. Roper took the 100 back in 58.84 and swam a 2:17.11 in the 200 IM.