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POOL PRESSURE: Locals gear up for State Swim Meets

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Feb 14, 2025

Nashua South's Keegan Dolan and several other local high school swimmers will be competing this weekend in the NHIAA Division I and II Swiming and Diving Championships at UNH. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

As if we’re not getting enough water out of the sky this weekend, we add some to your sports world as well: The NHIAA Swimming and Diving Championships at the University of New Hampshire.

The Division II championships as well as the diving for both take place later today at the Swazey Pool. The diving was always scheduled for this evening, but Division II was moved from a later Saturday time to today due to inclement weather expected beginning Saturday night. Division I boys and girls swimming will be Saturday morning.

Here’s a look at what to possibly expect:

DIVISION I

In the boys, Bedford, Bedford and more Bedford. The Bulldogs should dominate. However, Nashua North, with its divers, will get some valuable points and can likely get some elsewhere to grab a top five finish. Keene and Exeter are two other strong teams that the Titans will be chasing.

Ah, but those North divers. Titans Dawson Bolton and David Preston are one-two. South’s Nate Perry is third in a three-diver field, so anything can happen.

The Titans are the fifth seed in the 200 Medley Relay and fourth in the 200 Free.

North’s Jack White is seeded third in the 200 IM, and fourth in the 100 Free. Alvirne’s Caden Cox is ranked seventh.

Merrimack’s Cooper Hardy is the fourth seed in the 100 Back with South’s Cole DeHoyos sixth.

In Division I girls, it’s Bedford again, and we’ll see where things shake out for Nashua North and South. South has a top diver in Katie Perry, as she is the No. 1 seed just ahead of North’s Kaylee Hall. Alvirne’s Ella Bunkartas is ranked third and Bishop Guertin’s Nicolette Carlton is seeded fourth. The Nashua area is indeed the capital of Division I diving.

Nashua South’s Teresa Mathew is the third seed in the 50 free. Merrimack’s Josey Stevens is ranked fourth in the 100 Fly, and North’s Anya Seo is fifth in the 500 Free seeded the same in the 200 Free.

South could get some relay points, seeded sixth in the 200 Free

In Division II boys, Souhegan could be in the the top three. The only problem may be matching the depth of Hanover, which looks to make hay in the relays (especially the 400 free) and also will likely get valuable points in diving. The Sabers have a threat in the 200 free in Edward Barnes.

The other top boys teams include Hollis Brookline, which has always been a team to deal with in past years. The Cavaliers don’t have the depth of a Hanover, though, but a top five finish would likely be a major accomplishment.

In the girls meet, Hollis Brookline should be a top three team. Like the boys, Hanover is a favorite, and also Oyster River. Same formula for the Bears: relays and diving. The Bobcats are pretty much the main challenger but the Cavs will be hot n their trail.