In just its third year, the Richmond Hill swim team is sending 12 athletes to the Georgia High School Association state meet. That is four times as many as the program’s first two years combined.

“I am beyond proud and thrilled for them as they get to experience such a high level of competition,” Coach Kristin Blanton said.

The state meet is next weekend at Georgia Tech.

Senior Robby Jones will be making his third trip to the state meet. He qualified as a sophomore two years ago along with Jordyn Gulle, who now swims for the University of Georgia. Jones was the only Wildcat to qualify last year.

This year, Jones qualified in the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle, and with the 200 freestyle relay team that includes Harrison Taylor, Logan Duggar and Tyler Dunlavy, along with alternates Gavin Pennington and Magnus Bamman.

Their relay qualifying time of 1:37.87 was more than two seconds under the cut.

For the 100 butterfly, Jones qualified with a time of 53.93, more than four seconds faster than needed, and in the 200 freestyle his 1:48.63 is more than six seconds faster than the qualifying time.

For the girls, both the 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay teams are going to the state meet.

Kat Stigall, Esperanza Otero and Maddie Patselas are on both teams, with Cierra Sims rounding out the 200 team and Chae Yun Yoo doing the same on the 400 team. Madyson Purdy is the alternate for both.

The 200 freestyle relay team qualified with about one second to spare, while the 400 team clocked in at almost five seconds faster than needed.

The team finished the regular season last week capturing first place at the Last Chance Meet at the Savannah Aquatic Center, besting the second place team by 118 points.

“The time, commitment and dedication that these swimmers — along with the rest of the RHHS swim team — put in led to the conclusion of the most winning and record-breaking season we have had to date,” Blanton said.