July 12, 2025

NCMP falls to Boone in head-to-head matchup

By Newton News

NCMP junior Hannah Nedder won the 100-yard butterfly and anchored the 400 freestyle relay to a win against Boone on Tuesday night. The Aquagirls lost to the Toreadors 118-68. (Troy Hyde)

BOONE — Lillie Ray was part of three wins and NCMP moved up in the power rankings in the 400-yard freestyle relay, but the No. 18 Aquagirls lost to No. 12 Boone 118-68 in a head-to-head battle on Tuesday night.

NCMP won four events on the night with Ray winning two individual races and swimming the opening leg on the 400 freestyle relay.

Hannah Nedder anchored the 400 freestyle relay and won the 100 butterfly.

"We had a really good meet against a strong Boone team," NCMP coach Sarah Patterson said.

In the JV division, NCMP won six events and downed the Toreadors 96-64.

The varsity 400 freestyle relay team included Ray, Grace Benson, Maylei Ruggles and Nedder, and the foursome finished with a season-best time of 3 minutes, 50.35 seconds. That time moved the Aquagirls up to 13th in the state.

"Nedder looked strong in the fly," Patterson said. "She also threw in a blazing 55.09 anchor relay split in the 400 free relay. That was a fun race to watch."

Ray won the 100 freestyle in 56.56 seconds and took first in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:06.05.

"Loved watching her race," Patterson said. "She is getting more confident and more competitive."

Nedder's winning time in the 100 butterfly was clocked at 1:00.21. Also in the 100 butterfly, Chloe Kibbee was third in 1:11.37.

NCMP was second in four events, including the other two relays.

In the 200 medley relay, Ruggles, Maggie Garrett, Nedder and Benson were second in 1:59.64.

In the 200 freestyle relay, the team of Nedder, Ruggles, Garret and Ray took second in 1:45.98.

The Aquagirls went 2-3 in the 50 freestyle. Ruggles was second in 26.39 and Garrett finished third in 27.08.

Garrett also finished second in the 100 breaststroke. Her time was clocked at 1:18.28. Benson finished third in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:37.27.

In 1-meter diving, Mikayla Creech finished third with 158.6 points.

In the JV competition, NCMP won the 400 freestyle relay. That team included Brooke Mouchka, Jadin Brooks, Maggie Williams and Jaden Hunter and they finished in 4:49.58.

Mouchka also won the 100 freestyle in 1:07.43, Williams won the 100 backstroke in 1:23.38 and Makenna Brooks was the 100 butterfly winner in 1:19.36.

Lauren Zaabel also won the 200 freestyle in 2:29.13 and Hailey Trease was the 50 freestyle winner in 29.54.