From staff reports
sports@joplinglobe.com
ST. PETERS, Mo. — Webb City came away from the MSHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving Championships on Saturday with both entrants gaining all-state recognition at the City of St. Peters Rec-Plex.
Senior Matt Roughton was designated all-state Friday after preliminary finishes in the 50 and 100-yard freestyles. Then, on Saturday, junior Eli Swaim finished eighth in diving to gain the honor.
The top eight finishers at state are designated all-state.
Roughton, who had the fourth fastest time of 21.34 seconds in the 50 freestyle preliminaries, turned in a 21.27 time in the finals Saturday to place fourth again. With the latter time, he broke a long-standing school record of 21.68 set by John Bogatko.
In the 100 freestyle, Roughton bettered his third-place preliminary time of 47.65 by finishing 47.25 on Saturday and placed fourth.
“He was phenomenal,” Webb City coach Shawn Klosterman said. “Last year Matt placed 11th and got honorable mention in the 100. He has shown significant improvement over the last few years.”
Roughton said he went into state wanting to place in the top eight.
“My goal was to simply swim some of my best times ever,” he said.
Matthew Margritier of Rockhurst won the 50 freestyle with a 20.93 time. Nixa’s Niklas Brinck won the 100 freestyle in 45.68.
Swaim was honorable mention all-state last season.
“This was his goal all season for him to make all state,” Klosterman said.
Roughton’s 50-freestyle time puts him in the running for All American.
“His time puts him in the range for that,” Klosterman said. “We will find out in June when all the times come in from all 50 states.”
Rockhurst won the team championship, while Webb City finished 18th in the 44-team field.
