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BENTONVILLE -- The quest for Bentonville's 13th straight boys state swimming championship successfully began and ended the same way -- with a state record being broken. The Tigers added another record along the way, and a freshman had a hand in all three of them. Ryan Husband broke the 100-yard freestyle record, then swam a leg in Bentonville's record-breaking relay teams as the Tigers claimed the Class 6A/7A state title during Saturday's event in the Bentonville Community Center. "There's a lot running through my head right now," Husband said. "I definitely wanted a state championship in my freshman year, and I did that. I never honestly thought I would get a state record. "I'm proud of myself and proud of this whole team and the way it came together this season." Husband's time of 45.59 seconds surpassed the previous record of 45.93 set in 2009 by Ellis Miller, who went from Siloam Springs to Arizona. Husband and senior Hayden Harlow then did their parts to help Bentonville set the records in the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay. The two teamed with Zane Sutton and Simon Mooney in the 200 medley relay and turned in a time of 1 minute, 34.19 seconds, breaking the previous mark of 1:35.97 that Harlow helped the Tigers set last year. Husband and Harlow then ended with meet by teaming with Sutton and Hayden Dixon for a 400 freestyle relay time of 3:08.24 -- more than 6 seconds off the previous record set by Bentonville seven years ago. "Me and Ryan have been training together all year," Harlow said. "It's awesome to see all his hard work pay off. As a freshman, he has a long road ahead of him, and I can't wait to see how well he does. "For myself, it's really great to see all this four years of hard work and determination pay off in my final high school meet. With great swimmers like Ryan and my other teammates by my side, there's no better way to end my career. I think the cherry on top was that last relay." Harlow barely missed other two state records while winning the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke, while Husband also won the 200 freestyle. That helped Bentonville finish with 388 points compared to Little Rock Central's 304 and Conway's 296.5, while Bentonville West -- with only six swimmers at its first state meet -- finished fourth with 146. The Wolverines had their first state champion when Gavin Vann won the 50 freestyle in 21.09 seconds. Vann later bettered that when his 100 backstroke time of 50.38 seconds broke the state record of 50.56 seconds he set last year while at Bentonville. "I'm very excited," Vann said. "Not only am I happy for myself, but I'm happy for the team. We've come a long way this year and gone through a lot. For us to finish fourth, ahead of someone like Fayetteville, is a huge accomplishment. "I wanted to break that state record again. I wanted to start something at West and break it for West." Bentonville's girls capped their fourth consecutive state title with a state record in the 400 freestyle relay. The team of Loren Hedgecock, Gabrielle Collins, Lainey Quandt and Taylor Pike finished in 3:35.15, breaking the mark of 3:36.16 that Pike helped the Lady Tigers set two years ago. Pike also won the 500 freestyle and the 100 butterfly, barely missing the state records in both events. she also teamed with Paige Taylor, Madeline Marks and Hedgecock to win the 200 medley relay. "I just really wanted to win this one for the team," Pike said. "I knew on that last relay that we had a chance to set a state record, but I also knew I had a chance at the 100 freestyle record during that relay. "I was just focused on that relay altogether, trying to get that record and win that last event. I told the girls if we all did our times and do the best we could do, we could have an awesome relay. It was just a great way to finish my high school career." Bentonville compiled 432.5 points, thanks to first-place finishes by Marks in the 200 freestyle, Hedgecock in the 100 freestyle. Little Rock Central was second with 343.5, followed by Fayetteville with 310, Conway with 195 and Jonesboro with 147.

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Bentonville Sports Network

FRESHMAN HELPS TIGERS WIN 13TH STRAIGHT TITLE

HENRY APPLE

Arkansas Online | 2/26/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Bentonville Athletics