In a weekend that felt equal parts orchestrated precision and raw grit, Academic Magnet High School’s swim program delivered one of its most complete performances in recent memory. The Raptors’ boys captured the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) Class AAA team title, the first boys’ team crown in more than a decade, while the girls’ squad finished a proud runner-up to a powerhouse St. Joseph’s Catholic team. Together the two squads showcased depth, clutch relay swims and several individual state-level winners who turned pressure into podiums.
Academic Magnet’s boys amassed 512.5 points on the final scoreboard, pulling well ahead of second-place St. Joseph’s (426) to claim the Class AAA crown. That points margin was the product of a long list of finalists and relay scorers; not one superstar doing everything, but a balanced roster chipping in where it counted. The girls likewise swam with intensity throughout the meet and finished second in the AAA standings, picking up multiple individual podiums and relay medals along the way.
A defining piece of the boys’ effort came from Parker Hamilton, who exploded in the sprint freestyle races. Hamilton won the 100-yard freestyle title and backed that with a runner-up finish in the 50 free, supplying the vital top-end points that helped swing the team race. His 100-free win was a momentum swing event; in meets where team scores are tight, a single individual title can influence relay order, energy on the deck, and the confidence of younger swimmers.
The Raptors also owned the backstroke lanes thanks to Logan Patterson, who captured the state title in the 100-yard backstroke and contributed solid finishes in other events. Patterson swam legs on Academic Magnet’s medley and freestyle relays, showing the kind of versatility coaches covet at championship meets. Those relay points are what convert good teams into champions.
Relays were a recurring theme for Academic Magnet. The boys placed on multiple relay podiums: the 200-yard medley relay (with a lineup including Hamilton and Patterson among others) and the 400-yard freestyle relays both produced top finishes that piled up points. The 200-yard freestyle relay (Thurmond, Reid Aikman, Iaroslav Abramov, Gabe Kuprel) also finished on the podium, and the 400 free relay helped seal the team title with another high placing. Those collective relay efforts are what coaching staffs live for: the shared pressure, the split-second exchanges, the lift a good anchor can supply.
Beyond Hamilton and Patterson, Academic Magnet featured a deep lineup of scorers. Steven Moody and Fletch Thurmond contributed finals swims in backstroke and sprint events; Finley Connors placed in distance events like the 500 free and aided relay scoring; Reid Aikman and Iaroslav Abramov swam multiple individual events and anchored relays for points across the board. The depth of seniors and underclassmen stepping up in prelims and finals underpinned the Raptors’ team title. The program’s official team page lists those roster names and the relay lineups that translated into state-meet points.
On the girls’ side Academic Magnet finished as the AAA runner-up behind St. Joseph’s Catholic, a program that arrived with multiple individual winners and relay speed. The Raptors’ girls scored consistently in individual events and fought hard in relays, but were ultimately outpointed by St. Joseph’s exceptionally deep final-day performance. Still, finishing second in a loaded AAA field is a strong sign; the girls’ podiums and narrowly lost races provide a launching pad for next season’s expectations.
In their push to the state-runner-up finish at the 2025 South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) Class AAA meet, the AMHS girls established themselves as a squad that could consistently score and push deeper than many thought possible. With 360.5 total points, the Raptors placed second behind a dominant St. Joseph’s Catholic School team that scored 583. Among the standouts: senior Isa Jickling carved her name into the program history books by taking third place in both the 200-yard freestyle (with a school-record time of 1:56.78) and the 500-yard freestyle (school record 5:14.06). Her effort underscored how even when she wasn’t winning, she was still making a tangible difference in team scoring and program progression.
Meanwhile, junior Charlotte Connors earned a third-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle and helped drive two relay squads into podium spots: the 200-yard freestyle relay (3rd) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (2nd) alongside Jickling, Whitney Gwisc (and in the 400 relay, Elena Barber).These relay finishes matter because they often carry several times the number of points of an individual event; one solid relay performance can swing momentum and team standings.
Coaches Jacqueline Healy, Ben Harley and Danielle Hainline were credited with steady, detail-oriented preparation that turned sectional qualifiers into state finalists. Their strategy, balancing event entries, preserving legs for relays, and emphasizing clean exchanges, showed in the way the team earned points across diverse events, from sprints to distance races. For a program that had not won a boys’ team title in 12 years, this measured approach paid massive dividends.
Beyond the trophy, the state title is validation for a multi-year building plan: recruiting talented swimmers, creating an expectation of relay excellence, and nurturing swimmers who can score in multiple events. For underclassmen who swam finals this year, the experience of performing under state meet lights will be invaluable. For seniors, the title serves as a legacy; a last tangible reward for years of training together. Local coverage highlighted both the team achievement and several individual championships that will be remembered in program lore.
While the girls chase St. Joseph’s team speed, the boys now have a target on their backs as defending AAA champions. With returning underclassmen and established relay chemistry, the Raptors look set to remain a force in SCHSL meets to come.
