Check out The Herald’s fall 2021 All-Area golf, tennis, swim and cross country teams

The fall 2021 high school sports season saw a little bit of everything.

There were state champions. There were overachievers. There were seniors who made final, lasting statements, and there were seventh- and eighth-graders who proved how bright their futures are.

To shine a light on these athletes — and to punctuate another fall sports season — The Herald has released its All-Area tennis, golf, swim and cross country teams. See below.

The selections were made by The Herald’s sports department and done after considering nominations from all the coaches in York, Chester and Lancaster counties. Stay tuned for The Herald’s All-Area volleyball and football teams, which will be released later this week.

All-Area tennis teams

Player of the Year: Victoria Baranski, Northwestern

Coach of the Year: Krystine Blocker, Catawba Ridge

First team

Victoria Baranski, Northwestern: The Trojan eighth-grader was the Region 4-5A Player of the Year and finished with a 21-2 record overall (9-0 in region play — 7-0 singles, 2-0 doubles). She also made it to the second round of the 5A state singles tournament in Florence and helped her team to a second-round appearance in the state team tournament.

Keerthana Nair, Indian Land: The Warriors’ sophomore was the Region 3-4A Player of the Year and was 11-1 in singles.

Ananya Pallath, Fort Mill: The Yellow Jacket eighth-grader was an All-State performer and was undefeated in region play while leading Fort Mill to a Region 3-5A title.

Aashiyana Pallath, Fort Mill: The Yellow Jacket freshman and all-region pick was unbeaten in Region 3-5A play.

Claire Hivner, Catawba Ridge: The Copperhead sophomore and all-region pick was 12-5 at No. 2 singles for the Region 3-4A champions. She helped lead her team to a 14-4 overall record en route to a 4A state quarterfinals appearance — the best finish of all tennis teams in York, Chester and Lancaster counties.

Sara Maleady, Catawba Ridge: The Catawba Ridge senior and all-region pick was 16-1 at No. 4 singles this season.

Second team

Lilly L’Esperance, Catawba Ridge, Jr.; Madison McCarty, Fort Mill, Sr.; Sara McMullen, Clover, So.; Alexa Brunner, Nation Ford, 7th; Zoe Muiruri, Clover, Jr.

All-Area girls’ cross country

Runner of the Year: Alivia Cleveland, Fort Mill

Coach of the Year: Lee Whitaker, Fort Mill

First team

Alivia Cleveland, Fort Mill: The Yellow Jacket eighth-grader finished 4th at the 5A state championships and led her team to a third-place finish at states in November in Columbia. She also ran a personal-best 18:29.22 at the Starlight Run in Greer on Oct. 16.

Avery Moriarty, Fort Mill: Another eighth-grade standout for the Yellow Jackets ran a personal-record (18:51.59) at the Starlight Run. Moriarty placed 10th at the 5A state championships.

Brittany Mobley-Meulman, Rock Hill: The Bearcat seventh-grader ran a career-best 19:46.30 at the Starlight Run and also finished 14th at the 5A state championships.

Angel Kravitz, Fort Mill: The Fort Mill senior set a personal-best 20:07.55 on Oct. 16 and also finished 60th at the 5A state championships. Kravits also finished fifth at the Region 3-5A championships.

Kelsey McGuire, Fort Mill: The Yellow Jackets’ senior set her personal-best with a 19:57.47 at the Starlight Run. She also finished 50th overall at the 5A state championships and third at the Region 3-5A championships.

Second team

Brinley Ellis, Fort Mill, Fr.; Aamori Gaines, Northwestern, Jr.; Maddy Mack, Catawba Ridge, Sr.; Addison Meeker, Northwestern, Sr.; Mia Zook, Fort Mill, 7th

All-Area boys’ cross country

Runner of the Year: Sam Rich, Catawba Ridge

Coach of the Year: Lee Whitaker, Fort Mill

First team

Sam Rich, Catawba Ridge: The University of Notre Dame commit and senior finished off his career with the fastest 5K time in the nation this season. He also earned a second-straight 4A state championship — which he won with a 15:20.85, over 30 seconds ahead of the title race’s next-fastest runner. He led his Catawba Ridge team to a second-place finish overall.

Devon Sibley, Fort Mill: The junior ran a personal-best 15:56.40 to finish as runner-up at the 5A State Qualifer. Sibley also led the Fort Mill boys to a 5A state title — finishing second at the state meet with a 16:03.35.

Evan Wey, Fort Mill: The Yellow Jacket junior finished fifth at the 5A state meet. He also ran a personal-record 15.58.48 at an invitational earlier in the season.

Jackson Dawson, Fort Mill: The Yellow Jacket senior finished 10th at the 5A state championships. He also set a personal-record of 16.11.16 at the Starlight Run on Oct. 16.

Emmanuel Paddyfote, York: The Cougars’ senior ran a personal-best 16:12.20 to finish third at the York County Championships. He also finished eighth at the 4A state championships.

Second team

Mason Haynes, Nation Ford, Fr.; Evan Ickert, Fort Mill, Jr.; Benjamin McCall, Clover, Sr.; Matthew Prete, Lancaster, Jr.; Joshua Silverman, Catawba Ridge, Sr.

All-Area girls’ golf

Golfer of the Year: Katherine Mann, Catawba Ridge

Coach of the Year: Mickey Joslin, Catawba Ridge

First team

Katherine Mann, Catawba Ridge: The Copperhead junior won the Region 3-4A title, was the 4A Upper State runner-up and finished in eighth-place at the 4A state championships. She owns the Catawba Ridge record for best 18-hole score (69) and helped lead her team to a Region 3-4A title and third-place finish at states.

Teryn Dalton, Legion Collegiate: The Lancer sophomore averaged a score of 39.6 per nine holes — earning medalist honors in five of the eight matches she played to help Legion Collegiate to a perfect 8-0 record.

Vivian Harris, Nation Ford: The Falcon sophomore was the Region 3-5A runner-up and finished 10th at the 5A Upper State championships this year. She also tied for 22nd at the 5A state championships.

Eileen Zeoli, Catawba Ridge: The Catawba Ridge junior was the Region 3-4A runner-up. She also finished in ninth-place at the 4A Upper State championships and 12th at the 4A state championships.

Kate Gilmer, Catawba Ridge: The Copperhead junior also excelled in the postseason with a third-place finish at both the Region 3-4A and 4A Upper State championships. Gilmer finished 15th at the 4A state championships.

Mallory Dover, Clover: The Blue Eagle junior finished third at the Region 3-5A championship match, 15th at the 5A Upper State championships and tied for 42nd at the 5A state championships.

Second team

Avery Kessler, Northwestern, Sr.; Margaret Olson, Legion Collegiate, So.; McKenzie Finn, Fort Mill, So.; Cayla Cappuzzo, Fort Mill, So.; Katie Griggs, Nation Ford, Fr.; Cooper Green, York, Fr.

All-Area girls’ swim

Swimmer of the Year: Olivia Corbi, Fort Mill

Coach of the Year: Cindy VanBuskirk, Fort Mill

First team

50 Freestyle: Emily Eaton, Nation Ford. The Falcon junior finished fifth-place at the 5A state championships.

100 Freestyle: Emily Eaton, Nation Ford. Nation Ford junior with another strong performance finishing third-place at the 5A state meet.

200 Freestyle: Olivia Corbi, Fort Mill. The Yellow Jacket sophomore raced to a 5A state championship. She also led her team to a Region 3-5A title and a 5A state second-place finish.

500 Freestyle: Olivia Corbi, Fort Mill. Fort Mill standout finished fourth-place in the state in the meet’s longest event.

200 Individual Medley: Anna Kate Halligan, Fort Mill. The Yellow Jacket junior finished in third-place at the 5A state championships.

100 Backstroke: Sophia Bujoreanu, Nation Ford. The Falcons’ freshman finished third-place at the 5A state championships.

100 Butterfly: Mackenzie Riga, Nation Ford. Nation Ford freshman was the top area swimmer with a seventh-place finish at the 5A state meet.

100 Breaststroke: Cadyn Henson, Fort Mill. The Yellow Jackets’ eighth-grader swam to a fourth-place finish at the 5A state championships.

200 Medley Relay: Nation Ford (Sophia Bujoreanu, Emily Eaton, Illyanna Lightfoot, Eliza Baxter). Falcons’ quartet race to a 5A state runner-up finish.

200 Freestyle Relay: Nation Ford (Julia Pou, Ava Padgett, Belle Kolatis, Emily Eaton). Nation Ford relay swam to the Falcons’ only 5A state title in 200 free relay.

400 Freestyle Relay: Fort Mill (Ava Corbi, Anna Kate Halligan, Jadyn Nelson, Olivia Corbi). The Yellow Jackets’ relay swam to a 5A state runner-up finish.

Second team

50 Freestyle: Ava Corbi, Fort Mill, Fr.; 100 Freestyle: Julia Pou, Nation Ford, eighth-grader; 200 Freestyle: Emma Dent, Clover, eighth-grader; 500 Freestyle: Jadyn Nelson, Fort Mill, Fr.; 200 Individual Medley: Mackenzie Riga, Nation Ford, Jr.; 100 Backstroke: Julia Pou, Nation Ford, eighth-grader; 100 Butterfly: Anna Kate Halligan, Fort Mill, Jr.; 100 Breaststroke: Jadyn Nelson, Fort Mill, Fr.; 200 Medley Relay: Fort Mill (Anna Kate Halligan, Cadyn Henson, Josie Chandler, Kyndall Brown); 200 Freestyle Relay: Fort Mill (Kyndall Brown, Josie Chandler, Olivia Corbi, Ava Corbi); 400 Freestyle Relay: Nation Ford (Ava Padgett, Kayle Kyle, Belle Kolatis, Sophia Bujoreanu).

All-Area boys’ swim

Swimmer of the Year: Max Reichert, Fort Mill

Coach of the Year: Cindy VanBuskirk, Fort Mill

First team

50 Freestyle: Max Reichert, Fort Mill. The Yellow Jackets’ junior finished ninth at the 5A state championships and helped lead his team to an area-best fifth-place finish at the state meet.

100 Freestyle: Zachary Nelson, Fort Mill. The Fort Mill senior was sixth at the 5A state meet.

200 Freestyle: Jack McCrae, South Pointe. The Stallions’ eighth-grader finished fifth at the 4A state meet.

500 Freestyle: Jack McCrae, South Pointe. The Stallion standout had a strong performance finishing third-place at 4A state championships.

200 Individual Medley: Mason Martin, Northwestern. The Trojans’ senior was an area-best eighth-place at the 5A state championships.

100 Backstroke: Christian Smrekar, Northwestern. The Northwestern senior came in ninth at the 5A state meet.

100 Butterfly: Max Reichert, Fort Mill. The Yellow Jacket junior had another top-10 finish, coming in eighth-place at the 5A state championships.

100 Breaststroke: Mason Martin, Northwestern. The Trojans’ senior swam to a fifth-place finish at the 5A state championships.

200 Medley Relay: Fort Mill (Austin Brakstad, Zachary Nelson, Samuel Rimmer, Jack Filburn). The Yellow Jackets’ quartet finished ninth-place at the 5A state championships.

200 Freestyle Relay: Fort Mill (Jack Filburn, Owey Fey, Jack Dollyhigh, Max Reichert). Another Fort Mill relay tops the area teams with an eighth-place state finish.

400 Freestyle Relay: Fort Mill (Zachary Nelson, Owen Fey, Max Reichert, Jack Dollyhigh). The Fort Mill relay was the 5A state runner-up in the final event of the state championship meet.

Second team

50 Freestyle: Tyler Ayer, South Pointe, Sr.; 100 Freestyle: Alexander Ritz, Catawba Ridge, Jr.; 200 Freestyle: Jack Dollyhigh, Fort Mill, So.; 500 Freestyle: Jack Dollyhigh, Fort Mill, So.; 200 Individual Medley: Ethan Black, Nation Ford, Sr.; 100 Backstroke: Austin Brakstad, Fort Mill, Sr.; 100 Butterfly: Ethan Curtis, Catawba Ridge, Fr.; 100 Breaststroke: Zachary Nelson, Fort Mill, Sr.; 200 Medley Relay: Catawba Ridge (Ethan Curtis, Alexander Ritz, Jonathan Gawlik, Jake Root); 200 Freestyle Relay: Catawba Ridge (Jake Root, Ethan Curtis, Jonathan Gawlik, Alexander Ritz); 400 Freestyle Relay: Northwestern (Carsten Hoerschgens-Ham, Mathis Hoerschgens-Ham, Christian Smrekar, Mason Martin).

This story was originally published December 21, 2021 at 9:57 AM.