Beaufort County established itself as a boys swimming hotbed Monday, as local teams captured the state title in seven of the 11 events and claimed three of the top eight spots and four of the top 12 in the team standings.
Hilton Head High’s boys led the charge with their best team finish in program history, breaking six school records and boasting six all-state swimmers in seven events en route to a second place finish. The Seahawks finished with 351 team points, trailing only powerhouse Eastside (489.5).
Bluffton was sixth with 204 points, while Beaufort High (184) finished eighth, and May River (93) was 12th among 25 scoring teams.
Cohen Bruner capped his outstanding career as a Seahawk with four state titles, winning the 100 and 200 freestyle races and leading off the state champion 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Tommy Hughson also made a huge splash in his swansong as a Seahawk, winning the 200 IM and 500 freestyle and joining Bruner, Blaise Minckler, and Dylan Magda on the winning relay teams. Magda also finished third in the 100 breaststroke.
Bluffton’s Daniel Schwabauer had an outstanding day, as well, winning the 50 freestyle, placing second in the 100 freestyle, and joining Dominic Edl, Carter Hawks, and Charlie Deaton to take third in the 200 medley relay.
Beaufort High’s James Stone earned all-state honors with a third-place finish in the 100 butterfly.