According to First Flight swim coach Dave Tonnesen, at least 47 of his Nighthawks swimmers have posted personal best times so far this season.

A likely candidate to lead the list is Cecilia Cortez, a standout swimmer who has won all her events while meeting 11 state meet qualifying times. Joining her on the state qualifying 200 freestyle relay team were Anne Holcomb, Brianne Wilson and Emmy Trivette.

Also of note has been Christian Miller, who achieved his first regional qualification time in the 400 freestyle by slicing 22 seconds off his previous best time. He then followed with a 21 second improvement in the 200 freestyle.

Equally impressive has been Ethan White with a regional qualification time in the 200 individual medley where he dropped 23 seconds and in the 100 butterfly.

Other regional qualifiers include Ben Tonnesen in the 400 freestyle and Erin Bembridge in the 100 backstroke.

On December 5, the Nighthawks faced Manteo, Northeastern and Pasquotank, winning both men’s and women’s team competitions. First Flight won both men’s and women’s competition with scores double the points earned by second place Manteo in men’s competition and Pasquotank for women.

Heading into the holiday season, First Flight was scheduled to face Manteo High School and John A. Holmes High School 4 p.m. at Nags Head YMCA December 12 and then compete in a 4 p.m. swim meet at Elizabeth City YMCA on December 14.

Team Scores from the December 5 meet include:

Men
First Flight 100
Manteo 57
Northeastern 27
Pasquotank 16

Women
First Flight 106
Pasquotank 44
Manteo 39
Northeastern 30

First place First Flight finishers at a December 5 meet include:

EVENT # 1 WOMEN 200 MEDLEY RELAY: First Flight High School (Bella Cooper Ellie Gardill, Erin Bembridge, Ava O’Neil) 2:29.87
EVENT # 2 MEN 200 MEDLEY RELAY: First Flight High School (Wallace Piland, Payton Savage, Benjamin Tonnesen, Wyatt Ward) 2:24.50
EVENT # 4 MEN 200 FREE: Payton Savage 2:26.15
EVENT # 5 WOMEN 200 IM: Cecilia Cortez 2:35.04
EVENT # 6 MEN 200 IM: Payton Savage 2:58.86
EVENT # 7 WOMEN 50 FREE: Cecilia Cortez :28.83
EVENT # 9 WOMEN 100 FLY: Emmy Trivette 1:27.30
EVENT # 10 MEN 100 FLY: Ethan White 1:44.68
EVENT # 12 MEN 100 FREE: Benjamin Tonnesen 1:07.14
EVENT # 15 WOMEN 200 FREE RELAY: First Flight High School (Erin Bembridge, Anne Holcomb, Emmy Trivette, Cecilia Cortez) 2:09.95
EVENT # 16 MEN 200 FREE RELAY: First Flight High School (Payton Savage, Ethan White, Robert Peters, Benjamin Tonnesen) 2:02.78
EVENT # 17 WOMEN 100 BACK: Ellie Gardill 1:30.79
EVENT # 18 MEN 100 BACK: Wallace Piland 1:31.79
EVENT # 21 WOMEN 400 FREE RELAY: First Flight High School (Emmy Trivette, Anne Holcomb, Caroline Clissold, Cecilia Cortez) 5:01.97
EVENT # 22 MEN 400 FREE RELAY: First Flight High School (Tyler Anderson, Ethan White, Wyatt Ward, Robert Peters) 4:57.41

MORE SPORTS COVERAGE HERE.