Central senior Gramling earns all-state honors

Central senior Sam Gramling earned all-state honors in the 200 and 500 freestyle races Saturday at the Missouri Swimming and Diving Championships in St. Peters, Mo.

Gramling placed sixth in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4 minutes, 48.48 seconds in the final. Parkway South junior Andrew Kilkenny ran away with the title as he finished in 4:35.08 to beat the runner-up by more than four seconds.

Gramling also finished eighth in the 200 freestyle in 1:46.83. Rockhurst senior Mick White won the event in 1:39.54.

"I hate to say goodbye to Sam," Central coach Dayna Powell said. "He's been with us four years and has been an anchor to the team. It's fun see him move on to bigger and better things, but at the same time you hate to see him go."

The Tigers also had junior Caleb Coots (4;50.83) and freshman Ramsey Scott (4:54.10) reach the 500 consolation finals. Scott dropped 10 seconds from his previous best in Friday's preliminary race to reach the consolation final, where he matched his preliminary time. Coots finished 11th while Scott placed 13th.

Powell said the Tigers' 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams swam the third-fastest times in school history.

The 200 team of Sam Gramling, Jordan Gramling, Coots and Ramsey finished 15th (1:31.83) in the consolation final.

The four swimmers combined for a 12th-place finish (3:19.99) in the 400 consolation final. Both teams swam faster in Saturday's final than in Friday's qualifying.

Coots also finished 13th (2:01.31) in the 200 IM.

Two other local swimmers reached Saturday's consolation finals.

Jackson junior Ryan Gibson reached Saturday's finals, finishing 11th (2:00.43) in the 200 IM and 12th (54.24) in the 100 butterfly. Gibson's time in Saturday's 200 IM consolation final was his fastest of the season.

Notre Dame junior Coleman Schott placed 16th (1:03.72) in the 100 breaststroke.