The Laramie Plainsmen achieved a goal of placing in the top three with a second place showing at the 4A State Swimming and Diving Championships in Gillette.

Laramie finished with a total of 207 points after two days of competition at the Campbell County Aquatics Center last Friday and Saturday. Gillette won the title with 257 points. Kelly Walsh came in third at 188.5 points.

The Plainsmen accomplished the feat without winning an event. Laramie did come through with four runner-up finishes.

Head coach Tom Hudson was happy to be back in the top three.

“To get second out of that was just really great. The guys really came together as a team, and they were really determined and got it done.”

Freshman Noah Richardson came in second in the 100 backstroke with a time of 55.13.

Hudson said Noah’s a great success story.

“He’s been so sick all season long, and to come back and swim with just pure heart and guts, that he did pull off second in the backstroke.”

Senior Cas Sheridan was second in both the 200 and 500 freestyle events. Laramie also rallied for the silver in the 200 free relay in 1:29.85.

Hudson added they had a very solid preliminary round.

“Everybody that tapered for this state meet; that qualified early; they all had 100 percent best times… Hitting those time and get those places in prelims set us up for really good final… We feel real good about what we did this state meet.”

The Plainsmen had been fourth the previous two state championships. They return eight state qualifiers from this year’s squad for 2017.

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