VHSL Class 3 State Championship
- March 4, 2025
- SwimRVA, Richmond, VA
- Meet Results: “2025 VHSL Class 3 State Championship” on Meet Mobile
For the eighth year in a row, the Western Albemarle men won the state team title in their class. The Western Albemarle women also brought home the trophy for the second year in a row.
That was in spite of being without their star swimmer Thomas Heilman, a U.S. Olympian who didn’t compete in this meet after being declared ineligible for accepting Operation Gold funds.
Men’s Recap
Four men’s class records fell at the 2025 3A State Championships last Monday. Of the four, two of them belonged to Western Albemarle Swimmer Jack Hathaway. Hathaway, a Loyola commit, blew past the 100 breaststroke record in 54.56. The previous record belonged to Keith Myburgh from 2018, standing at 55.63. Hathaway’s previous personal best stood at 55.29 from the Commonwealth Cup in November.
Hathaway also took part in Western Albemarle’s record-setting relay to kick off the meet. The foursome of Sam Bledsoe (23.73), Hathaway (25.67), Charlie Alexander (23.04), and Richard Wang (21.19) captured a five-second win in 1:33.63. Previously, the record belonged to Independence’s 2021 team at 1:33.90.
In addition to these two records, Hathaway also dominated the 200 IM (1:52.52) and anchored the winning 400 free relay (3:11.83).
Spencer Pfaff, a senior from Rockbridge County High School, downed a class record in the 50 freestyle prelims. The Grinnell College commit shaved .1 second off his lifetime best from the 2024 U.S. Open, going from 20.63 to 20.53. Aaron James held the previous class record at 20.85 from 2016. Pfaff made it a double win by touching first in the 100 free, going 46.76.
The final new record went to Grafton senior Ryan Griffith. His 100 back winning time, 48.90, erased Angelo Russo’s 49.23 record from 2017. Griffith’s best time still stands at 48.73 from 2023.
The two longer freestyle events went to two different seniors: Goochland’s Bill Belcher in the 500 (4:38.17) and Kettle Run’s Jackson Tishler in the 200 (1:39.51).
Meridian’s Ryan Southern stood alone as the only non-senior event winner. The junior placed 1st in the 100 fly with a time of 50.79.
The other relay, the 200 freestyle, also went to Western Albemarle, though the Warriors could’ve still won by nearly 150 points without any relays at all.
Team Scores
- Western Albemarle — 465
- Lafayette — 200
- Meridian — 164
- Grafton — 147
- Liberty — 127
Women’s Recap
Both 3A team titles will be returning to Crozet, as the Western Albemarle women claimed victory. Despite only having one individual victory – freshman Meghan Ayres in the 500 free (4:56.98) — the Warriors won by nearly 150 points thanks to exceptional depth. They also won two of the three relays contested: the 200 free (1:36.99) and the 400 free by ten seconds (3:33.37).
Kettle Run, the women’s runner-up team, boasted several dominant individual and relay performances. They started off the night on the right note, going 1:44.57 on the 200 medley relay to win by an incredible six seconds. The winning squad consisted of Madlyn Witt (27.05), Caroline Agee (28.54), Emma Cigna (24.50), and Meghan Pauley (24.48).
Agee, a senior, came back two events later to win the 200 IM in 1:58.60. It was the Florida State commit’s first time going 1:58, with her previous best standing at 1:59.34 from the 2024 NCAP Invitational. Agee came back towards the end of the session to put up a third win in the 100 breast (1:02.48).
Cigna also brought home an individual win for Kettle Run. The junior tied her 1:48.88 lifetime best to win the 200 free. Witt picked up another win for the Cougars in the 100 back, clocking a 56.87.
Alex Fuller of Fluvanna County High School picked up a double win in the 50 free (23.06) and 100 fly (53.73). Both were best times for the Northeastern commit.
The 100 freestyle went to Sofie Vanyo, a Monticello sophomore. Vanyo topped the rest of the A-Final by at least .5 as the only underclassman in the field.
Team Scores
- Western Albemarle — 397
- Kettle Run — 248
- Cave Spring — 229
- Maggie Walker Governors — 204
- Monticello — 161
Heilman was not able to compete due to a VHSL rule forbidding prize money, it had nothing to do with his Arena sponsorship. Thomas earned $ (classified as Operation Gold funds by USOPC) at WC in Fukuoka and Paris. Prior to accepting the $, the school and his family worked with VHSL to allow Operation Gold funds (i.e., follow the NCAA model on prize money), but the VHSL decided to hold firm. In the end, after discussing the situation with the WAHS coach and AD, it was decided that turning down the $ did not make sense.
Thomas remained a part of the team as a team manager and was one of three boys team captains this year.
… Read more »
Thanks for the update. Corrected above.
Pretty sad Thomas Heilman couldn’t swim. Seems wrong.
Was he allowed to swim at all on his high school team?
Pretty sure he swam a couple of years but wasn’t allowed his junior and I guess now his senior year.
Spencer Pfaff’s sister, Ali, also holds the 50 free record on the women’s side. Between the two of them, they hold four Class 3 records.