TOP SPORTS STORIES: Thrower named MSC’s Swimmer of the Year

Kyle A. Pillar – Sports Editor

ROCKINGHAM — Moving onto the subsequent winter sport in our assessment of the 2025-26 college yr, Richmond’s swimming workforce takes the platform.

It was a season of progress for the Raider and Lady Raider swimming groups, which culminated in a single swimmer incomes the highest particular person recognition on the Mid-South Conference championship meet in January.

Senior Cole Thrower, a four-year veteran swimmer for the Raiders, was voted because the MSC’s “Male Swimmer of the Year.”

In addition to the accolade, Thrower positioned second total within the 100-yard freestyle and was third total within the 50-yard freestyle. He set new private document instances in each occasions.

Here is the unique article from Jan. 26, 2026:

RAEFORD — For the ultimate time of his profession, four-year swimmer Cole Thrower competed in a meet final Thursday and made essentially the most of it.

Thrower, together with the remainder of the Richmond Senior High School boys’ swimming workforce, swam within the inaugural Mid-South Conference championship meet on the Leach Aquatic Center.

The Raiders positioned sixth total out of the six qualifying groups. They recorded a complete of 86 factors.

Pinecrest High School took dwelling the boys’ and girls’ team championships, because the Patriots bested the sector with 383 factors. Richmond’s closest competitor was fifth-place Hoke County High School (170 factors).

In addition to Thrower’s successful night in the pool, the Raiders celebrated him and teammates DJ Gainey, Luke Gilliam and Austin Rainwater on senior night.

Swimming in two particular person occasions, in addition to anchoring one relay race, Thrower closed out his profession with a pair of top-three finishes and two new private information. In the relay occasion, he additionally helped the Raiders to their season-best time.

Notching a single-match career-high 33 factors in his two occasions, Thrower positioned second total within the 100-yard freestyle and was third within the area within the 50-yard freestyle.

Shaving greater than a second and a half off his earlier greatest time within the open 100, which he set simply two weeks prior, Thrower swam to this second-place time of 1:00.13 and notched 17 factors. 

In the 50-yard freestyle, Thrower was on the heels of the leaders together with his ultimate time of 25.61 seconds, one other PR. Again, in simply two weeks’ time, he erased 0.12 seconds and earned 16 factors.

The cherry on prime for Thrower, nonetheless, was being named the MSC’s “Male Swimmer of the Year,” which was voted on by the convention’s coaches.

“Cole has been a four-year swimmer with the Raiders and he has pushed himself this season and continues to set personal records in each event he competes in,” head coach Lauren Brewer shared. “He is likely one of the first to apply and final to go away the pool. He finds new drills and works exhausting to earn these private information. 

“He is a leader in the pool and the classroom. With a young group behind him, he has been encouraging others to build up their confidence in the pool. Cole works hard in the pool and even harder in the classroom. He pushes himself and is currently balancing college classes, high school classes, clubs and swim. 

“Cole is working hard to earn the top spot in his graduating class as he is currently on track to graduate third in the class of 2026,” she closed. “Cole exemplifies the full student-athlete.”

Another giant chunk of Richmond’s factors was scored by the 200-yard freestyle relay workforce. Swimming that occasion had been Gilliam, Gainey, sophomore Mason Robson and Thrower within the anchor.

The 4 Raiders mixed for a season-best time of two:06.43, notching fifth place and 28 factors.

Two different swimmers completed the championship meet with factors scored in particular person occasions. Gilliam was second on the scoresheet with 19 factors due to his PR time of 1:35.02 within the 100-yard backstroke, which put him sixth total.

Gilliam additionally swam the 50-yard freestyle and was eleventh on the timesheet with a mark of 34.06 seconds. That gave him his ultimate six factors.

Freshman Owen Whitley ended the evening with six factors, ending eleventh in 100-yard freestyle. He set a brand new PR of 1:22.01.

The Raiders’ season got here to an finish with a sixth-place spot within the ultimate convention standings. Despite Thrower’s efforts, he didn’t qualify for regionals.