By ALEX SPONSELLER

The RIIL Swimming State Championships were held last weekend at Brown University and a handful of locals made some noise.
Toll Gate’s Oce Lowe made headlines as she won the 500 freestyle for the Titans.

“I didn’t know (how I’d do), there were a lot of really good competitors, especially the ones from the Lincoln School. I just enjoy swimming and was excited to be around everyone there,” said Lowe, who is looking forward to preparing for her senior year. “It’s very exciting and Toll Gate’s team is great; they’re all really supportive. As long as I work hard (I can continue to improve my times). I just need to continue swimming.”

Lowe also hopes her win will help other girls looking to get in the pool.

“We have a group chat and it blew up, they were so excited. I hope that it encourages more girls to join swimming,” Lowe said.

As for the boys, Barrington would shock powerhouse Hendricken as the Hawks placed second. It was the first time since 2014 and only the second time since 1989 the Hawks did not win at states.

Nick Andrews won the 200 freestyle for Hendricken as well as the 100 yard free. Hendricken’s relay team of Tristan Jordan, Matt Walden, Tim Andrews and Nick Andrews won the 400 free relay.

Hendricken’s relay team of Walden, Aidan Curry, Alex Walsh and Aidan Briceno finished second in the 200 medley relay. Walsh, Curry, Nick Andrews, Tim Andrews also finished second in the 200 free relay.

Tim Andrews later took third in the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly, while Walsh finished third in the 100 free. Walden finished third in the backstroke as well. Walden took fourth in the 200 IM.

Hendricken’s Jordan placed fifth in the 100 free for the Hawks. Ryan Kornacki placed fifth for Hendricken in the 500 free.

Alex Sulyma finished sixth for the Hawks in the 200 free, while Curry took sixth in the breaststroke.

Kornacki later finished seventh in the 200 IM, while Johnston’s James Guilmette took seventh in the breaststroke.

Johnston’s Alexander Quesada finished eighth in the 100 free, while Sulyma took eighth in the 500 free. Briceno placed eighth in the backstroke. Cranston West’s Gavin Kiernan, Trenton Kiernan, Alexander Tremblay and Logan D’Arezzo finished eighth in the 400 free relay.

Walsh would finish ninth in the 50 free for Hendricken
Damon Buchanon took 10th in the 200 free for the Hawks, while Johnston’s Guilmette finished 10th in the 200 IM. Briceno later placed 10th in the butterfly

Cranston West’s Gavin Kiernan, Trenton Kiernan, Alexander Tremblay and Logan D’Arezzo finished eighth in the 400 free relay. Gavin Kiernan took 11th in the butterfly for Cranston West.

Cranston West’s Alexander Tremblay, Logan D’Arezzo, Gavin Kiernan and Trenton Kiernan took 13th in the 200 medley while Trenton Kiernan took 15th in the 200 IM. Tim Dietrich took 15th in the 500 free for East.

East’s relay team of Dietrich, Alexioff Orion, Jessiel Loeza and Kenny Dias placed 13th in the 400 free relay.

Cranston East’s Elaine Wu, Maddison Dutra, Lily Maguire and Ruby Houle took 12th in the 200 free relay. Dutra took 12th in the breast stroke while Maguire took 15th.

East’s team of Wu, Houle, Maguire and Dutra also took 12th in the 400 free relay.

West’s top girl performer was Biance Asencio, who placed 17th in the 200 IM.