By Eric Lusk
Sports Editor
elusk@elkintribune.com

PILOT MOUNTAIN — Starmount senior Julianna Prim was only getting started with her weekend when she dropped 21 points, 21 rebounds and five blocks on Forbush in a Friday night basketball win (see related story this issue).

Prim got up before sunrise on Saturday morning, drove to Pilot Mountain and then proceeded to dominate the Mountain Valley 2A Conference’s regular season-ending invitational, held at the Armfield Civic Center.

The three-time state champion swimmer won the 200- and 100-yard freestyle events by comfortable margins. She also swam legs on Starmount’s 200 free relay (which placed second) and the Rams’ 200 medley relay (which placed third).

After the meet, the final tune-up before the state championships in two weeks at NC State, Prim was recognized as the Mountain Valley 2A’s female swimming MVP — an honor she captured last season as well.

“She had a great meet and we figured she would,” said Oz Prim, Julianna’s father and head coach of the Rams. “She really enjoys high school meets because she can cheer for everybody, too. She even cheered for Elkin (during the afternoon Northwest 1A championship meet) for awhile before going home to rest.”

Prim won the 200 free in 1:56.05, more than 16 seconds faster than runner-up Kirstin Gardner of Surry Central. Prim touched first in the 100 free in 53.90. The runner-up in that event, Surry Central’s Paige Martin, clocked a time of 1:01.17.

“Those times were about what I expected from Julianna,” Oz Prim said. “She swam really well.”

Prim wasn’t the only double gold medallist from Starmount on Saturday. Kim Benton matched her teammate’s medal count by winning the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly.

Benton also touched well ahead of her competition. Her time of 2:29.42 in the 200 IM was more than 11 seconds faster than second-place Allee Taylor of Surry Central. Benton finished the butterfly in 1:08.53, which was more than three ticks quicker than runner-up Karie McLamb of Central.

Prim and Benton joined Angela Reavis and Savannah Daye on Starmount’s silver medal 200 free relay team. The foursome placed third in a close 200 medley relay. The Rams were only two seconds off the silver and less than three seconds off the gold.

Daye finished third in the 100 breaststroke and seventh in the 50 free. Chelsea Davis was sixth in the 100 backstroke and seventh in the 200 free.

The Starmount girls placed third overall in the team standings. Surry Central won the girls meet with 174 points, followed by West Stokes 127, Starmount 83, North Surry 43, Forbush 41 and Wilkes Central 6.

The meet was technically an invitational and not a conference championship event because the MVAC didn’t have enough swim teams this winter to form an official conference. West Stokes competes in the North State 2A.

West Stokes won the boys meet with 183 points, followed by Forbush 129, Surry Central 51, North Surry 42, Starmount 19 and Wilkes Central 9.

Starmount Swim Results

MVAC Invitational • Saturday • at Pilot Mountain

GIRLS

Julianna Prim: 1st in 200 free (1:56.05), 1st in 100 free (53.90)

Kim Benton: 1st in 200 IM (2:29.42), 1st in 100 butterfly (1:08.53)

Savannah Daye: 3rd in 100 breaststroke (1:30.74), 7th in 50 free (30.95)

Chelsea Davis: 6th in 100 back (1:36), 7th in 200 free (3:08.26)

Angela Reavis: 15th in 50 free (35.12)

Rachel Dodson: 17th in 100 free (1:28.12), 25th in 50 free (39.66)

Kallie Ford: 22nd in 50 free (38.67)

200 Medley Relay (Kim Benton, Savannah Daye, Julianna Prim, Angela Reavis): 3rd place in 2:15.38

200 Free Relay (Julianna Prim, Angela Reavis, Savannah Daye, Kim Benton): 2nd place in 1:57.42

400 Free Relay (Angela Reavis, Rachel Dodson, Chelsea Davis, Kallie Ford): 6th place in 6:04.66

BOYS

Zach McMulloch: 9th in 100 free (1:14.74), 13th in 50 free (31.72)

Alan Mendenhall: 11th in 100 free (1:19.54), 15th in 50 free (34.35)

Bradley Davis: 13th in 100 breaststroke (1:57.94), 19th in 50 free (40.84)

Will Wooten: 18th in 50 free (37.55)

400 Free Relay (Alan Mendenhall, Zach McMulloch, Bradley Davis, Will Wooten): 4th place in 5:44.32

200 Medley Relay (Alan Mendenhall, Zach McMulloch, Bradley Davis, Will Wooten): 5th place in 2:22.51