Jupiter swimming and diving wins first-ever state championship

Jupiter boys swimming and diving has completed its "dream" season with the most coveted of state hardware. The Warriors' program won its first-ever state championship, pacing the pool across Class 4A to finish first at the podium on Saturday, Nov. 7. Jupiter outlasted runner-up Cypress Bay by 5.5 points to take home gold, with the competition coming down to the very last event. The Warriors team swam the 400 yard relay with a time of 3:01.30, edging the second-place Lightning in the event as well as the total team score. "It was an incredible, historical moment for Jupiter High School because this is the first time we're winning the championship title with the boys," head coach Kiril Zahariev said. Jupiter paced the field with 206.5 points, followed by Cypress Bay with 201, Winter Park with 186.5, Nease with 153, and Riverview Sarasota with 143 to round out Florida's top five across Class 4A. FHSAA football playoff bracket release: 5 Palm Beach County takeaways Wellington transfer Julian Granison and Charles "Buddy" Howard shared the honors of "MBS" as Zahariev puts it ― "most valuable swimmer." Granison, a Florida commit, won the 50-yard (19.50, a personal best) and 100-yard frees (42.86, a personal best) events, while Howard, a Michigan commit, took first place in the 200-yard free (1:36.70, a personal best) and 100-yard fly (48.15) events. Chase Young and Asher Smith also participated in the winning 400-yard free relay team, while Slater Woodard helped the Warriors win the 200 free relay. The Warriors boys program boasted six seniors this season, with all coming together to finish their respective high school careers on top with the state title. "It was an amazing performance by all the kids," Zahariev said. "We are so blessed with the title." On the Jupiter girls' side, NC State commit Veronica Metz won the 200 free in a time of 1:45.68, helping the Warriors to a fourth-place finish. Boca Raton junior Caleb Caponera also shined for the Bobcats' boys program with two titles. He swam a 1:46.57 in the 200 IM and a 55.71 in the 100 breast. Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@usatodayco.com.