By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

SULPHUR — St. Charles proved that no matter the classification it finds itself in, its swim program is still among the elite as its boys finished as state runner-up and its girls finished third overall at the Division III state swimming championship on Friday and Saturday.

The Comets’ Gage Alleman, Maggie Trepagnier and Brandon Klibert each won individual championships, Alleman walking away with two crowns. Both SCC girls and boys 200 yard medley relay teams also took top honors.

The Comet boys finished with 250 points, second to champion Vandebilt Catholic, which scored 327.

St. Charles moved up to Division III from Division IV, where the SCC boys won two consecutive state championships.

“There were a lot of other tough teams,” said Klibert. “It was a big accomplishment to beat some of the other strong teams there. But next year we should be good again, and hopefully we’ll finish on top.”

Said SCC coach Denise Falgoust, “There were maybe eight teams in Division III that had won state championships in the past few seasons, in one division or another. I’m very proud of them, they work hard at this year long.”

The girls scored 215, just 12 behind second place Episcopal (227). Vandebilt completed a championship sweep, winning with 277.

Lutcher’s 200 yard freestyle relay team (David Sylvest, Mason Millet, Nick Gatch and Mark Pousson) also took home a state championship with a time of 1:33.44.

Alleman posted times of 54.93 in the 100 yard backstroke and 2:00.05 in the 200 yard individual medley to take two crowns.

In the backstroke, Alleman went into Saturday’s championship after placing third in the preliminaries.

“I placed third, and that was a concern because I don’t like losing,” said Alleman.

“But I got after it and touched before three or four others. It’s a lot more competition when you move up, so it felt good.”

Klibert’s mark of 22.82 netted him the top spot in the 50 yard freestyle. He also finished third in the 100-yard backstroke.

Trepagnier won the girls 100 yard butterfly with a time of 1:02.27. She also finished second in the 200 yard IM.

The girls medley team (Meredith Keating, Elise Loisel, Trepagnier and Karleigh Landry) edged Vandebilt with a time of 1:59.50 to the Terriers’ 2:00.17. The boys medley team (Alleman, Luke Jackson, Austin Matherne and Klibert) posted a mark of 1:44.15, just edging Vandy’s time of 1:44.41.

Keating finished second in the girls 100 yard freestyle.

SCC took second place honors in the boys 200 yard freestyle relay and 400 yard freestyle relay. The girls 200 yard freestyle relay team also took second place.

Pousson finished second in the boys 50 yard freestyle and third in the 100 yard freestyle.

Lutcher’s Kassidy Zeringue took third in the 100 yard freestyle, and Kristen Roussel took third in the 50 yard freestyle.

Falgoust noted someher swimmers — Jackson, Chris Miller and Matt Torres — who drove to Sulphur to swim on Friday, drive back to play in Friday’s football game, then back again Saturday.

“It shows their dedication,” said Falgoust. “Especially Luke, when you consider his event went on latest. He was a little worried, but he was able to make it.”