Torri Bindi entered the Class 2A state swimming and diving championships on Saturday in Orlando under high expectations.
The Gulf Breeze High freshman exceeded them. Bindi won the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events to take home two state championships and distinguish herself as one of the top swimmers in the state.
Bindi swam the 50 free in an All-American time of 23.99 seconds. She also produced an All-American time in the 100, swimming it in 50.81. Bindi won both events at the Region 1-2A championships last week and entered Saturday's state meet as the top seed.
The Washington High girls also made a splash at state.
The Wildcats finished fourth in the 200-yard medley relay (1:51.19) and third in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:38.25) to finish seventh overall out of 47 teams.
Junior Jacquie Kinman helped lead Washington, swimming on both relay teams and coming in fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.34).
Pace's Nathaniel Thomas had a strong showing in the boys competition, finishing second in the 50 freestyle in 21.20, for an All-American consideration, and fifth in the 100 breaststroke (59.30).
Other top performers
* Pace High's Olivia Weekley finished fourth in the 100 butterfly (57.42); eighth in the 50 freestyle (24.89); swam on 200-yard freestyle relay team, which finished 16th (1:48.72); swam on 200-yard medley relay, which came in 12th (1:55.87)
* Pace senior Caroline Page finished eighth in the 100 butterfly (58.46); fourth in the 100 backstroke (57.46); swam on the 200 freestyle relay team; swam on the 200 medley relay team.
* Pensacola High's Pierce Busse finished sixth in the 1-meter diving competition, producing 356.90 points.
* Gulf Breeze senior P.J. Dunne finished sixth in the 200 freestyle (1:41.16) and fourth in the 100 freestyle (46.80).
* Washington sophomore Steffen Mount finished seventh in the 100 freestyle (48.48); 15th in the 200 freestyle (1:46.18); swam on the 400 freestyle relay team, which finished 14th (3:22.65); swam on the 200 medley relay team, which came in fifth (1:40.79).
* West Florida freshman Brooke Ferrara finished third in the 50 freestyle (23.69) and fifth in the 100 backstroke (57.19).
