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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record

Earnhardt Harris of the Davie boys swim team finished second in the conference in the 100 butterfly, ninth in the regional and represented the War Eagles in the state meet.
That’s pretty darn good for a sophomore.
“What a season,” coach Lance White said. “Obviously I didn’t know what to expect this season with new coaches, COVID still lingering and many new swimmers, but oh boy, what a wonderful story. I am proud of each one of these kids and how they perform in the pool and out. Great student-athletes and Earnhardt leads the charge for our young team. With multiple events at regional and then qualifying for states, he capped off a fantastic season for Davie.”
In the Central Piedmont Conference championships on Jan. 28, Harris was second out of 17 in the 100 butterfly at 53.17. By finishing in the top two, he earned all-conference honors. He barely missed cracking the list in the 50 free, settling for third out of 26 at 22.73.
Harris became just the third Davie male in six years to make all-conference, following Wyatt Copeland, who was second in the 50 free in 2017, and Evan Shives, who was second in the 200 free in 2020.
The Central 4-A Regional was held at the Greensboro Aquatic Center on Feb. 5. Harris was ninth of 23 in the butterfly at 52.56. He also competed in the 100 free and was a part of two relays. He joined sophomore Bryce Harnsberger, sophomore Aiden Davis and senior Jaylen McDaniel in the 200 free relay, and he teamed up with Davis, junior Austin Boswell and Harnsberger in the 200 medley relay.
The Davie girls swam in three relays at regional. Freshman Brady Sheek, sophomore Logan White, freshman Elliot Newsome and freshman Sarah Rajacich were in the 200 medley relay; White, Sheek, junior Amber McCoullough and senior Ava Rajacich were in the 400 free relay; and S. Rajacich, A. Rajacich, Newsome and White were in the 200 free relay.
The state meet was held at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary on Feb. 10. Harris finished 19th of 24 in the butterfly at 52.71.
“This is the only sport I do. I love swimming,” said Harris, who personal record in the butterfly is 51.33. “You always feel like you can do better, but I’m content with my sophomore season. I still have two more years to get better.”
Harris’ state performance was all the better when you consider 14 of the swimmers who finished ahead of him were juniors/seniors. He was the No. 4 sophomore in the state in that event.
“I’m not really supposed to beat these seniors and juniors,” he said. “My main goal for this season was just to get to states. So when I got there, I was really happy with that.”
White said: “Earnhardt is always pushing himself to get stronger and faster, so to make states as a sophomore is a phenomenal feat and well deserved. I sure am glad we have him for a couple more years.”