PREPS

Meet the Commercial Appeal all-metro boys swimming team

John Varlas
USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee
CA Sports Awards logo

Meet the semifinalists for The Commercial Appeal's male swimmer of the year.

The winner will be announced the inaugural Commercial Appeal Sports Awards at the Orpheum on June 9.

The semifinalists and their two guests are invited to attend the ESPY-type awards show for free. Tickets are on sale for the event are also available for $31.50 at sportsawards.commercialappeal.com.

More than 100 Memphis-area athletes and coaches will be honored at the event, which will also feature guest speaker Archie Manning.

MALE SWIMMER OF THE YEAR SEMIFINALISTS

Christian Berry, MUS

Christian Berry, MUS, senior: One of the most decorated swimmers in recent memory, Berry was a finalist three years in a row under the old Best of the Preps format and is in the top eight again this year. He set the Shelby County record in winning the 50 freestyle (20.76) before finishing second in state in that race and the 100 free.

----------

Liam Kaltenborn, MUS

Liam Kaltenborn, MUS, junior: MUS dominated local waters once again, winning the county championship for the ninth straight season. Kaltenborn was a key contributor to that success, winning the 100 and 200 individual medleys.

----------

Parker Kaye/MUS

Parker Kaye, MUS, senior: After earning all-metro recognition in 2016, Kaye closed his Owls career with a great state meet. He was second in both the 100 breastroke (56.72) and the 200 individual medley (1:51.18). He set meet records while winning both events at the county meet.

----------

Jack McCaghren, MUS

Jack McCaghren, MUS, senior: McCaghren earned two runner-up medals at state, finishing second in both the 100 butterfly (48.48) and 100 backstroke (48.78). He is a three-time all-metro performer and was a finalist last season under the previous BOP format.

----------

Rick Reinhard, MUS

Rick Reinhard, MUS, junior: Reinhard was another valuable points contributor as the Owls finished second at state. He placed third in the 500 freestyle in a time of 4:35.12 and wound up fifth in the 200 free (1:42.13). Reinhard was an all-metro choice as a sophomore.

----------

Alex Robinson, MUS

Alex Robinson, MUS, senior: A finalist last year under the old BOP format, Robinson came through with fourth-place state finishes in both the 100 backstroke (49.50) and the 200 freestyle (1.39.50) to help the Owls finish second as a team.

----------

Jonathan Simcoe, Collierville

Jonathan Simcoe, Collierville, junior: An all-metro repeater, Simcoe helped the Dragons win the combined boys-girls title at the Shelby County meet. Then at the state meet in Knoxville, he finished eighth in the 100 freestyle (47.32).

----------

Joshua Walsh, Collierville

Joshua Walsh, Collierville, senior: Before heading off to the University of Tennessee, Walsh was the only Shelby County boy to win a state championship. He captured the 100 freestyle in 44.60 after earning second in the 200 freestyle. He won both of those events at the county meet, setting a record in the 200 (1:39.34).

----------

ALL-METRO TEAM

John Barton, St. George's; Christian Berry, MUS; Roland Chang, White Station; Hunter Jones, DeSoto Central; Liam Kaltenborn, MUS; Parker Kaye, MUS; Jack McCaghren, MUS; Rick Reinhard, MUS; Alex Robinson, MUS; Jonathan Simcoe, Collierville; James Towsdin, Harding; Joshua Walsh, Collierville; Daniel West, Houston; Taylor Williams, Center Hill

----------

COACH OF THE YEAR

Bryan Parker, MUS: Parker’s Owls won the county championship for the ninth year in a row before going on to place second at state, one year after winning it all in 2016. This is the sixth coach of the year award for Parker.