(Photos by Chapin High School)
By Thomas Grant Jr.
Jacqueline Bonavilla closed out her swimming career at Chapin High School a 3-time champion.
The Lady Eagle won two individual gold medals at the S.C. High School League championships held last weekend at the University of South Carolina.
Bonavilla won the 100 backstroke and butterfly events to go with her 200 individual medley won last year. She also helped the Lady Eagles finished third in the 200 freestyle team relay and fifth overall.
Eagles battle Dutch Fork
The Chapin football team looked to make school history last week at Cecil Woolbright Field.
A win over 4-time defending Class 5A champion Dutch Fork would not only be a first for the program. It would make the Eagles just the third team since 2015 to defeat the Silver Foxes in region play.
Despite Chapin’s best efforts, it was unable to pull off the victory. After an inspired first half, the Eagles fell 21-8 to Dutch Fork for their third straight loss of the season.
The Silver Foxes only led 7-0 at halftime. However, the lone score came off a blocked punt by K.J. Dupree returned 45 yards for a touchdown.
This marked the first time since the 2023 Class 5A Division I title game against White Knoll that Dutch Fork was held without an offensive point in the first half.
The Silver Foxes opened up the second half with a scoring drive capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Jaxon Knotts to wide receiver Corey Miller.
The duo hooked up again for an 81-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 21-0 in the fourth quarter. Knotts finished with 206 total yards.
Chapin avoided the shutout with 2:33 left in the game on a 33-yard touchdown pass by Tyler Black to Conner Finney. The Eagles added the 2-point conversion to close out the scoring.
Black finished 12-18 passing for 110 yards. As a team, the Eagles were held to 68 yards.
Chapin (4-4, 0-2) now finds itself in a ‘must-win’ game at White Knoll (1-6, 0-2). The winner can assure itself a playoff berth out of Region 4-5A.
