Young Suffolk swimmer Karter Wachs will be swimming in the Virginia statewide champs swim meet in March.

The 9-year-old swim standout for the Old Dominion Aquatic Club at Camp Arrowhead, Karter will be heading to Christiansburg in March. In December, he went to Greensboro, N.C., with ODAC to compete in the Triad Tropic swim meet. Karter qualified in two events — the 200 freestyle and the 500 freestyle.

In the 200 free, he placed third with a time of 2:28.75, dropping 39.44 seconds off of his time. In the 500 free, he placed 121st with a time of 6:28.21, dropping 55.44 off of his time.

The 500 free was an open event, with 140 boys competing from ages 9 to 18. Karter finished second among those 10 and under.

Karter was most definitely excited when he got the news.

“Coach Karen was the first coach to tell me I made a Christiansburg time on my 200 freestyle,” Karter said. “Then a fellow swimmer, Tyler, looked up my other times from the weekend and said my 500 free qualified too.

“My goal was to cut at least two seconds but preferably eight seconds on my 200 free,” he continued. “So, when I heard I cut 39.44 seconds, I was ecstatic, making Christiansburg State Champs time cuts was the icing on the cake. It means one more meet for the year. I especially love travel meets.”

Karter started swimming at the age of 5 and has been able to make significant progress each year.

Last weekend, Karter made four time cuts and took home seven placing ribbons at a swim meet at ODU in Norfolk. He was able to maintain his 200 free qualifying time and placed first in that event. Next for the young Suffolk swimmer will be the district championship meet in February.

Over this year’s short course season, Karter has earned two third-place finishes, three second-place finishes and one first-place finish. He has also made 28 best times over that span.