The N.C. High School Athletic Association swimming & diving championships run through Saturday at Raleigh’s Pullen Aquatic Center for diving and at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary for swimming.

Your defending state champions on the boys’ side are Marvin Ridge (4A), Carrboro (3A), and Raleigh Charter (1A/2A).

On the girls’ side, your defending state champs are Myers Park (4A), Lake Norman Charter (3A), and Pine Lake Prep (1A/2A).

We give our thoughts at who is the favorite at winning the team competitions this year, as well as MVP honors, and a look at those who could challenge.

4A preview (Thursday finals)

Boys’ favorite — Marvin Ridge
Boys’ dark horses — Cardinal Gibbons, Enloe, Myers Park
Boys’ MVP favorite — Michael Rice, Marvin Ridge; Alex Townsend, Enloe
Boys’ MVP dark horses — Owen Lin, Northwest Guilford; Davis Jackson, Leesville Road; Albert Smelzer, Page; Drew Sito, Sanderson

Girls’ favorite — Myers Park
Girls’ dark horses — Charlotte Catholic, Cardinal Gibbons, Green Hope
Girls’ MVP favorite — Nicole Zettel, Apex Friendship; Eliza Wallace, Ardrey Kell; Avery Klamforth, Myers Park
Girls’ MVP dark horses — Mere Whelehan, Green Hope; Karina Plaza, Myers Park; Emma Richardson, Myers Park

3A preview (Friday finals)

Boys’ favorite — Lake Norman Charter
Boys’ dark horses — Carrboro, J.H. Rose, South Brunswick
Boys’ MVP favorite — Jackson Kroh, North Lincoln
Boys’ MVP dark horses — Logan Kelly, St. Stephens; Tellis Bumgarner, Central Cabarrus; Vincent Battaglini, Durham School of the Arts; Josh Jones, Carrboro; Trevor Hucal, Swansboro

Girls’ favorite — Lake Norman Charter
Girls’ dark horses — First Flight, Forestview, Central Cabarrus
Girls’ MVP favorite — Lily Hermans, Concord
Girls’ MVP dark horses — Abbey Cronin, Central Cabarrus; Madisyn Upton, Southern Alamance; Piper White, Orange

1A/2A preview (Saturday finals)

Boys’ favorite — Raleigh Charter
Boys’ dark horses — Gray Stone Day, Pine Lake Prep, Christ the King, NCSSM-Durham
Boys’ MVP favorite — Leon Zhang, Raleigh Charter
Boys’ MVP dark horses — Alex Lee, Raleigh Charter; Beck Armstrong, Mountain Island Charter; Carter Johnson, East Gaston; Benjamin Lajoie, Seaforth; Colton Roberts, Seaforth

Girls’ favorite — Raleigh Charter
Girls’ dark horses — Pine Lake Prep, Bishop McGuinness,
Girls’ MVP favorite — Alexandra Tysinger, Burns
Girls’ MVP dark horses — Daisy Collins, Woods Charter; Kayda Geyer, Union Academy; Reina Liu, Raleigh Charter; Norah Chamblee, Langtree Charter