BYU Pool’s two-game mini championship drought ended Saturday afternoon.
Wasatch’s girls dominated the podium all day to claim the 6A state championship for the first time since 2019, while Lone Peak’s boys narrowly defeated Mountain Ridge to claim their first state title since a four-peat from 2017-20
advertise
There was no shortage of excitement in the pool, with seven new 6A records set – three relay and four individual events.
Lone Peak senior Xander Berg touched the wall on the final relay of the race (one of the state records) to officially seal the Cavaliers’ state championship.
He was under pressure going into the final game because he knew his team needed to win or finish second, but it was pressure he had worked hard to achieve for years.
“That pressure is also a privilege. That pressure pushes you to work harder and know that this is a gift that you’ve been given to show what you’re capable of and really compete, and I think you do get nervous, but it’s just because you know you have to perform,” Berg said.
advertise
It was a dominant game from start to finish for the Wasatch girls. The Hornets won all three relay titles and then won six of eight individual events to capture their first state title since 2019.
“It’s definitely a high point. We have a great group of girls, very hardworking. They compete in all the different tournaments, which is good for me, and we have guys in every tournament, but to win nine of 11 today, it’s special,” said Wasatch coach Shawn Marsing, whose team earned the tier this year with Brighton.
Wasatch earned 311 team points, Skyridge finished second with 257 points and defending state champion Lone Peak finished third with 251.5 points.
The Hornets knew they were the favorite in the tournament, and senior Ana Diedrichs believes the pressure actually helped everyone swim better.
advertise
“It made us a little nervous, but honestly I think it also gave us a lot of motivation, just to be able to go out and compete and believe in ourselves and know that we were there to do this and we could do it,” Diedrichs said.
Diedericks (100 free, 100 return) and Kasonya Keller (200 free, 500 free) each won two event titles for the Hornets, while Paige Hicken won the 100 breaststroke and Reece Andrews won the 100 breaststroke.
For Diedrichs, she has won the 5A state championship the past two seasons and is a three-time 100 free state champion.
“I felt great today. I’m so proud of myself and all of my teammates. Everyone swam great and I’m very proud of that,” said Diedrichs, who was named the 6A swimmer of the meet for earning the most NISCA points.
advertise
Her 100 back time of 54.73 set a new 6A state record. Andrews also set a new 6A record in the 100 fly with a time of 56.69.
“It says a lot about their quality, their character and their training. It’s difficult to be first in a game and finish and be successful, and the way they did it, they weren’t worried and they weren’t nervous,” Massing said.
“As they grow and get through it, they believe in the things we’ve been talking about in practice for years.”
Syracuse sophomore LayLeigh Turner enjoyed another great state meet, winning the 200 individual medley for the second straight year
advertise
While the Wasatch women’s title was sealed long before the finals of the 400 freestyle relay, the men’s race was up in the air.
Lone Peak leads Mountain Ridge by seven points heading into the finals. Lone Peak knew a first or second place finish would be enough to seal the title, but a third place finish opened the door for the Sentinels to steal the title.
“I talked to them and I just said, ‘Stay safe with the communication and everything and just go out and have fun,'” Lone Peak coach Calvin Smith said. “I believe they can do it.”
Lone Peak won the final relay race with a 6A record time of 3 minutes, 10.19 seconds and the meet with 315 team points. Mountain Ridge was second with 302 points and American Fork was third with 247 points.
advertise
Berg teamed with Jason Dumas, Asher Topham and Beck Johnson to set the 6A record in the 400 freestyle.
“Our seniors have been waiting for this for a long time and they’ve been working hard the last four years,” Smith said.
“Look at Xander Berg, he’s been patiently waiting to win 50 free games for a long time, but he worked really hard and really did it today.”
Berg won the 50 and 100 freestyle events, the Knights’ only individual state championships. He finished third in both events last year, ahead of two seniors.
Berg also competed on the Lone Peak 200 freestyle state record relay with Dumas, Seth Bellows and Johnson.
advertise
“We were looking at the score, but I think I had a gut feeling that we could win on that last relay,” Smith said.
“Our kids improved across the board. We had some great swims yesterday and set ourselves up for a great swim today.”
Like Berg, another multi-sport men’s champion is Brighton senior Luann Barnard.
He won the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke titles and helped Brighton open the meet in the 200 medley relay with a new 6A record time of 1:34.98.
Barnard’s time of 47.72 set a new 6A backstroke state record, but was slightly lower than his total and 5A record 47.53 from last season.
advertise
“My goal was to get to 46 points but ended up getting to 47.7 points, which was still a good time for me and I’m really happy that I was able to win and set the record at the same time,” Barnard said.
“Even if I don’t break last year’s record, I’m still happy.”
Utt also set a 6A record in the 100 freestyle with a time of 44.90 in the opening 100 meters of the 400 freestyle relay. What a great way to end a stellar high school career.
“The past four years have been so fun and now things are going to change, which is a little scary in a way, but also exciting in a way to be able to get out here and go swim in college and experience new things,” Barnard said.
advertise
Class 6A Women’s National Swimming Meet
at Brigham Young University
Team results
personal results
200m medley relay
-
Wasatch (Elsie Marinka, Grace Cannon, Rhys Andrews, Kasonya Keller), 1:46.81
200 freestyle
-
Kasonya Keller, Wasatch Jr., 1:54.21
-
Sarah Favero, Little Butte, 1:59.14
-
Kara Moyle, Skyridge, Sr., 1:59.59
-
Waimea Barlow, Weber Sr., 2:00.51
-
Ellie Sintay, Skyridge Jr., 2:00.70
-
Liberty Harris, Layton Jr., 2:01.14
-
Crystal Baker, Ridge, France, 2:03.18
-
Sarah Glancy, Copper Hills, So., 2:06.80
200 instant messaging
-
LayLeigh Turner, Syracuse, USA, 2:08.73
-
Paige Hicken, Wasatch Jr., 2:12.29
-
Elsie Crowell, Little Farmington, 2:13.53
-
June Johnson, Lone Peak, Fr., 2:16.97
-
Evie Powers, Brighton, SO, 2:17.63
-
Victoria La Roche, Skyridge, SO, 2:18.62
-
Alexandra Lund, Riverton Sr., 2:18.67
-
Addison Baker, Ridge, Fr., 2:20.84
50 freestyle
-
Meadow Tatum, Little Ridge, 24.13
-
Rhys Andrews, Old Wasatch, 24.67
-
Berkeley Hansen, Corner Canyon, So., 24.93
-
Objian Bradley, Brighton Jr., 24.94
-
Eva Moeller, Syracuse, 25.01
-
Eliza Bexfield, Ridge, France, 25.11
-
Grace Cannon, Old Wasatch, 25.22
-
Anastyn Kennard, Lone Peak, So., 25.31
100 butterflies
-
Rhys Andrews, Old Wasatch, 56.69
-
Alyssa Soderquist, Lehi Sr., 57.70
-
Avery Dale, Westlake Jr., 1:01.08
-
Jane Beardall, Skyridge Jr., 1:01.09
-
Victoria La Roche, Skyridge, So., 1:01.10
-
Fall Kendall, Cedar Valley, 1:01.73
-
Valerie Guzman-De Lahos, Brighton Sr., 1:02.26
-
Evie Hershkop, Lone Peak, Sr., 1:03.15
100 freestyle
-
Anna Didricks, Old Wasatch, 51.67
-
Meadow Tatum, Ridge, 53.97
-
Anastyn Kennard, Lone Peak, So., 54.28
-
Berkeley Hansen, Corner Canyon, So., 54.32
-
Waimea Barlow, Weber Sr., 54.43
-
Eliza Bexfield, Ridge, France, 55.47
-
Millie Neidig, Bingham, South Carolina, 55.90
-
McKenna Garlick, Little Butte, 56.40
500 freestyle
-
Kasonya Keller, Wasatch Jr., 5:16.27
-
Ellie Sintay, Skyridge Jr., 5:17.33
-
Liberty Harris, Layton Jr., 5:23.27
-
Kara Moyle, Skyridge, Sr., 5:23.39
-
Gabriella Zurias, Brighton Jr., 5:26.65
-
Sarah Favero, Lone Peak, 5:27.17
-
Crystal Baker, Ridge, Fr., 5:28.75
-
Darcee Smith, American Fork, SO, 5:28.99
200m freestyle relay
-
Wasatch (Anna Didricks, Elsie Marinka, Paige Hicken, Grace Cannon), 1:39.70
100 backstroke
-
Anna Didricks, Old Wasatch, 54.73
-
Elsie Crowell, Little Farmington, 58.84
-
Alyssa Soderquist, Lehi Sr., 58.89
-
Joan Johnson, Lone Peak, Fr., 59.68
-
Kalia Hasselbach, Lehi Sr., 1:00.09
-
Jane Beardall, Skyridge Jr., 1:00.69
-
Darcee Smith, American Fork, SO, 1:01.54
-
Jane Elder, Brighton City, 1:01.63
100 breaststroke
-
Paige Hicken, Wasatch Jr., 1:05.77
-
Grace Cannon, Old Wasatch, 1:07.08
-
LayLeigh Turner, Syracuse, USA, 1:08.77
-
Avery Dale, Westlake Jr., 1:09.02
-
Lexi Bassett, Skyridge Jr., 1:09.40
-
Jesse Nelson, Farmington Jr., 1:10.68
-
Chloe Bowman, Skyridge Jr., 1:11.14
-
Halle Hanson, Lone Peak, 1:12.78
400m freestyle relay
-
Wasatch (Anna Didricks, Rhys Andrews, Paige Hicken, Kasonya Keller), 3:35.46
Class 6A Boys State Swimming Meet
at Brigham Young University
Team results
personal achievements
200m medley relay
-
Brighton (Luan Barnard, Barrett Judkins, Andrew Shuper, Leo Carr), 1:34.98
200 freestyle
-
Luann Barnard, Brighton, Sr., 1:39.85
-
Benson Mortensen, Wasatch, So., 1:41.78
-
Sam Peterson, American Fork Jr., 1:44.85
-
Porter Wilde, Westlake Jr., 1:46.23
-
Bridger Scott, Old Ridge, 1:47.72
-
Ethan Olson, Old Ridge, 1:48.04
-
Asher Topham, Lone Peak, 1:49.19
-
Brody Schvaneveldt, Riverton Jr., 1:50.53
200 instant messaging
-
Ethan Brown, Little Ridge, 1:54.62
-
Brayden Stoddard, Old Wasatch, 1:55.35
-
Leo Cai, Brighton, Fr., 1:56.94
-
Baker Johnson, Little Lone Peak, 1:57.66
-
Noah Christensen, American Fork Jr., 1:57.88
-
Oakley James, American Fork Jr., 1:58.78
-
Davis Chase, Lone Peak, France, 1:59.46
-
Andrew Shupe, Brighton Jr., 2:10.15
50 freestyle
-
Sander Berg, Lone Peak, Old, 21.47
-
Jason Dumas, Lone Peak, 21.55
-
Tyler Cedor, Old Ridge, 21.75
-
Caston Chamberlain, Cedar Valley, Sr., 21.82
-
Dylan Graff, Old Wasatch, 21.94
-
Seth Bellows, Little Lone Peak, 22.25
-
Tate Johnson, Old Point Canyon, 22.34
-
Bridger Isbell, Old Ridge, 22.37
100 butterflies
-
Easton Adams, Weber Sr., 50.24
-
Baker Johnson, Little Butte, 51.32
-
Brayden Stoddard, Old Wasatch, 52.46
-
Jake Ikemiyashiro, Old Ridge, 52.67
-
Emmett Sterling, Wasatch Jr., 52.93
-
Noah Christensen, American Fork Jr., 54.05
-
Eli Hall, Old Ridge, 54.08
-
Kyle Robinson, Old American Fork, 54.60
100 freestyle
-
Sander Berg, Lone Peak, Old, 46.50
-
Benson Mortensen, Wasatch County, 46.62
-
Connor Clark, Skyridge, Sr., 47.16
-
Jason Dumas, Lone Peak, Sr., 47.69
-
Jake Smart, Little Farmington, 48.45
-
Tyler Cedor, Old Ridge, 48.53
-
Ethan Olson, Old Ridge, 48.67
-
Bridger Isbell, Old Ridge, 50.51
500 freestyle
-
Brody Schvaneveldt, Riverton Jr., 4:51.90
-
Sam Peterson, American Fork Jr., 4:52.25
-
Sandor George, Little Cedar Valley, 4:56.64
-
Bridger Scott, Old Ridge, 4:58.63
-
Van Haney, Lone Peak, Sr., 4:59.57
-
Asher Topham, Lone Peak, 5:00.65
-
Jake Combe, Lone Peak, So., 5:00.83
-
Jake Ikemiyashiro, Mountain Ridge Sr., 5:04.56
200m freestyle relay
-
Lone Peak (Jason Dumas, Seth Bellows, Xander Berg, Beck Johnson), 1:25.21
100 backstroke
-
Luann Barnard, Brighton, Sr., 47.72
-
Oakley James, American Fork Jr., 52.93
-
Eli Hall, Old Ridge, 53.55
-
Luke Nelson, American Fork Jr., 54.50
-
Tess Morrill, Riverton Jr., 54.66
-
Emmett Sterling, Wasatch Jr., 55.34
-
Spencer Hundley, Old Wasatch, 56.55
-
Jake Combe, Lone Peak, So., 56.73
100 breaststroke
-
Porter Wilde, Westlake Jr., 57.82
-
Connor Clark, Skyridge, Sr., 57.84
-
Ethan Brown, Little Ridge, 57.85
-
Conner Fellingham, American Fork, SO, 57.97
-
Leo Cai, Brighton, Fr, 58.25
-
Berrett Judkins, Brighton, France, 58.59
-
Zach Stevens, Old American Fork, 59.31
-
Sam Lillian, Corner Canyon, Sr., 1:00.61
400m freestyle relay
-
Lone Peak (Jason Dumas, Asher Topham, Beck Johnson, Xander Berg), 3:10.19