The Davis High girls team finished fifth at the 6A state swimming championships at BYU on Saturday,  while the Darts boys squad came in 11th.  Farmington girls and boys were both top 20 at state. In 5A, Viewmont girls took 10th with their boys coming in 22nd. Both of Woods Cross’ squads placed 16th with Bountiful girls taking 19th and the boys 24th.

Davis

Lia Merrill placed second in the 100 backstroke while also swimming a leg on the fourth-place 200 medley relay team for the girls squad. That relay lineup, which also included Macie Cragun, Lauryn Hall and Adlen Groberg, broke the Davis High school record with a time of 1:53.99, besting the 1:54.14 mark set last season. Hall also had All-State swims in the 100 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke where she finished third and fifth, respectively.

Sam Carlson led the boys team with a third-place showing in the 100 free, fourth in the 50 free and swimming on the fifth-place medley relay team which also included Matt Iverson, Luke Deller and Jake Edwards.

“We finished strong, facing fierce competition from Salt Lake and Utah County schools at the 6A championships,” said head coach Kit Barker. “They went in pumped up and ready to go and this showed in their swims. Often swimmers can’t handle a swim meet where they swim all the events two days in a row, but our swimmers rocked it!”

Barker noted her other swimmers – Allie Allen, Garrett Barker and Breanna Mertens – that also made individual finals for the second day and scored points for the Darts. Additionally, several swimmers dropped times, including Cragun in the 100 breast, Edwards in the 500 free, Dylan Grant in the 200 free and 100 free and Bryce Nichols in his relay split in the 400 free relay. 

“We were also part of the first ever relay swim off in Utah state high school history,” coach Barker said. “Lauryn led off and we started strong. Hannah and Breanna were next and swam their hearts out, but Westlake pulled ahead. Adlen dove in and was a body length behind. Slowly, she reeled Westlake's Brianna Wheeler in and given a few more yards she would have had her. It was one of the most exciting races this year!”

Groberg set a personal best time in her 50 free relay split trying to chase down Westlake.

Farmington

Mason Draxler finished fourth in the 100 breast, breaking his own school record with a swim on 1:01.09, in leading the Phoenix boys squad to a 17th-place showing.

Teal Edholm placed seventh in the 200 IM, also besting the school mark in a time of 2:19.09. The girls came in 16th as a team.

The girls medley relay team of Lina Dunn, Kaitlyn Holladay, Haidyn Stroud and Teal Edholm posted a FHS school record of 2:00.37 in taking 10th place. The boys 400 free relay lineup of Peter Norseth, Joseph Schraedel, John Lyman and Draxler also topped the school record with a swim of 3:29.67 in finishing 13th.

“Both the girls and boys teams performed very well with many personal bests and good places,” said head coach Stacy Edholm. “We also had the best time over the few days we spent together on our first ‘away’ meet. Most of the team stayed in a hotel, we ate together and did an escape room. It was great team-building exercises. I cannot wait to see what next year brings.”

Viewmont

Elle Decker was fifth in the 500 free and the 100 breast while also swimming a leg on the seventh-place 200 medley relay team. That lineup also included Reese Allen, Malin Howe and Sarah Spangenberg. 

“Elle had a full day swimming in two relays and two individual events,” said head coach Jessica Trauner. “I feel like she really shined and I am glad that her last swims for Viewmont got her a podium at state. I am glad for our other seniors that were there [Sarah, Reese and Jared Chamberlain] that their season didn’t end at region and they were all able to swim at state.”

Eight swimmers competed individually for the Vikings along with five relay lineups. All three of the girls relays reached the finals with Eric Chamberlain, Gabby Henry, Malin and Elle making the second day in their events.

“This weekend went really well,” said Trauner. “The group we took to state was just a strong group of kids and I feel like next season they will really be the cornerstone of the team and set the standard.

The Vikings’ girls placed 10th with the boys coming in 22nd. 

“I really had the best group of kids this season and I am really glad they trusted me to take over their team, especially since having coaching changes can really disrupt a team,” Trauner said, noting her gratitude for the Bountiful, Woods Cross, Farmington, Layton, Northridge, Davis and Box Elder coaches who took her under their wing this year. “They really helped me out and taught me the ropes of how high school swimming works here in Utah and made my first season here at Viewmont a productive learning experience, and they did not have to do that at all!”

Woods Cross

Nohea Kamauu came in fourth in the 200 IM and the 100 fly for the 16th-place girls team. Other placers for the Wildcats were Alanna Holzer (10th, 100 fly; 14th, 200 medley relay; 15th, 50 free), Miller Campbell (12th, 200 free relay), Justin Chamberlain (12th, 200 medley relay; 14th, 100 breast; 14th, 400 free relay), Abel Chomjak (12th, 200 medley relay; 13th, 100 back; 16th, 50 free; 14th, 400 free relay), Isaac Chomjak, 12th, 200 medley relay; 12th, 200 free relay; 14th, 400 free relay; 25th, 100 free), Mark Glissmeyer (12th, 200 free relay), Hall (14th, 200 medley relay; 15th, 100 free), Lee Hunter (12th, 200 medley relay; 13th, 50 free; 16th, 100 free; 14th, 400 free relay), Dylan Suarez (12th, 200 free relay), Ammon Kamauu (13th, 500 free), Nohea Kamauu (14th, 200 medley relay) and Haley Neuenschwander (14th, 200 medley relay).

“Our state swimmers did a phenomenal job,” said assistant coach Jamie Holzer. “It was a long hard season of work that produced some amazing results. We are so proud of all of our Woods Cross swimmers and all their awesome work this swim season.”

Bountiful

Sadie Duke’s seventh-place swim in the 100 breast helped Bountiful to a 19th-place finish for the girls team. The boys finished 24th.

“It was a great meet for Bountiful,” said head coach Alexa Olson. “We are so very proud of Sadie, Madelynn Fenwick, Jaelyn Miller, Loni Tippetts, Tyler Orme, Andy Duke, Tyler Gunn, Spencer Monson, Liam Glissmeyer, Kobi Vanderlinden, Erik Landehim and alternates Abby Firth, Mia Fowler, Graci Hanni, Eva Stoddard, Zane Syverson and Sam Wang. We look forward to next season.” λ