Davis High finished 5th in girls swimming and 11th in boys swimming at this year’s 6A championships that concluded Feb. 19 at BYU.

“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!”

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.

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 & 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. λ