Swimmer of the Year
Phoebe Bacon, Sr., Stone Ridge
In her final high school meet, Bacon set a national high school record of 50.89 seconds in the 100-meter backstroke and helped the Gators earn a team title at the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Swimming and Diving Championships. She also set a meet record in the 200 individual medley and won Independent School League titles in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. She will swim for Wisconsin in the fall, but first she will compete at the Olympic trials in Omaha in June.
First team
Catherine Belyakov, Sr., Quince Orchard
The Duke commit won the 100 breaststroke at Metros with a time of 1:02.48, besting the rest of the field by more than a second.
Maren Conze, Fr., Walter Johnson
Conze dominated the 500 freestyle at Metros (4:47.09) and set a Maryland record at the 4A/3A state meet (4:52.25). She also won the state title in the 200 freestyle (1:49.97).
Sophie Duncan, So., Holton-Arms
She won the 200 individual medley in 1:59.56 at the Washington Metropolitan Prep School Swim Dive League meet, then followed it up with a second-place finish in that event and the 500 freestyle at Metros.
Erin Gemmell, Fr., Stone Ridge
In her debut season, Gemmell won all four of her events at Metros: the 100 freestyle (49.56) and 200 freestyle (1:45.96), as well as 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays.
Abby Harter, Sr., Briar Woods
The Virginia signee won Virginia Class 5 state titles in the 100 butterfly (52.68) and 100 breaststroke (1:02.37) and set Class 5 records in both events.
Torri Huske, Jr., Yorktown
Last year’s All-Met girls’ swimmer of the year broke Virginia state records in the 50 freestyle (21.83) and the 100 butterfly (50.69) at the Virginia Class 6 state championships.
Anna Keating, Sr., Madison
Keating won her third straight state title in the 100 breaststroke at the Virginia Class 6 meet and set a state record (59.76). She will swim for Virginia in the fall.
Haley Marshall, So., Good Counsel
Marshall took the diving titles at the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference meet, the National Catholic meet and Metros.
Mackenzie McConagha, Jr., Briar Woods
The Wisconsin commit won the Virginia Class 5 title in the 100 backstroke for the third straight season after setting a Class 5 record in the preliminary race (53.44).
Camille Spink, Fr., Battlefield
Spink’s high school career got off to a strong start, including two Virginia Class 6 records and state titles in the 100 freestyle (49.18) and 200 free (1:46.18).
Coach of the Year
Jason Blanken, Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Bethesda-Chevy Chase finished as runner-up at last year’s Maryland 4A/3A meet, but the Barons refused to get discouraged. They returned stronger and claimed the first state title in program history this year.
Second team
Jordan Buechler, Sr., West Springfield
Abby Carr, Jr., Washington Christian
Abby Daniel, Jr., Patriot
Alexandra Dicks, Jr., Madison
Paige Hall, Jr., O’Connell
Katherine Helms, So., South County
Catherine Purnell, Sr., Stonewall Jackson
Aris Runnels, Jr., Colgan
Carly Sebring, So., Damascus
Tatum Wall, So., Independence
Relays
200 freestyle: Makenzie Higgins, Sr.; Erika Chen, Sr.; Tia Thomas, Jr.; Erin Gemmell, Fr. (Stone Ridge): 1:34.47
200 medley: Phoebe Bacon, Sr.; Eleanor Sun, Fr.; Erin Gemmell, Fr.; Tia Thomas, Jr. (Stone Ridge): 1:41.62
400 freestyle: Makenzie Higgins, Sr.; Erika Chen, Sr.; Eleanor Sun, Fr.; Phoebe Bacon, Sr. (Stone Ridge): 3:25.04
Honorable mentions
Nina Allen, Fr., Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Lilia Atanda, Fr., Sherwood
Lauren Badger, Sr., Seneca Valley
Kate Bailey, So., O’Connell
Jazz Barry, Jr., Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Molly Benson, Sr., Walter Johnson
Jill Berger, Jr., Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Katherine Blake, So., Richard Montgomery
Moshelle Borjigin, Sr., Poolesville
Callie Borda, So., Rockville
Erika Chen, Sr., Stone Ridge
Kate Cosgrove, Jr., Holy Cross
Sarah Culkin, Jr., Good Counsel
Brynn Curtis, Sr., Oakton
Minh Donnell, Jr., Woodson
Maddy Grosz, Sr., Madison
Sarah Gurley, Sr., Paul VI
Lauren Hartel, So., Yorktown
Kaitlyn Hunter, So., Damascus
Raylen Jackson, Sr., Wilson
Rachel Jones, So., Robinson
Molly Kennedy, Jr., Stone Bridge
Allison Kopac, Sr., Riverside
Elizabeth Kuhlkin, Sr., Madison
Alli Marney-Bell, Sr., Montgomery Blair
Helena Narisu, Sr., Poolesville
Reagan Osborne, Sr., Lake Braddock
Janika Perezous, Jr., Potomac Falls
Sheridan Phalen, Sr., West Potomac
Anna Redican, Sr., South Lakes
Maria Sawadogo, Fr., Montgomery Blair
Fiona Schere, So., Key School
Megan Schueller, Sr., La Plata
Samantha Smith, Jr., Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Eleanor Sun, Fr., Stone Ridge
Genevieve Thibodeau, Sr., Stone Ridge
Tia Thomas, Jr., Stone Ridge
Jane Umhofer, Jr., Walter Johnson
Savannah Waymer, Sr., School Without Walls
Amanda Wenhold, Sr., Sherwood
Lauren West, So., Einstein
Joyce Wu, Fr., Holton-Arms
Georgia Yan, Fr., Churchill
Abigail Zindler, Jr., Oakton
Tatum Zupnik, Sr., Holton-Arms
— Text by Kate Yanchulis