Kearney’s Whitaker Steward piles up more gold at Missouri high school swim finals

No stranger to high-stakes competition, Kearney swimmer Whitaker Steward returned to familiar environs on Friday ... and produced familiar results in the pool.

A senior and multiple-time Missouri state champ, Steward blazed to Class 1 gold in the 200-yard freestyle, breaking his own MSHSAA record with a time of 1 minute, 38.22 seconds in the City of St. Peters Rec-Plex pool.

Not long after that, Steward was back in the water and winning the Class 1 state title in the 500 freestyle.

Steward is now a seven-time Missouri state champion. He won the 500 free as a freshman. Then, as a sophomore, he won both the 200 free and 500 free. He repeated that feat as a junior in 2024 and did so again this week.

Earlier this fall, Steward — who has pledged to compete collegiately for the Tennessee Volunteers next year — was named to USA Swimming’s 2025-26 Junior National Team. He also competes for KC’s Tsunami Swim Team.

Steward wasn’t the only repeat state champion from the KC area among the Class 1 medalists. Grain Valley’s Gage Wright repeated as state champ in the 1-meter dive event. He is a senior and plans to compete next season at Washington University in St. Louis.

The 2025 MSHSAA (Missouri State High School Activities Association) state championships for swimming and diving continue through Saturday in St. Peters. Class 2 swims Saturday.

Missouri boys state swimming & diving championships

Thursday-Friday, at the City of St. Peters Rec-Plex

Race distances in yards

CLASS 1

Top 10 and KC-area team scores: 1. Parkway Central, 247; 2. Kirkwood, 194.5; 3. Parkway West, 185; 4. Pembroke Hill, 164.5; 5. Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau), 133; 6. Webster Groves, 123; 7. Springfield Central, 119.5; 8. Kearney, 102; 9. Springfield Glendale, 88; 10. Clayton, 87; 20. William Chrisman, 32; 23. Grain Valley, 27; 25. Platte County, 24; T32. Marshall, 12; 36. Lincoln Prep, 9; 43. Belton, 1.

Championship finals (1-8) and KC-area consolation finals (9-16) results

200 medley relay: 1. Parkway Central, 1:34.99; 2. Pembroke Hill, 1:35.67; 3. Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau), 1:37.54; 4. Parkway West, 1:38.13; 5. Springfield Central, 1:38.42; 6. Nevada, 1:39.88; 7. Kirkwood, 1:40.62; 8. Christian Brothers College, 1:41.17. 9. Kearney, 1:40.10.

200 freestyle: 1. Steward, Kearney, 1:38.22; 2. Montgomery, Webster Groves, 1:40.88; 3. Theodos, John Burroughs, 1:43.11; 4. Deutschman, Eureka, 1:43.49; 5. Kim, Clayton, 1:44.91; 6. Brown, Kirkwood, 1:45.76; 7. Brinton, Ladue Horton Watkins, 1:47.10; 8. Orpe, Lafayette (Wildwood), 1:49.12.

200 individual medley: 1. Muran, Parkway Central, 1:50.49; 2. Butler, Glendale, 1:52.95; 3. Cracraft, Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau), 1:55.49; 4. Strom, Webster Groves, 1:57.17; 5. Yin, Clayton, 1:59.47; 6. Smith, Kirkwood, 1:59.79; 7. Moellering, Parkway West, 2:00.10; 8. Adams, Kirkwood, 2:02.18. 14. Hokanson, Platte County, 2:04.85.

50 freestyle: 1. Dennis, Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau), 21.16; 2. Wardlow, William Chrisman, 21.49; 3. Atkins, Parkway West, 21.68; 4. Grant, Pembroke Hill, 21.75; 5. Wright, Carthage, 21.87; 6. Waser, Rockwood Summit, 22.03; 7. Leavitt, Marshall, 22.11; 8. VanZee, Farmington, 22.54. 14. Richard, Lincoln Prep, 22.32; 15. Harshman, Grain Valley, 22.44.

One-meter diving (top 16 make finals): 1. Wright, Grain Valley, 453.05 points; 2. Estal, Ft. Zumwalt South, 423.90; 3. Pendleton, Parkway South, 410.60; 4. Marren, Christian Brothers College, 378.75; 5. Clayton, Kearney, 345.45; 6. Ciorba, Ladue Horton Watkins, 343.90; 7. Burgard, Ft. Zumwalt North, 338.20; 8. McGruder, Sedalia Smith-Cotton, 337.15; 9. Monteleon, Glendale, 324.55; 10. Landsbaum, Kirkwood, 323.45; 11. Chambers, Christian Brothers College, 317.90; 12. English, Grain Valley, 317.80; 13. Massimino, Christian Brothers College, 304.95; 14. Bender, Rockwood Summit, 297.80; 15. Ortinau, Eureka, 289.80; 16. Coble, Belton, 282.50.

100 butterfly: 1. Butler, Glendale, 50.27; 2. Miao, Springfield Central, 50.92; 3. Deutschmann, Parkway Central, 51.69; 4. Adams, Kirkwood, 52.09; 5. Moellering, Parkway West, 52.44; 6. Stanley, Parkway South, 52.45; 7. Hokanson, Platte County, 52.95; 8. Yin, Clayton, 53.12. 9. Gutshall, Platte County, 53.39; 14. Mallonee, Kearney, 55.05.

100 freestyle: 1. Blatt, Parkway Central, 45.03; 2. Montgomery, Webster Groves, 46.13; 3. Dennis, Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau), 46.87; 4. Wardlow, William Chrisman, 46.92; 5. Frost, Westminster Christian Academy, 48.18; 6. Orpe, Lafayette (Wildwood), 48.35; 7. Walden, Pembroke Hill, 48.61; 8. Wright, Carthage, 48.79.

500 freestyle: 1. Steward, Kearney, 4:23.98; 2. Theodos, John Burroughs, 4:44.28; 3. Deutschman, Eureka, 4:46.24; 4. Brown, Kirkwood, 4:47.60; 5. Murawski, Parkway West, 4:48.68; 6. Brinton, Ladue Horton Watkins, 4:58.02; 7. Dorsey, Kirkwood, 5:01.63; 8. Brennan, Clayton, 5:03.50.

200 freestyle relay: 1. Parkway Central, 1:26.52; 2. Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau), 1:28.64; 3. Webster Groves, 1:28.91; 4. Pembroke Hill, 1:29.17; 5. Parkway South, 1:30.40; 6. John Burroughs, 1:31.28; 7. Kirkwood, 1:31.50; 8. Nevada, 1:31.81. 14. Lincoln Prep, 1:33.96.

100 backstroke: 1. Blatt, Parkway Central, 50.18; 2. Atkins, Parkway West, 51.61; 3. Walden, Pembroke Hill, 52.14; 4. Cracraft, Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau), 52.88; 5. Evans, Nevada, 53.49; 6. Grant, Pembroke Hill, 53.60; 7. Strom, Webster Groves, 54.02; 8. Deutschmann, Parkway Central, 56.68. 12. Mallonee, Kearney, 55.08.

100 breaststroke: 1. Muran, Parkway Central, 54.86; 2. Waser, Rockwood Summit, 56.95; 3. Miao, Springfield Central, 57.24; 4. Frost, Westminster Christian Academy, 59.11; 5. Johnson, Camdenton, 59.55; 6. Gould, Nevada, 1:00.06; T7. Langdon, Kirkwood, 1:00.11; T7. O’Keefe, Pembroke Hill, 1:00.11.

400 freestyle relay: 1. Parkway Central, 3:13.46; T2. Pembroke Hill, 3:14.79; T2. Parkway West, 3:14.79; 4. Webster Groves, 3:14.81; 5. Kirkwood, 3:18.00; 6. Christian Brothers College, 3:21.37; 7. Springfield Glendale, 3:21.64; 8. Kearney, 3:22.81.

CLASS 2

Top 10 and KC-area team scores: 1. Chaminade College Prep, 344.5; 2. Rockhurst, 337; 3. St. Louis University High, 272.5; 4. Liberty, 253; 5. Staley, 148.5; 6. Park Hill South, 129; 7. Lee’s Summit West, 106; 8. Lee’s Summit, 92; 9. Columbia Rock Bridge, 86; 10. Marquette, 71; 11. Blue Springs South, 59; 12. Park Hill, 53; 13. Raymore-Peculiar, 48; 17. Liberty North, 33; 19. Lee’s Summit North, 22; 20. Blue Springs, 20; 21. North Kansas City, 19.5; 26. Oak Park, 6. Championship finals (1-8) and KC-area consolation finals (9-16) results 200 medley relay: 1. Liberty, 1:32.65; 2. Rockhurst, 1:33.44; 3. St. Louis University High, 1:35.68; 4. Chaminade, 1:35.98; 5. Park Hill South, 1:37.78; 6. Lee’s Summit West, 1:38.24; 7. Lee’s Summit, 1:39.10; 8. Columbia Rock Bridge, 1:39.35. 10. Lee’s Summit North, 1:42.26; 11. Park Hill, 1:42.33; 12. Raymore-Peculiar, 1:42.64; 13. Blue Springs South, 1:43.13; 15. Liberty North, 1:43.58; 16. Staley, 1:43.94. 200 freestyle: 1. Tobin, Liberty, 1:39.11; 2. Mura, Chaminade, 1:40.46; 3. Dunker, 1:40.70; 4. Costello Jr., Chaminade, 1:42.99; 5. Battison, Rockhurst, 1:43.10; 6. McMillian, Marquette, 1:44.89; 7. DeWilde, Rockhurst, 1:45.69; 8. Harmon, Rockhurst, 1:45.78. 16. Graham, Liberty, 1:50.05. 200 individual medley: 1. Lutman, Rockhurst, 1:52.05; T2. Hennenfent, Staley, 1:53.35; T2. Cunneen, Chaminade, 1:53.35; 4. Eagan, Rockhurst, 1:54.80; 5. Bucci, Chaminade, 1:54.89; T6. Skaggs, North Kansas City, 1:55.68; T6. Sapp, SLUH, 1:55.68; 8. Augustine, Liberty North, 1:57.64. 9. Houck, Liberty, 1:57.76; 12. Riggs, Liberty, 1:58.43; 13. Jung Hoon Kim, Lee’s Summit, 1:58.46; 15. Cobb, Raymore-Peculiar, 2:03.64. 50 freestyle: 1. Henderson, Liberty, 20.53; 2. Wells, Staley, 20.83; 3. Purcell, Chaminade, 21.20; 4. Wiles, Lee’s Summit, 21.35; 5. Yamakawa, Chaminade, 21.53; 6. White, Columbia Battle, 21.59 7. Searls, Liberty, 21.61; 8. Bachtel, LS West, 21.79. 11. Elder, Park Hill South, 21.86; 13. Roberts, Rockhurst, 21.99. One-meter diving (top 16 make finals): 1. Van Stone, Chaminade, 567.05 points; 2. Hall, Rock Bridge, 509.55; 3. Stumpf Jr. Chaminade, 493.85; 4. Bailey, Chaminade, 487.50; 5. Diehl, Blue Springs South, 416.55; 6. Quest, Liberty (Wentzville), 395.05; 7. Klumpp, Rockhurst, 392.65; 8. Buer, Marquette, 389.20; 9. Tolen, Blue Springs South, 388.70; 10. McCauley, Park Hill South, 388.30; 11. McQueen, Park Hill South, 368.90; 12. Marshall, Chaminade, 359.15; 13. Dorothy, Park Hill South, 350.65; 14. Griggs, Rockhurst, 345.70; 15. Kuhlman, MICDS, 341.00; 16. Taylor, Blue Springs South, 326.10. 100 butterfly: 1. Searls, Liberty, 49.73; 2. Hassenstab, SLUH, 51.41; 3. Newell, Rockhurst, 51.70; 4. Tomsic, Rockhurst, 51.97; 5. Elder, Park Hill South, 52.13; 6. Lawrence, Staley, 52.72; 7. Jung Hoon Kim, Lee’s Summit, 52.97; 8. York, LS West, 53.92. T9. Warren, Rockhurst, 53.66; 11. F. Floersch, Blue Springs, 53.74; 15. Graham, Liberty, 54.47; 16. Jung Bin Kim, Lee’s Summit, 56.00. 100 freestyle: 1. Tobin, Liberty, 45.50; 2. Wells, Staley, 46.08; 3. Birdsell, Raymore-Peculiar, 46.28; 4. Purell, Chaminade, 46.34; 5. White, Battle, 47.20; 6. Harmon, Rockhurst, 48.18; 7. Bachtel, LS West, 48.29; 8. Yamakawa, Chaminade, 48.97. 10. DeWilde, Rockhurst, 48.07; 11. Wiles, Lees Summit, 48.43; 14. Stewart, Park Hill, 49.15. 500 freestyle: 1. Hennenfent, Staley, 4:32.03; 2. Mura, Chaminade, 4:36.19; 3. Dunker, SLUH, 4:38.70; 4. Bucci, Chaminade, 4:40.13; 5. Dino, SLUH, 4:42.88; 6. McMillan, Marquette, 4:47.85; 7. Eagan, Rockhurst, 4:47.91; 8. C. Kropf, Ozark, 4:56.61. 11. Meyer, Oak Park, 4:57.32; 13. Newell, Rockhurst, 5:01.14; 14. Beffa, Staley, 5:05.39; 16. Reece, Blue Springs South, 5:08.24. 200 freestyle relay: 1. Liberty, 1:24.21; 2. Chaminade, 1:25.51; 3. Rockhurst, 1:25.80; 4. Staley, 1:26.99; 5. St. Louis University High, 1:27.27; 6. Lee’s Summit, 1:28.33; 7. Park Hill South, 1:28.61; 8. Lee’s Summit West, 1:30.13. 9. Blue Springs South, 1:31.34; 10. Park Hill, 1:31.54; 13. Lee’s Summit North, 1:33.41. 100 backstroke: 1. Henderson, Liberty, 48.63; 2. Cunneen, Chaminade, 50.61; 3. Battison, Rockhurst, 50.91; 4. Birdsell, Raymore-Peculiar, 51.22; 5. F. Floersch, Blue Springs, 53.42; 6. Tomsic, Rockhurst, 53.71; 7. O’Hara, Park Hill South, 53.85; DQ. Costello Jr., Chaminade. 10. Skaggs, North Kansas City, 54.64. 100 breaststroke: 1. Coughenour, Rock Bridge, 55.00; 2. Lutman, Rockhurst, 55.90; 3. Zimmerman, SLUH, 57.33; 4. Houck, Liberty, 57.75; 5. Roberts, Rockhurst, 58.28; 6. Jansen, LS West, 58.38; 7. Augustine, Liberty North, 58.52; 8. Sapp, SLUH, 59.17. 10. Kendall, Rockhurst, 59.22; 11. Warren, Rockhurst, 59.71; 12. Cobb, Raymore-Peculiar, 59.90; 13. Jung Bin Kim, Lee’s Summit, 1:00.27; 14. Riggs, Liberty, 1:00.39; 16. Loesch, LS West, 1:00.96. 400 freestyle relay: 1. Chaminade, 3:06.64; 2. St. Louis University High, 3:09.57; 3. Rockhurst, 3:10.55; 4. Staley, 3:13.30; 5. Park Hill South, 3:16.66; 6. Liberty, 3:18.36; 7. Park Hill, 3:19.82; 8. Marquette, 3:21.53. 12. Lee’s Summit West, 3:23.43; 13. Blue Springs South, 3:23.63; 14. Liberty North, 3:24.08.

This story was originally published November 14, 2025 at 11:59 AM.