Kansas state boys swimming recap: Spotlight shines on Johnson County area teams
In a word, Kansas City area teams looked dominant last weekend during the Kansas high school boys swimming and diving state championships at the Capitol Natatorium in Topeka.
Aside from Bishop Miege and Blue Valley North, which won the Class 5-1A and Class 6A team titles, respectively, eight other Kansas City area schools placed in the top 10 in the team results, including a second place finish in 6A by Shawnee Mission East.
Miege was led by Jack Wirtz who was named first team all-state after winning the 50- and 100 yard freestyle events. He also contributed to the Stags' winning 200 freestyle relay team with Jeff Martin, Mackie Merrill and Louie Carter. Miege coach Dennis Mueller was named Class 5-1A Coach of the Year.
Blue Valley Southwest was third in 5-1A team standings behind Miege and Wichita Heights, and St. James Academy finished seventh.
Blue Valley North, the Eastern Kansas League champion, finished an undefeated season with its Class 6A title. Blue Valley and Blue Valley West added eighth and ninth place finishes for the EKL.
“Our league is pretty tough,” Blue Valley North coach Derek Berg said. “The EKL is a good swim league, and we have a lot of fast swimmers in it, so we are excited.”
The Mustangs were led by Brian North who won the 50 freestyle and also swam on the 200 freestyle relay team, which finished second to SM East. Also on the BV North relay team were Will Vance, Cole Bakalar and Michael Zhou.
SM East, the Sunflower League champion, was led by Iona University signee Zack Holbrook, who won the 100 freestyle and swam on the winning 200 freestyle relay team with Patrick Hornung, Peter Milledge and Cooper Johnson. It was the ninth time in 11 seasons that the Lancers have finished in the top three, and SM East coach Wiley Wright was selected Class 6A Coach of the Year.
Lawrence Free State, Olathe East and Shawnee Mission South were other Sunflower League teams to placed in the top 10.
This story was originally published February 25, 2014 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Kansas state boys swimming recap: Spotlight shines on Johnson County area teams."