By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka has produced some of the top boys and girls high school swimmers in Kansas history, multi-time state champions and record-setters, but when it comes to teams, a couple stand alone.
Rod Garman's 2018 Seaman boys swimming team made Topeka history, earning the city's first team state title. [Submitted photo to KSHSAA.org]
Rod Garman's 2018 Seaman boys team made history in the Class 5A-1A state meet as the only city team to claim a team championship, while prep stars Haley Molden and Sammie Schurig were triple gold medalists in 2010 as Washburn Rural's girls finished second in 6A, just 11 points out of first.state champs in 2010.
The Viking boys dominated the '18 state meet en route to a runaway 347-197 win over Bishop Miege as Zeke Metz won three gold medals and was named the 5A-1A swimmer of the meet while both Molden and Schurig were double individual state champs in '10 and also added a relay win.
Topeka High's 1985 boys team, led by local legend Glenn Trammel, is ranked No. 2 on the Best of the Best Top 10 while Hayden's '13 5A-1A runnerup team, led by multi-time state champ John-Martin Schmidt, is No. 3.
No. 4 Seaman came within two points of a boys title repeat in '19 as Josh Florence won an individual state title and posted a runnerup finish while Topeka High's '72 boys team rounds out the top five, finishing second (all classes).
Topeka High's '84 and '89 boys teams are ranked No. 6 and 7 on Top 10.
Seaman's girls have set the city standard in the state meet in recent seasons, placing fourth in 5A-1A in '22 and fifth in '23 to earn the eighth and 10th Top 10 spots, while the Tarrin Fischer-led '18 Washburn Rural boys team is No. 9.
Seaman's '18 boys team also earned the No. 1 spot in Reader's Choice balloting.
TSN TOP 10 BEST OF THE BEST GIRLS/BOYS SWIMMING TEAMS
1. Seaman boys (2018) and Washburn Rural girls (2010) -- Rod Garman's Viking boys rolled to the first state swimming and diving team championship in city history in 2018 by a 347-197 margin over Bishop MIege as Zeke Metz was named the Class 5A-1A Swimmer of the Year while Washburn Rural's girls finished second in Class 6A in 2010, just 11 points out of first as Haley Molden and Sammie Schurig both won a pair of individual gold medals and also added a relay victoy.
2. Topeka High boys (1985) -- Topeka High swimming legend Glenn Trammel won a pair of individual victories as the Trojans finished second (all classes) as a team and scored 143 points.
3. Hayden boys (2013) -- John-Martin Schmidt led the Wildcats to a second-place team finish in the Class 5A-1A team standings, earning three gold medals (one individual, two relays) as Hayden scored 199 points.
4. Seaman boys (2019) -- Seaman's boys came within just two points of winning a second straight Class 5A-1A team championship, falling by a 213-211 margin to Wichita Heights as individual state champ Josh Florence paced the Vikings.
5. Topeka High boys (1972) -- State champion Ian Simpson led the way as Topeka High finished second as a team to Shawnee Mission South.
6. Topeka High boys (1984) -- Glenn Trammel won three gold medals (two individual, one relay) and Topeka High scored 116 points as the Trojans finished third as a team.
7. Topeka High boys (1989) -- Mark Homlish earned three gold medals (two individual, one relay) as Topeka High scored 120 points and finished third as a team.
8. Seaman girls (2022) -- Seaman scored 175.5 points to finish fourth as a team in Class 5A as Avery Walz won an individual gold medal and the Vikings posted four top-three finishes. A. Walz, Tauren Walz, Gabby Grace and Joslynn Grace paced Seaman.
9. Washburn Rural boys (2018) -- Tarrin Fisher captured a pair of Class 6A individual gold medals as Washburn Rural scored 134 points and finished sixth as a team.
10. Seaman girls (2023) -- Seaman posted a top-five finish in Class 5A-1A for the third straight season as Avery Walz, Tauren Walz and Joslynn Grace led the way.
READER'S CHOICE GIRLS/BOYS SWIMMING AWARDS
1. Seaman boys (2018) -- No. 1 boys on Best of the Best Top 10 (see capsule above).
2. Washburn Hayden boys (2013) -- No. 3 on Best of the Best Top 10 (see capsule above).
3. Washburn Rural girls (2010) -- No. 1 girls on Best of the Best Top 10 (see capsule above).
Next up: Girls tennis Best of the Best Top 10 teams and Reader's Choice awards.
