By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the coming weeks TopSports.news will recognize Shawnee County's all-time best teams in 21 sports as part of our Best of the Best project. The project continues with boys/girls swimming and diving and readers will have the opportunity to vote for teams in that sport through August 1, with the top teams in all categories announced in late July and August. To cast a vote for the Best of the Best, click on https://take.quiz-maker.com/poll4874918xD989430e-151 while email votes/nominations will be also accepted at
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Topeka has produced some of the top boys and girls high school swimmers in Kansas history, multi-time state champions and record-setters like Ian Simpson, Glenn Trammel, Mark Homlish, Tyler Schmidt and Shara Stafford of Topeka High, John-Martin Schmidt, Shannon Suddarth and Kristen Carlson of Hayden, Kadence Jeffries, Emily Dicus and Kelli Dudley of Topeka West, Eddie Riddle of Seaman and Grant Rogers, Sammie Schurig and Haley Molden of Washburn Rural.
Seaman's boys became the first Topeka team to win a state team title in 2018, winning the Class 5A-1A state championship by 150 points. [Submitted photo to KSHSAA.org]
But when it comes to teams, Rod Garman's 2018 Seaman boys team stands alone as the only city team to claim a team championship.
The Vikings dominated the '18 Class 5A-1A 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.
Seaman came within two points of a title repeat in '19 as Josh Florence won an individual state title and posted a runnerup finish.
Molden and Schurig were double individual state champs in 2010 as Washburn Rural's girls finished second in 6A, just 11 points out of first.
Schmidt led Hayden's boys to a second place finish in 5A-1A in '13 while Topeka High's boys finished second in '72 and '85 and third in '84 and '89.
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.
Vote for your favorite team at https://take.quiz-maker.com/poll4874918xD989430e-151 while readers also have the option of writing in a candidate.
Vote as many times as you wish. Final selections will be based on reader vote as well as input from TSN contributors and current and past local sports media professionals.
Votes in boys/girls swimming and diving will be accepted through August 1 before TSN publishes our Best of the Best lists in late July and August.
NEXT UP: Girls tennis (ballot will be published on TopSports.news on Wednesday).
