By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: The 15 boys swimmers/divers to watch are based on performances in the 2021-2022 season. TopSports.news is still in the process of receiving preseason information from local coaches and will update information as needed.
TRUMAN BREDE, Shawnee Heights
Brede, a junior, helped Shawnee Heights earn a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay in the Class 5A-1A state meet last season. Brede was part of Shawnee Heights' winning 200 medley relay team in the United Kansas Conference meet and he finished third in the 100 backstroke and sixth in the 200 free as the T-Birds finished second as a team. Brede helped Shawnee Heights win the city title in the 200 medley relay and he finished third in the 100 backstroke. Brede received second-team All-City recognition.
JAXON COWDIN, Topeka High
A sophomore, Cowdin won the city diving championship as a freshman and finished third in the Centennial League meet. Cowdin made it to the finals in the 6A state meet, finishing 15th. Cowdin earned first-team All-City honors and All-Centennial League honorable mention last season.
CORDELL DIMICK, Washburn Rural
Dimick, a senior, was part of Washburn Rural's 200 medley relay team that finished 14th in the 2022 state meet in the B Final. Dimick helped the Junior Blues post a runner-up Centennial League finish in the 200 medley relay and he finished third in the 200 individual medley, earning second-team all-league recognition. Dimick finished third in the city meet in the 100 breaststroke and swam on Rural's runner-up 200 medley relay, receiving second-team All-City honors.
Seaman senior Adin Florence was a Centennial League champion last season for the Vikings and earned All-Centennial League and All-City first-team recognition. [File photo/TSN]
ADIN FLORENCE, Seaman
Florence, a senior, won the B Final in the 100 breaststroke in the 2022 5A-1A state meet and also competed in the 100 free at state. Florence was the Centennial League champion in the 100 breast, finished second in the 100 free and swam on the Vikings' second-place 200 free and third-place 200 medley relay teams, earning first-team All-Centennial League recognition. Florence was second in the 100 breaststroke in the city meet, third in the 100 freestyle and swam on the Vikings' third-place 200 medley and 200 free relay teams, receiving All-City first-team honors.
EVAN HOOBLER, Shawnee Heights
A sophomore, Hoobler swam on Shawnee Heights' 200 free relay team that posted a sixth-place finish in the 5A-1A state meet. Hoobler was a part of Heights' 200 free relay that finished second in the United Kansas Conference meet and he placed third in the 500 freestyle and third in the 100 breastroke in the UKC as the T-Birds finished second in the team standings. Hoobler was part of Heights' second-place 200 free relay team in the city meet and earned second-team All-City honors.
RYAN JOHNSON, Hayden
Johnson posted a second-place finish in the 500 freestyle in the 2022 city championships, helping Hayden finish fourth as a team and earning second-team All-City recognition. Johnson, a senior, competed in the 5A-1A state meet last season.
LUKE LEMKE, Washburn Rural
Lemke had a big freshman season for the Junior Blues, including a Centennial League title as part of team-champion Rural's 200 free relay team. Lemke helped Rural reach the 6A state B Final in the 200 free relay, with the Junior Blues finishing 12th. Lemke was a city champion as part of Washburn Rural's 200 free relay and earned second-team All-City honors.
Washburn Rural junior Brogan Meier was a Class 6A state medalist in 2022 after helping the Junior Blues win city and Centennial League championships. [File photo/TSN]
BROGAN MEIER, Washburn Rural
Meier, a junior two-time All-City first-team selection, was a 6A state medalist last season, placing eighth in the 500 freestyle. Meier finished 13th in the B Final in the 200 free at state and helped the Junior Blues finish 10th in the 400 free relay. Meier helped Rural win a Centennial League title in the 400 free relay and swam on the Junior Blues' second-place 200 medley relay. Meier was the city champion in the 500 freestyle, finished second in the 200 individual medley and swam on Rural's winning 400 free relay and second-place 200 medley relay teams.
Washburn Rural junior Jack Miranda won four gold medals in the city and Centennial League meets last season, helping the Junior Blues win team titles in both meets. [File photo/TSN]
JACK MIRANDA, Washburn Rural
Miranda, a junior, won four gold medals in the 2022 Centennial Leaue meet, winning individual titles in the 200 freestyle and 500 free and swimming on the Junior Blues' winning 200 free and 400 free relays. Miranda helped Rural finish 10th in the 6A state meet in the B Final in the 400 free relay and 12th in the 200 free relay and also finished 16th in the 200 free and swam the 500 free at state. Miranda was the city champion in the 200 free and 100 free individual events and also swam on the Junior Blues' winning 200 free and 400 free relays as Rural won its third straight team title. Miranda was a first-team All-City and All-Centennial League honoree.
Seaman senior Colin O'Rourke was a Class 5A-1A state medalist in last season's state championships. [File photo/TSN]
COLIN O'ROURKE, Seaman
O'Rourke, a senior, earned a seventh-place finish in the 5A-1A state meet in the 100 butterfly last season and competed in the 200 individual medley. O'Rourke was the Centennial League champion in the 200 IM, second in the 100 fly and swam on Seaman's third-place 200 medley and 400 free relays. O'Rourke was a first-team All-Centennial League honoree. O'Rourke finished third in the city meet in the 200 IM and100 fly and swam on Seaman's third-place 200 medley and 200 free relays. O'Rourke received first-team All-City recognition.
PERRY PAYNE, Topeka High
Payne received second-team All-Centennial League recognition last season, helping the Trolans post a fourth-place finish in the team standings. Payned helped lead Topeka High to a third-place team finish in the city meet, earning second-team All-City honors.
Shawnee Heights senior Luke Perkins has won eight Class 5A-1A state medals in three seasons, including four medals in 2022. [File photo/TSN]
LUKE PERKINS, Shawnee Heights
Perkins, a senior, has been a mutlti-time state placer in the 5A-1A state meet three straight seasons, earning four state medals a a junior after earning two medals as a freshman and sophomore. Perkins placed second in the 5A-1A 100 butterfly and sixth in the 200 individual medley as a junior while also helping the T-Birds place fifth in the 200 medley relay and sixth in the 200 free relay. Perkins won city titles in the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly and also swam on Heights' winning 200 medley relay, earning All-City first-team recognition. Perkins won the 200 IM, the 100 fly and swam on Heights' winning 200 medley relay and second-place 200 free relay in the UKC meet.
WILL POWELL, Washburn Rural
A junior two-time All-City first-team honoree, Powell swam on Rural's 400 free relay team that finished 10th in the 6A B Final and competed in the 500 free and 100 butterfly at state. Powell helped Rural win the Centennial League title in the 400 free relay and also swam on the second-place 200 medley relay and finished third in the 200 free and fourth in the 100 fly. Powell received second-team All-Centennial League recognition. Powell was a city champion in the 400 free relay, finished second in the 200 freestyle and swam on the Junior Blues' second-place 200 medley relay.
DANIEL RAMIREZ, Seaman
Ramirez, a senior, finished 12th in the B Final in the 2022 5A-1A state meet in the 200 freestyle and also competed in the 100 backstroke. Ramirez finished second in the 100 backstroke in the Centennial League meet last season and was part of Seaman's 200 free relay team that finished second and the 400 free relay that finished third. Ramirez was a first-team All-Centennial League honoree. Ramirez finished second in the city meet in the 100 backstroke, third in the 200 freestyle and swam on the Vikings' second-place 400 free relay and third-place 200 free relay, earning first-team All-City recognition.
TANNER ZERGER, Shawnee Heights
A senior, Zerger helped Shawnee Heights place fifth in the 200 medley relay and sixth in the 200 free relay in the 5A-1A state meet and finished 14th in the B Final in 50 freestyle. Zerger was the United Kansas Conference champion in the 50 free last season and was also part of Heights' winning 200 medley relay and second-place 200 free relay. Zerger swam on the T-Birds' city championship team in the 200 medley relay and was part of Heights' second-place free relay.
