By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
With the Class 6A state championships coming up next weekend, Washburn Rural's swimming and diving team tuned up with an impressive performance Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, capturing its fourth straight Centennial League title.
Washburn Rural's swimming and diving team poses for a picture after winning its fourth straight Centennial League championship Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sophomore Audrey Appuhn and junior Genevieve Miranda both earned four gold medals on the day to lead the way as the Junior Blues claimed the championship by a 519-444 margin over Manhattan.
"As a team I would say we've really stepped it up this year,'' Appuhn said. "Manhattan is really tough competition and they really pulled through as well so good job to all of their girls because everyone worked so hard tonight and I'm so incredibly proud of everyone's progress over the season.
"Looking back at where anyone on any team started the beginning of the season to where we are now it's crazy how much everyone has grown and I'm just so proud of everyone.''
Sophomore Audrey Appuhn earned four gold medals in Thursday's Centennial League meet as Washburn Rural earned its fourth straight league title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Genevieve Miranda helped lead Washburn Rural to its fourth straight Centennial League title Thursday, posting two individual wins and swimming on two league-champion relays. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Appuhn won the 200-yard individual medley (2 minutes, 12.08 seconds) and the 500 freestyle (5:18.23) and Miranda took the 50 freestyle (26.14) and the 100 butterfly (1:03.62) to account for Washburn Rural's four individual league titles.
Appuhn and Miranda also teamed with junior Jella Belgardt and senior Molly Didde to win the 200 medley relay (2:00.94) and with Belgardt and sophomore Sophie Heinen to win the 400 free relay (3:58.46).
"I think the team overall did a wonderful job,'' Miranda said. "Everybody's worked so hard and everybody I think this year has really stepped it up.''
Miranda's big performance in the league meet continued her recovery from a midseason ankle injury.
"This year I feel pretty confident now that I'm moving back from the injury that I had,'' Miranda said. "I'm continuing to move forward and work really hard.''
Rural sophomore Madeline O'Brien added second-place finishes in the 200 freestyle (2:14.03) and the 100 free (1:01.44) while Belgardt posted a runnerup finish in the 500 free (5:45.06) and O'Brien, Didde, senior Ella Bombardier and senior Allison Reed finished second in the 200 free relay (1:52.81).
Topeka High sophomore Hara Del Castillo won the Centennial League title in the 100-yard backstroke Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden sophomore Presley Green looks up at the scoreboard after winning the Centennial League title in the 200-yard freestyle Thursday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden, which finished third as a team, got a win from sophomore Presley Green in the 200 freestyle (2:00.02) and a runnerup finish from junior Kaylee Gregg in one-meter diving (433.50) while Topeka High sophomore Hara Del Castillo won the 100 backstroke (1:04.58) and finished second in the 100 butterfly (1:04.71) and High junior Caroline Toland finished second in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.49).
The Class 6A and 5A-1A state meets will be contested May 16-18 at Lenexa's Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center.
CENTENNIAL LEAGUE SWIMMING/DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Capitol Federal Natatorium
Team scores
Washburn Rural 519, Manhattan 444, Hayden 296, Emporia 263, Junction City 215, Topeka High 134.
Individual results
200 medley relay -- 1. Washburn Rural (Genevieve Miranda, Audrey Appuhn, Jella Belgardt, Molly Didde), 2:00.94; 2. Manhattan (Delaney Saucier, Ruth Perez, Ava McKee, Samantha Tarter), 2:00.79; 3. Hayden (Esa Herrera, Lilly Charvat, Presley Green, Jenna Dernovish), 2:07.11.
200 freestyle -- 1. Presley Green, Hayden, 2:00.02; 2. Madeline O'Brien, Washburn Rural, 2:14.03; 3. Caris Goering, Manhattan, 2:14.67.
200 individual medley -- 1. Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural, 2:12.08; 2. Ava McKee, Manhattan, 2:30.35; 3. Selma Argenius, Manhattan, 2:40.52.
50 freestyle -- 1. Genevieve Miranda, Washburn Rural, 26.14; 2. Samantha Tarter, Manhattan, 26.35; 3. Molly Didde, Washburn Rural, 27.49.
One meter diving -- 1. Allie Weiss, Emporia, 490.25; 2. Kaylee Gregg, Hayden, 433.50; 3. Rhiannon Good, Washburn Rural, 399.80.
100 butterfly -- 1. Genevieve Miranda, Washburn Rural, 1:03.62; 2. Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High, 1:04.71; 3. Jella Belgardt, Washburn Rural, 1:06.60.
100 freestyle -- 1. Ruth Perez, Manhattan, 58.24; 2. Madeline O'Brien, Washburn Rural, 1:01.44; 3. Allison Reed, Washburn Rural, 1:02.71.
500 freestyle -- 1. Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural, 5:18.23; 2. Jella Belgardt, Washburn Rural, 5:45.06; 3. Ava McKee, Manhattan, 6:04.61.
200 free relay -- 1. Manhattan (Samantha Tarter, Ellyn Campbell, Caris Goering, Ruth Perez), 1:49.29; 2. Washburn Rural (Madeline O'Brien, Ella Bombardier, Molly Didde, Allison Reed), 1:52.81; 3. Hayden (Kaylee Gregg, Jenna Dernovish, Esa Herrera, Kaelyn Gerdel), 1:53.98.
100 backstroke -- 1. Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High, 1:04.58; 2. Samantha Tarter, Manhattan, 1:08.01; 3. Presley Green, Hayden, 1:09.15.
100 breaststroke -- 1. Ruth Perez, Manhattan, 1:11.97; 2. Caroline Toland, Topeka High, 1:13.49; 3. Molly Didde, Washburn Rural, 1:19.58.
400 free relay -- 1. Washburn Rural (Sophie Heinen, Jella Belgardt, Audrey Appuhn, Genevieve Miranda), 3:58.46; 2. Manhattan (Ellyn Campbell, Ava McKee, Delaney Saucier, Caris Goering), 4:11.45; 3. Hayden (Kaylee Gregg, Jenna Dernovish, Esa Herrera, Kaelyn Gerdel), 4:23.16.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE
First team
Ruth Perez, Manhattan; Audrey Appuhn, Washburn Rural; Genevieve Miranda, Washburn Rural; Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High; Presley Green, Hayden; Madeline O'Brien, Washburn Rural; Samantha Tarter, Manhattan; Jella Belgardt, Washburn Rurl; Ava McKee, Manhattan; Molly Didde, Washburn Rural; Allisyn Weiss, Emporia.
Second team
Selma Argenius, Manhattan; Delaney Saucier, Manhattan; Caris Goering, Manhattan; Caroline Toland, Topeka High; Allison Reed, Washburn Rural; Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden; Sophie Heinen, Washburn Rural; Ella Karakaya, Washburn Rural; LIlly Charvat, Hayden; Karley Kramer, Junction City; Kaylee Gregg, Hayden.
