CLASS 5-1A BOYS SWIMMERS AND DIVERS TO WATCH IN 2025-26
 

 
COLIN BROWN, LOUISBURG

Louisburg senior Colin Brown returns to the pool this winter with history already in his wake. Last season, Brown became the school’s first-ever state swim champion — and he didn’t stop at one. He captured Class 5-1A titles in both the 100-yard butterfly and 100 backstroke, anchoring a breakout year for the Wildcats. Brown brought home four state medals overall in 2024, also powering the 200-yard medley relay to a runner-up finish and helping the 200 freestyle relay place third. With just four swimmers on the team, the Wildcats finished seventh in the team standings. 
 

 
GAGE COOPER, ANDALE
 
Cooper, a junior, recovered from offseason knee and leg injuries to win the Class 5-1A diving title last winter against a stacked field that included the top five finishers from the 2024 state meet. Cooper’s 11-dive score of 427.45 unseated two-time defending champion Alex Moeller of St. Thomas Aquinas, who finished third behind Cooper and Bishop Miege’s Justin Pullen. After separate trampoline injuries that resulted in a torn MCL, broken kneecap and later a broken tibia and fibula in his right leg, Cooper returned to the pool and posted his season-best score of 460.15. Cooper, who dives through a co-op with Bishop Carroll, finished second to Moeller in 5-1A as a freshman. 
 

 
CORDEN CUINGTON, WINFIELD
 
Cuington, a senior, took an improbable path to a state championship last season, coming from Lane 8 to tie top prelims qualifier Dylan Patterson of Eisenhower and share the Class 5-1A 50-yard freestyle title. Both touched the wall in 21.84 seconds for the first first-place tie in the state finals in 15 years. Cuington was actually the ninth-fastest qualifier in the prelims, but moved up to the championship finals after a disqualification. Cuington also collected medals for the Vikings in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays, and took ninth in the 100 breastroke, winning the consolation final in 1:03.22.
 

HUDSON DEWEESE, BUHLER
 
DeWeese helped Buhler post an eighth-place team finish at the Class 5-1A state meet last year, its best in program history. He secured an individual state medal in the 200 individual medley, finishing eighth in 2:09.58 after setting a school record in the prelims (2:07.97). The Crusaders also set school records and medaled in all three relays, which DeWeese was a part. He also teamed with Logan Schmidt, Jonah Gardner and Scott Schweizer to win the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV title in the 200 freestyle relay.
 

EVAN GAULDIN, ANDOVER
 
Part of Andover’s deep and talented group of swimmers, Gauldin helped the Trojans three-peat as Class 5-1A champions last year with a three-medal performance. Gauldin, now a senior, finished seventh in the 100-yard backstroke (58.41) after opening the finals with a third-place finish in the 200 medley relay alongside Clark Young, Brett Ziser and Luke Farley. Gauldin, classmate Baul Lee, Farley and Mitchell McCracken teamed up for a seventh-place finish in the 200 free relay. Gauldin also tacked on points in the 100 free, finishing 10^th (50.69). 
 

SCHAFFER GIBSON, LANSING

Lansing junior Schaffer Gibson returns to lead the Lions after a four-medal performance at last year’s state meet. Gibson was a top-three finisher in the 100-yard backstroke, placing third in 55.50, and added a sixth-place medal in the 200 freestyle with a 1:49.18. He also played a pivotal role on two standout relays, helping the Lions capture a state title in the 400 freestyle relay and finish as runner-up in the 200 free relay. After earning second team all-state honors, Gibson enters the season poised for another strong postseason run. 
 

ANDREW JAMISON, LOUISBURG

Louisburg senior Andrew Jamison is coming off a four-medal performance at the 2025 state meet, highlighted by a third-place finish in the 200 individual medley. He’ll square off with defending state champion Clark Young of Andover, among others, as he tries to better his performance in the race. Jamison also placed fourth in the 100 breaststroke and enters the season holding school records in both the IM and breaststroke. He anchored two strong relays as well, helping the Wildcats’ 200 medley relay earn a state runner-up finish and guiding the 200 freestyle relay to a third-place medal. 
 

HENRY LASATER, ANDOVER
 
The reigning Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II diving champion, Lasater led a quartet of Trojan divers to the state podium last season, finishing fifth. His 11-dive total of 360.15 elevated him from an eighth-place finish two years ago as a sophomore, when Lasater scored 288.25. Lasater and junior Jace Lessard, who finished sixth at state, give Andover a strong nucleus in the event once again. The Trojans have used their diving depth to help them win three consecutive 5-1A titles. 
 

BAUL LEE, ANDOVER
 
Lee, a senior, was one of four double individual medalists for the state-champion Trojans last season. After finishing second to teammate Clark Young in the 200 individual medley at the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II meet, Lee finished fifth at state in 2:04.04. He added a seventh-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.19). Lee made it a four-medal haul at state as part of both freestyle relays, and is part of a talented group of returning swimmers who will aim for their fourth consecutive 5-1A crown.
 

JACE LESSARD, ANDOVER
 
Like diving teammate Henry Lasater, Lessard’s return to the state meet produced a higher finish last February. After placing 11^th as a freshman, Lessard scored 344.35 points in the 11-dive competition to vault to sixth. With three other diving placers, Andover scored 46 points in the event to pad its lead on the way to a third consecutive title. Lessard finished third at the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II meet, scoring 314.70. 
 

 
PARKER MAH, WINFIELD
 
Mah’s four-medal performance helped Winfield post a program-best, fourth-place finish last year at the Class 5-1A state meet. Mah completed his junior season by finishing fourth in the 100 butterfly (54.09) and fifth in the 100 backstroke (57.61). He added a fourth-place finish as part of the Vikings’ 200 medley relay and a fifth as part of the 200 freestyle relay. As a sophomore, Mah posted Winfield’s highest individual finish at state, taking fifth in the 100 butterfly. His victories in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke helped Winfield win last year’s Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV title.
 

BRANT MYERS, WINFIELD
 
Myers, a junior, was an individual state medalist last season for Winfield, finishing eighth in the 100 butterfly (56.63). That came on the heels of his runner-up finish in the event at the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV meet, where he helped the Vikings take the team title. Myers also qualified for state in the 100 backstroke, finishing 15^th, and was part of Winfield’s 400 freestyle relay team that took 10^th.
 
 

CARTER OCKEN, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST

Blue Valley Southwest sophomore Carter Ocken returns looking to build on an impressive debut season that helped the Timberwolves place third at the Class 5-1A state meet. As a freshman, Ocken made an immediate impact in the water, earning a seventh-place state medal in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 55.64. He also came close to another podium finish in the 500 freestyle, taking ninth overall after winning the consolation finals. 
 

 
DYLAN PATTERSON, EISENHOWER
 
Patterson, a junior, completed Eisenhower’s first season with a swim team in a big way, winning the Class 5-1A 50- and 100-yard freestyle titles. Patterson actually tied for the 50 free championship, sharing it with Winfield’s Corden Cuington after both touched the wall in 21.84 seconds. He dominated the 100 free, taking the favorite’s role with a 47.08 in the prelims, followed by a 46.76 in the finals that was more than a second clear of runner-up Tyler Voros of Andover Central. Patterson also won Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II titles in both events.
 

JAKOB PEASE, ANDOVER

Pease, a senior, was part of Andover’s parade to the state meet podium last year as it won its third straight Class 5-1A title. He finished eighth in the 500 freestyle (5:07.83) and reached the consolation finals in the 100 butterfly, finishing 14^th. Pease also aided Andover’s runaway victory in the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II meet with second-place finishes in those events.
 
 

JUSTIN PULLEN, BISHOP MIEGE

Bishop Miege junior Justin Pullen has already established himself as one of the state’s top 1-meter divers — now he’s chasing the final step to the top of the podium. Pullen returns to the Class 5-1A state meet looking for his third straight top-four finish. He placed fourth as a freshman and surged to state runner-up last season with a score of 411.95, coming within 15 points of champion Gage Cooper of Andale. Cooper is also back, setting up another high-level showdown between two of the state's best. 
 

ROB RICHARDSON, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
 
Richardson, a senior, collected four state medals for the second straight year last February. He finished sixth in the Class 5-1A 200 individual medley (2:04.80) and 100 backstroke (57.99). Richardson was also part of all-underclassmen relays that finished third in the 200 free relay and fifth in the 400 free relay. He was part of winning relays in those events at last year’s Greater Wichita Athletic League meet, and finished second at league in the 200 IM and 100 back.
 

BLAKE ROYSE, ANDOVER
 
Royse delivered in a big way as a freshman last season for the Trojans, finishing second at state to Lansing’s Zach Mendez in the 500 freestyle and fourth (as a No. 7 seed) in the 200 freestyle with sizable cuts in times. Royse’s 4:53.15 in the 500 sliced more than eight seconds off his previous best, while his 1:47.63 in the 200 peeled almost seven seconds off his top regular-season time. He also teamed with Baul Lee, Clark Young and Brett Ziser to finish third in the 400 free relay (3:21.33). Royse enters his sophomore campaign as the reigning Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II champion in the 200 and 500 freestyles.
 

KARIM SANDID, WICHITA COLLEGIATE
 
Sandid enters his junior season with eight state medals, including two golds as part of Collegiate’s traditionally strong 200 medley relay team. He joined Nathan Lynch, Luke Cremin and Harry Ling to win the Class 5-1A title in the event last year in 1:38.32. The same group took second in the 400 free relay in 3:18.07. After posting eighth-place finishes in the 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke as a freshman, Sandid took third in the breast (1:00.35) and fourth in the 100 free (48.28) at state last season. Sandid also won three golds and a silver at the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III-IV meet, helping the Spartans take second to Winfield.
 
 

ASHTON SMITH, DE SOTO

De Soto senior Ashton Smith enters the new season looking to build on a breakthrough state performance. Smith’s strongest showing came in the 100-yard butterfly, where he raced to a fifth-place medal in 55.26 — a school record. He also reached the consolation finals of the 50 freestyle, finishing 15th in 23.28, and already owns the school record in that event from earlier in the year. With momentum and two program records behind him, Smith is poised to take another step forward for the Wildcats this winter. 

 

HENRY STUDNICKA, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
 
Studnicka no doubt would like to punctuate his high school career with a state gold medal after three second-place finishes as a sophomore and two more at last season’s Class 5-1A meet. The senior was runner-up to Lansing’s record-setting Zach Mendez in the 200 freestyle at last February’s meet, finishing more than nine seconds back in 1:45.97. Studnicka also took second in the 100 backstroke (55.23) to Louisburg’s Colin Brown. Still, the Crusaders’ team leader helped Kapaun finish second in the team race, adding top-five finishes in the freestyle relays. As a sophomore, he was part of two runner-up relays and took second to teammate Frank Alberti in the backstroke. Studnicka made his gold haul at last year’s Greater Wichita Athletic League meet, winning four events to lead the Crusaders to their fourth consecutive title.
 
 

CAELUM THENO, BASEHOR-LINWOOD

Basehor-Linwood junior Caelum Theno returns as one of the top sprinters in Class 5-1A after earning a pair of state medals last season. Theno placed third in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 21.98, finishing just behind returning state champion Corden Cuington of Winfield and Eisenhower’s Dylan Patterson. That trio is expected to headline another tightly contested race this winter. Theno also brings back momentum in the 100 breaststroke, where he captured fifth place in 1:02.07, and he helped the Bobcats’ 200 freestyle relay to an eighth-place state medal. He was part of the squad that set the school record in that event as well. As a freshman, Theno also earned a pair of state medals as he looks to build on that count during his junior year.  
  

TYLER VOROS, ANDOVER CENTRAL
 
A three-time state medalist in the 100-yard freestyle, Voros finished a career-best second in the Class 5-1A race last season. His time of 48.05 trailed only Eisenhower’s Dylan Patterson. Voros was third in the 100 free as a sophomore and seventh as a freshman. He also took fifth last February in the 5-1A 50 free (22.33), a two-spot improvement from his sophomore campaign. A second-team All 5-1A selection each of the last two years, Voros anchored Central’s 200 freestyle relay to the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II title. 
 

DANE WENINGER, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST

Blue Valley Southwest senior Dane Weninger returns as one of the Timberwolves’ top point-producers after a standout 2025 state meet. Weninger helped power Southwest to a third-place team finish, highlighted by a state championship in the 200-yard freestyle relay, where he played a key role. Individually, Weninger delivered one of the state’s strongest mid-distance performances. He placed third in both the 200 freestyle (1:46.67) and 500 freestyle (4:53.70), collecting a pair of state medals. Weninger enters his senior season holding school records in all three of those races. 

 

ERIC WITT, ANDOVER
 
After bypassing his junior season, Witt has returned to try to help Andover win its fourth consecutive Class 5-1A title. He was a key part of the Trojans’ 2023 championship team, earning his second state medal in the 100 breaststroke with a third-place finish. Witt also was one of three sub-2 minute finishers in the 200 IM, taking third in the event in 1:57.87. He made a big splash on the Trojans’ relays, helping them win the 400 freestyle relay and finish fourth in the 200 medley relay.

 

 
CLARK YOUNG, ANDOVER
 
While distance swimming may be Young’s forte, he starred for the Trojans last year at state by winning the 200 individual medley in a season-best 1:56.49 and added a runner-up finish in the 100 breaststroke in 59.41. Young’s IM performance was Andover’s lone event victory in a 108-point win over Kapaun in the team race. Young, now a junior, also was part of Trojan third-place finishes in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. He helped Andover win the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II title with victories in the IM, breaststroke and medley relay.