LENEXA – Maize coach Tedd Gibson’s affinity for his senior standout swimmer Zach Rife includes the swim cap story.
 
Toward the end of the regular season, one of Gibson’s coaching counterparts from fellow Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I member Derby approached him to share the tale of Rife’s good deed.
 
“The kids adore him,” Gibson said. “They think he’s just like a god. One of their kids came up to him with a raggedy cap and wants to trade his cap for a Rife cap.
 
“Zach obviously wasn’t getting the good end of that deal, but he says, ‘Sure, without question.’ That’s Zach Rife.”
 
Good dude. Good swimmer, too.
 
Rife reaffirmed that over his high school career’s final two days at the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center. The Nebraska Omaha signee defended his state titles in the 100-yard and 200-yard freestyles as part of the fourth four-medal performance of his state career – first in Class 5-1A and the final three at the Kansas Class 6A Swimming and Diving Championships.
 

Rife flirted with a 6A meet record in the 200 freestyle, winning his second state title in the event with a personal-best time of 1:38.61. It was just .03 off the record mark of 1:38.58 set two years ago by Shawnee Mission South’s Grady O’Connor in a race in which Rife finished third.
 
Rife completed the double double in the 100 free in what was primarily a duel between him and Olathe Northwest senior Bryan Branstrom, the 50 free champion. Locked in a virtual dead heat at the midpoint, Rife pulled away down the stretch to win in 45.70 – also a PR – while Branstrom touched in 46.43.
 
Rife took a long look at the timing board after his 200 free victory, perhaps a bit disappointed to come so close to a record. But after touching first in the 100 free, Rife followed champion’s protocol in creating a mighty splash.
 
“It is what it is,” Rife said of his 200 time, still a staggering 5.13 seconds ahead of runner-up Hayden Renoux of Olathe West. “But in the end, it was a personal best and I still did win. So as much as I want to be mad at not getting the state record, it’s the fastest I’ve ever swam.”
 
Rife, who matched Blue Valley West senior Colton Poe’s two individual event victories, was selected as the 6A swimmer of the meet. Poe, who won 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle titles, also helped the Jaguars win the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay.
 
But Rife’s performance was also undeniable. After teaming with senior Kellen Doty and freshman twins Parker and Kellan Kidwell to finish fifth in the 200 medley relay, Rife and the same trio concluded the meet with a third-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay.
 
Rife, the anchor leg, zipped to the finish with a 100-yard split of 45.03 to pull the Eagles up four spots from seventh when he entered the water.
 
“He’s such a great finisher,” Gibson said. “Not so hot a starter, but he’s been working on that. But I’ve always said, ‘If he’s dead even with you with 25 (yards) to go, you’ve got a problem. He’s a really good closer.”
 
Rife showcased that in the 100 free, posting a final 50 of 23.95 to Branstrom’s 24.69 to take the victory. The race followed a similar script to his state victory in last year’s 100 free, when Rife outdueled that meet’s 50 free champion, Gabe Cavin of Shawnee Mission Northwest, for the title.
 
“I know Bryan had the same mentality of I’m the fastest guy in the state,” Rife said. “I couldn’t have won that race thinking he’s a better swimmer than me.
 
“I wanted to beat him in that first 50 split and I was right there. I was really happy with that. I knew if I was with him or faster, I could beat him on the back half and that’s what I did.”
 
Rife helped the Eagles finish fifth in the team competition with 156 points, a two-spot improvement from last year’s 6A state meet. He also helped Maize finish eighth as a sophomore, when the Eagles moved up from 5-1A after his freshman season.
 
“Coming up from 5A into 6A, 5A still has great guys, but it’s just shocking how deep and how close some of the 6A races are,” Rife said. “It could be anyone’s game in pretty much any race.”
 
Rife’s competitiveness usually tilted the scales in his favor, Gibson said.
 
“He just refuses to take an L,” Gibson said. “He does not like to lose.”
 

  
POE, WEINER COMBINE FOR SEVEN GOLDS TO LEAD BLUE VALLEY WEST TO RUNNER-UP FINISH

They talk trash in practice. They race each other like enemies in the water. And when the caps come off, Blue Valley West senior Colton Poe and junior Nathan Weiner are best friends again. 

On Saturday at the Class 6A State Swimming and Diving Championships, that friendship-fueled rivalry powered both Jaguars to the top of the podium. 

Poe captured two individual state titles in the 200-yard individual medley and the 500 freestyle, while Weiner surged to his first career championship in the 100 backstroke. Poe and Weiner added two more golds to their resume with relay wins in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle. 

In all Poe, finished with four gold medals, Weiner had three and together, they helped Blue Valley West to a state runner-up finish with 270 points, just behind Shawnee Mission East’s 290.5. 

For Weiner, the moment atop the podium in the 100 backstroke was years in the making. 

“It was honestly just relieving,” Weiner said. “From going to fourth my freshman year to second my sophomore year, and being able to overcome that hump and winning a state title. It just means everything to me. It is really special.” 

The competitive fire between the two nearly produced a surprise in the 200 IM. 

Poe won the event in 1:53.39, though it was slower than his prelim time of 1:51.58. Right behind him was Weiner in 1:53.98, closing hard down the stretch. 

Poe didn’t realize just how close his teammate was until the final strokes. 

“I was more looking at Andrew Martin (Mill Valley) on my right and I didn’t see Nathan and I wasn’t really looking for him,” Poe said. “Then at the very end I am finishing my last length and I look over and see a little splash of water in the other direction. I was a little surprised. There has been some smack talk between the two of us, but he is my best friend.” 
 

Weiner said racing Poe brings out the best in him. 

“Colton, outside of swim, is one of my best friends,” Weiner said. “We push each other every day, and sometimes it can be too harsh, but at the end of the day that is my best friend and I love him. Being able to race against him and push me in that race, it was a key factor to getting a personal best.” 

If the 200 IM was tight, the 500 freestyle carried historic implications. 

In Friday’s prelims, Poe swam a 4:32.42 — just half a second shy of the state record of 4:31.92 set by Olathe East’s Ben Bravence in 2011. The record was within reach. 

In Saturday’s finals, Poe won comfortably in 4:35.45. It secured his second individual title of the day, but not the time he envisioned. 

“I really, really wanted that record,” Poe said. “Friday I was a half-a-second off. I don’t know what happened in the 200 IM, but in the 500 I just tried to put it out of my brain. It happens and I have a lot more races to swim.” 
 

Poe admitted the pressure may have played a role. 

“I didn’t have the races today that I wanted to have,” he said. “I think some of the pressure that I had today got to me a little bit. I had great races on Friday and I was really happy with those and I wanted to come out and match that for the finals. It didn’t happen in my individuals, but I wanted to make sure I showed up for my team in the relays and give it everything I had.” 

He did exactly that. 

Poe teamed with Weiner, Ben Scott and Eddy Le to win the 200 medley relay in 1:36.85. Later, the same quartet closed the meet with a victory in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:11.53, with Poe anchoring the final leg. 

“Coming out with four state medals is pretty sweet, I can’t lie,” Poe said. “It still feels great and I am a state champion at the end of the day.” 

Weiner added his own signature moment in the 100 backstroke, winning in 50.66 and edging Mill Valley junior Andrew Martin (51.04) in a tight finish. 
 

“I feel like this was one of my best meets ever and I am glad to share it with my guys and with these seniors one last time,” Weiner said. “It has been an honor to compete with them.” 

Blue Valley West entered the weekend hoping to claim its first state title since 2021. The Jaguars came up just short, but with only nine swimmers competing, they made the race for the championship tight until the end. 

“Yeah we want to win state, but state runner-up is cool as well,” Weiner said. “To be able to do it with these guys and only having nine people on our state team, it is really special. There are no group of guys that I would rather do it with.” 

Poe echoed that pride, reflecting on the work that began immediately after last year’s meet. 

“I knew I could be in this spot when state got over last year,” he said. “I felt like I gave everything I had last year and then when club started, my first practice I just gave it 110 percent from that point on. That is what I wanted to do. I am very happy with how everything ended.” 
 

SHAWNEE MISSION SOUTH'S WELCH RALLIES FROM TOUGH PRELIMS TO WIN 6A BREASTSTROKE

From the outside lane, and seemingly out of contention, Jackie Welch found his way to the top. 

The Shawnee Mission South junior turned a frustrating Friday into a golden Saturday, capturing the Class 6A state championship in the 100-yard breaststroke with a winning time of 59.21 at the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center. 

Welch surged past Blue Valley North’s Jack Munro (59.95) over the final 50 yards to claim his first state title — a stunning reversal after a difficult preliminary round left him in lane 7 and searching for answers. 

“Winning a state title has meant so much to me,” Welch said. “It's still so hard for me to process and I am so lucky and honored to be where I am today on my swim journey. There is no way I could have done this without my amazing support group of my family, teammates, coaches and friends who all believed in me even at times when I didn't believe in myself. I also want to give all the glory to God.” 

Friday didn’t look anything like a championship preview. 

Welch entered the meet with the fastest seed time in the breaststroke, but a cautious approach in prelims backfired. He finished sixth in the event and missed the championship final in the 200 individual medley, placing ninth after admitting he swam the IM at “90 percent” in hopes of saving energy for later races. 

It didn’t work. 

“I had a really rough prelims,” Welch said. “I think what got me was my mental game. I was afraid of going too all out in prelims and having nothing left in the tank for finals, so I took the IM 90 percent — huge mistake — and that was really disappointing.” 

Instead of spiraling, Welch chose to reset. He drove home alone that night, using the quiet time to refocus. 

“I came to the conclusion that prelims don’t define how I am going to do tomorrow,” he said. “I will use prelims for reflection and learning, but that’s in the past and the focus is on tomorrow.” 

Saturday didn’t start smoothly either. South’s 200 medley relay was disqualified, but Welch’s breaststroke split — a 26.85, his fastest ever — provided a spark. 

“When I saw his split in the 200 Medley Relay, I knew he was focused and it was going to be a good day,” South coach Derek Berg said. “Jackie had put in a lot of work and had shown resilience all season, so I knew he had it in him to come back in finals.” 

Welch first won the consolation final in the 200 IM and restored some confidence. Still, his sixth-place prelim time in the breaststroke left him in lane 7 for the championship race — outside the main field of favorites that included Munro and North sophomore Jan Beltran. 

For Welch, the outside lane felt familiar. 

“I remember thinking about me as a kid being the slowest swimmer in the outside lane,” he said. “When I got better, that’s where I started winning all my races with everyone asking, ‘Who is that kid in the outside lane?’ That’s the mentality I wanted to bring back.” 

He trailed early but powered home with a dominant final 50, touching the wall in 59.21 to secure gold. 

“It was so much fun to see him rise to the occasion and make that potential a reality,” Berg said. “When we got to the breaststroke, I was excited to see him go out and take control of that race.” 

The title capped what Welch described as his most dedicated season yet. After placing third in breaststroke at the Olathe Invite early in the year, doubts crept in. With several seniors graduated, Welch knew he would step into a larger role and entered the season projected near the top of the state rankings. 

He responded by embracing the grind. 

“Doing little things like lifting before school, swimming even when there wasn’t practice, and taking extra good care of my body have helped me excel tremendously,” Welch said. “I feel like it’s been an important key to my success.” 

The breakthrough moment at state validated the work. 

“It was truly amazing to see all of this pay off at state,” he said. “I am so blessed to say that I got first at 6A state.”
 

OLATHE NORTHWEST’S BRANSTROM BATTLES BACK FROM ILLNESS TO WIN TITLE IN 50 FREE 

Earlier in the week, Bryan Branstrom was sidelined with the flu and running a 104-degree fever. 

By Saturday evening, he was standing atop the podium as a state champion. 

The Olathe Northwest senior fought through illness to capture the Class 6A state title in the 50-yard freestyle at the Kansas State Swimming and Diving Championships, touching the wall in 20.84 seconds to edge Shawnee Mission West’s Sam Richardson (21.20) at the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center. 

Winning the 50 free had long been Branstrom’s goal. 

“Winning the 50 freestyle at state has been a dream of mine,” Branstrom said. “It’s what I was working for my entire high school career. When people think about swimming, I think the first thing that comes to mind is the 50 free because it’s just more known than the rest of the races, so I just thought it was really cool.” 

The performance was especially impressive considering how his week began. Branstrom was out sick Monday and didn’t return to the water until Thursday. Even then, he wasn’t fully recovered. 

“He was out with influenza B on Monday and feeling better on Thursday,” said Olathe Northwest coach Christiane Branstrom, his mother. “I was glad to see him hit close to his times on Saturday.” 

Branstrom admitted he knew a personal-best swim was unlikely under the circumstances. 

“I think I swam pretty well. My finish was a little bad because I took an extra stroke, but besides that it was about as good as I could do,” he said. “I was hoping to go a little faster and maybe a PR, but I had to race with influenza B, so I was pretty sure that wasn’t going to happen.” 

Still, it was enough. 

The title capped a remarkable senior season for Branstrom, who broke Olathe Northwest school records in the 100 and 500 freestyle and also set new Sunflower League records. He posted personal bests in nearly every event he swam this year. 

“Overall I had an amazing season,” Branstrom said. “I was able to break my personal records, my school records and the Sunflower records all in the same season. I PR’d in almost every race I had and just overall couldn’t ask for a better season to cap off my high school career with.” 

He nearly doubled his medal haul in one of the most anticipated races of the meet. 

In the 100 freestyle, Branstrom squared off with Maize’s Zachary Rife in a head-to-head battle. Rife pulled away in the closing stretch to win in 45.70, while Branstrom finished second in 46.43. 

“I thought the race between me and Rife was really fun,” Branstrom said. “Again, it was a struggle because I wanted to be at my best but couldn’t be due to being sick, but he ended up going a very fast swim and overall beat me out — and he beat my PR — so overall props to him. It was a lot of fun.” 

“It was a fun battle with him and Zach and we knew it would be,” Christiane Branstrom added. “I think if he hadn’t been sick he would have been able to hold the last 25 a little better, but he did really well.” 
 

The state title represented more than just a fast swim. It was another chapter in a journey shaped by perseverance. 

As a middle schooler, Branstrom dealt with a dislocated hip, a torn labrum and shoulder surgery — injuries that ultimately steered him toward swimming full-time. He initially planned to swim just one season as a freshman alongside his older brother before returning to basketball, but he quickly fell in love with the sport and the team. 

Christiane Branstrom has now coached all four of her children at Northwest, and Bryan, the youngest, closed that chapter in fitting fashion. 

“As his mom, it has been a total honor to be able to coach him,” she said. “He’s an extremely hard worker and has overcome so many obstacles, which has made him really thankful for the opportunities to compete. It helps him by having that ‘thankful mindset.’ Not that he doesn’t have nerves going into races, but it keeps him excited to race. 

“I am so proud of him and so thankful he was able to see the reward of his effort with the state title.” 
 

WASHBURN RURAL’S ALLEN CAPS RETURN WITH BUTTERFLY TITLE
 
Daniel Allen came into the Class 6A state meet as a favorite to win the 100-yard butterfly.
 
The smile on the Washburn Rural junior’s face Saturday suggested he performed like it, too.
 
“That’s a big time for me personally,” Allen said after touching the wall in a personal-best 50.85 to defeat runner-up Cameron Hagen of Blue Valley Northwest by 1.52 seconds. “I was looking for my team and my club coach who was up there, and my mom and my sister.
 
“I was just happy. I was super pumped with that swim.”
 
Allen enjoyed all the camaraderie he shared with his Rural teammates over the weekend. The Junior Blues finished sixth in the team competition, aided by Allen’s four-medal performance.
 
After sitting out last year’s high school season to concentrate on club swimming, Allen returned to Rural’s team this winter and punctuated it triumphantly. In addition to his butterfly victory, he took third in the 100-yard backstroke and helped two relays – the fourth-place 200 medley and seventh-place 200-yard freestyle – to the medal podium.
 
“I’m pretty happy with the times that I got,” Allen said. “My back (53.38) wasn’t my best but that’s all right. I was feeling a little sore after all the other swims.
 
“I performed really well, I felt, and I got to bring a whole bunch of guys with me. To compete with them and to do the relays and all that was really fun.”
 
No two days are the same in the pool, and Allen wasn’t enamored with his effort in Friday’s preliminaries. Still, his butterfly time of 51.75 topped Hagen, the No. 2 qualifier, by 1.38 seconds. His backstroke qualifying time of 53.23 was third behind Blue Valley West’s Nathan Weiner and Mill Valley’s Andrew Martin – exactly where he finished Saturday.
 
“Yesterday, my mind wasn’t totally there,” Allen said after the announcement of the all-state team, of which Allen was first team. “Today, I kind of focused and went out there to just give it my all. It was go big or go home, pretty much.”
 
Allen said his state performance helped validate his decision to return to high school swimming. He was already pondering the possibilities for his senior campaign.
 
“Next year, I’m hoping to touch the team record in the fly, which is 48,” he said. “I’m hoping for a lot more boys to come with me to state, too.”
 

OLATHE EAST'S MALONE BREAKS 500, WINS FIRST DIVING TITLE

The advice came on an ordinary summer day at a public pool — the kind of day that changes everything. 

Ellis Malone was just a gymnast then, flipping and twisting for fun when a lifeguard noticed something in the Olathe East freshman. 

“Do you dive?” the lifeguard asked. 

Malone shook his head. 

“You should.” 

Four years later, Malone stood atop the Class 6A state podium as a champion. 

The Olathe East senior captured his first state diving title Saturday, scoring a personal-best 500.88 at the Kansas Class 6A Swimming and Diving Championships. After finishing third as a sophomore and runner-up as a junior, Malone finally claimed the crown — and did it in historic fashion. 

He became the first 6A diver to eclipse 500 points since 2016. 

“It is just hard work and dedication,” Malone said. “With all the hard work I have put into my practices and just trying my best at everything. I’m just doing what I like and I am having confidence doing it.” 

Malone didn’t just win — he separated himself early. He opened with a strong prelim round that he called some of his best diving of the season, building a cushion that all but secured the championship before the finals even reached their final dive. 

“In the prelims I felt it was some of the best diving I have done this year,” Malone said. “After the prelims were over, I was pretty comfortable with where I was at and how I would finish.” 

He ultimately edged Olathe Northwest’s Braden Zimmerman, who finished second with a 481.90. But by the time Malone climbed the ladder for his final dive Saturday afternoon, the title was already within reach. 

When the final scores flashed — 500.88 — the celebration began. 
 

“It was just pure joy when I found out that I had won,” Malone said. “I was just happy that I had it. Once I knew that my goal was to break 500 and I did.” 

The performance capped a steady rise that began with humble results. Malone placed 17th as a freshman and failed to qualify for finals. But the experience planted a seed. 

“Going to state as a freshman was fun and getting to experience that state meet,” he said. “My sophomore year I worked a lot more at it and got third and then runner-up as a junior. After getting second I definitely just wanted to win it this year. I just wanted to get better and be able to do it.” 

The improvement from last year’s state meet was dramatic — a 75-point jump that he credits largely to his coach. 

“It is all coaching,” Malone said. “My coach has a big play in my diving. I love my coach and he is one of the greatest people I have ever met and he pushes me to do my best. I couldn’t have done it without him.” 

Malone had already recorded a personal best to win the Sunflower League title earlier this season. But he saved his best for last, delivering his highest score ever on the biggest stage. 

His journey to the top began in a different arena. Malone spent 10 years as a gymnast before making the leap to diving as a freshman — a transition that now seems almost inevitable given the similarities in body control, air awareness and precision. 

“I was just messing around at a public pool and one of the lifeguards asked me if I dive,” Malone said. “I told him no. He told me I should join dive and so I did.” 

What started as a suggestion became a state championship career. 

Malone is the first Olathe East diver to win state since Charlie Matthews in 2023. Matthews, a two-time state champion who also won in 2021, scored 491.50 in his final title run. Malone surpassed that mark by nearly 10 points. 

The climb to 500 wasn’t glamorous. It meant early mornings and cold water — lots of both. 

“This journey has been a great one,” Malone said. “Getting up at 5 a.m. for practice is not the best part of my day. I have to do it to get better. The freezing cold water would wake me up anyway. That was the alarm in the morning.” 

Now, the alarm bells have been replaced by applause. 


CLASS 6A ALL-STATE TEAMS
 
FIRST TEAM
 
Daniel Allen, jr., Washburn Rural; Corbin Bradwell, jr., Olathe East; Bryan Branstrom, sr., Olathe Northwest; Cameron Hagen, jr., Blue Valley North; Ellis Malone, sr., Olathe East; Andrew Martin, jr., Mill Valley; Jack Munro, sr., Blue Valley North; Colton Poe, sr., Blue Valley West; Sam Richardson, sr., Shawnee Mission West; Hayden Renoux, sr., Olathe West; Zach Rife, sr., Maize; Nathan Weiner, jr., Blue Valley West; Jackie Welch, jr., Shawnee Mission South.
 
SECOND TEAM
 
Thomas Appuhn, so., Washburn Rural; Anderson Bateman, jr., Free State; Khasar Chinbat, sr., Blue Valley North; Kellen Doty, sr., Maize; Cole Hansen, so., Mill Valley; Grant Kimmel, sr., Shawnee Mission East; Emmet Lynch, jr., Shawnee Mission East; Cash Pegg-Westerhaus, jr., Campus; Cole Person, jr., Shawnee Mission East; Noah Pratt, jr., Blue Valley North; Braden Zimmerman, sr., Olathe Northwest.