CLASS 5-1A GIRLS SWIMMERS/DIVERS TO WATCH IN 2026
 

 
MARY ARCHAMBAULT, LANSING

Archambault, along with teammate Makaila Hayes, has built one of the more decorated careers in program history and will look to cap it off with another strong postseason showing this spring. Archambault owns the school record in the 50 freestyle and has been a key piece of each of Lansing’s record-setting relay teams. A year ago, Archambault played a pivotal role in Lansing’s runner-up finishes in both the 200-yard medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay, while also leading the Lions to a third-place team finish overall. Individually, she added a seventh-place medal in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 butterfly after finishing sixth in both events as a sophomore. 
 

 
MAGGIE BAILEY, BISHOP CARROLL
 
A three-time state qualifier, Bailey earned her first 5-1A individual medal in two years last spring, finishing seventh in the 200-yard individual medley. The Carroll senior collected two state medals in each of her first two state appearances, finishing sixth in the 500 freestyle and third in the 400 freestyle relay as a freshman. Bailey earned two relay medals as a sophomore, helping the Golden Eagles take fifth in the 400 free relay and eighth in the 200 free relay. She earned four medals at last year’s Greater Wichita Athletic League meet, taking second in the 100 butterfly and third in the 200 individual medley.  
 

 
JADYN BRUCH, BASEHOR-LINWOOD

Bruch enters her final high school season as one of the most accomplished swimmers in program history — and one of the top distance freestylers in the state. Bruch has rewritten the Bobcats’ record board year after year, currently holding a school record in every individual event offered. Her signature events remain the distance freestyles, where she owns top times of 1:55.31 in the 200 and 5:09.78 in the 500. Bruch showcased that strength last season by capturing the United Kansas League title in the 500 freestyle. On the state stage, Bruch proved she can compete with anyone. She earned a pair of medals at the 2025 meet, finishing third in both the 200 and 500 freestyles. 
 

 
ANGELA EWERT, HESSTON
  
Ewert and her Hesston teammates are competing independently this season after a long-standing co-op with Newton was discontinued. The senior has made her mark for the Swathers, owning school records in the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle and 100 backstroke as well as being part of three record-setting relays. Ewert finished eighth at state last season in the 200 freestyle, her third state medal in the event. As a freshman and sophomore, Ewert took seventh in the 200 free and eighth in the 500 free.
 

 
AJ GOOCH, HUTCHINSON
 
Gooch, a senior, finished seventh at state in the 100 breaststroke after finishing second in the event at the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I meet. She also reached the B final of the 200 individual medley, an event in which she took third at the league meet. Gooch, who surpassed 1,000 career points in Salthawk meets last season, could shift her focus to the 200 freestyle in addition to the breaststroke in her final year.
 

 
HOLLYN GRIFFIN, ANDOVER
 
With her older sister Mari, a 16-time state medalist, among the graduated seniors Andover is looking to replace, Griffin’s role will likely expand as the Trojans try to defend their 5-1A team crown. The younger Griffin made a significant impact as a freshman last season, anchoring the Trojans’ 200 medley relay to victory in a state meet-record time of 1:46.09. The Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II champion in the 200 individual medley took fifth in the event at state, then added a school record (5:16.68) in a fourth-place finish in the 500 free. She was also part of Andover’s victorious 400 freestyle relay that sealed the team title. 
 

 
KIMBERLYN GRIM, NORWICH
 
Grim, who competes with Campus during the regular season as part of a co-op, continued to display her versatility last year as a junior. Competing at state in the 200 freestyle for the first time, Grim finished second to Blue Valley Southwest’s Willow Weninger with a time of 1:53.64. She added a second individual medal in the 100 backstroke, finishing fifth in the same event in which she took eighth at state as a freshman. Grim is also a two-time state medalist in the 100 butterfly. 
 

 
MAKAILA HAYES, LANSING

Hayes has already etched her name throughout the Lions’ record book, holding school records in four individual events — the 200-yard freestyle, 200 individual medley, 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke — while also swimming on all three record-setting relay teams in program history. She is coming off a dominant junior campaign in which she helped lead Lansing to a third-place team finish at the state meet, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the 200 freestyle relay and third place finish in the 400 relay. Individually, Hayes was just as impressive, taking second in the 100 breaststroke — where she returns with the top time in the state — while also placing third in the 200 IM. In 2024, Hayes medaled third in the 100 butterfly and fifth in the 200 freestyle. 
 

 
ELIZABETH HEISE, ST. JAMES ACADEMY

Heise returns for her final season looking to build off a breakthrough state performance that saw her emerge as a key contributor for the Thunder. Heise made her presence felt at last year’s state meet, helping St. James Academy to a seventh-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay before earning an individual medal of her own. She placed eighth in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:12, showcasing her strength in the event against a deep 5-1A field. 
 

HAYDEN HOUSEWORTH, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST

Blue Valley Southwest’s future on the diving board is already making waves—and sophomore Hayden Houseworth is just getting started. As a freshman, Houseworth turned in an impressive debut season for the Timberwolves, earning a state medal in the 1-meter diving competition with a score of 327.10 to finish seventh overall. Competing on one of the state’s top teams, she also played a key role in helping Blue Valley Southwest secure a state runner-up finish. Now with a year of high school experience under her belt, Houseworth enters her sophomore campaign with higher expectations and a clear goal: climb the podium. 
 

 
ELISABETH HOWELL, LEAVENWORTH

Howell enters her final season poised to be one of the state’s top sprint threats as she looks to cap a decorated career with the Pioneers. She will anchor Leavenworth in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, where she has steadily climbed the podium each year. A season ago, she earned fourth-place state medals in both events and now returns within striking distance of the school records in each. Beyond her individual success, Howell has been a cornerstone of Leavenworth’s relay teams. She helped the Pioneers to a fourth-place finish in the 200 medley relay and a fifth-place medal in the 400 freestyle relay at state last season. Already a multi-year state medalist — including podium finishes in the 100 and 200 freestyles as a sophomore — Howell is hoping to build her resume in her final high school campaign. 
 

 
SIENNA HURST, ANDOVER CENTRAL
 
Hurst played a big role in helping Central finish sixth in Class 5-1A last season, medaling at state in three events. After finishing eighth two years ago as a sophomore in the 100 breaststroke, Hurst reached the podium in the 50 freestyle, finishing sixth in 25.17, and the 100 freestyle, taking eighth in 55.72. Hurst also teamed with Lindsay McIntyre, Sarah McClellan and Faith Butler in the 400 freestyle relay, anchoring the Jaguars to fourth place in 3:48.56. Hurst earned four second-place finishes at last year’s Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II meet, including the 50 and 100 freestyles. 
 

 
KATELYN JOHANNES, LANSING

Lansing’s depth in the pool has been one of its biggest strengths in recent seasons, and  Johannes is right in the middle of that success. The Lansing junior returns after playing a key role in the Lions’ third-place team finish at the Class 5-1A state meet a year ago. She was part of Lansing’s 200-yard medley relay team that finished state runner-up while also setting a new school record. Individually, Johannes proved she can compete across multiple events at the state level. She earned a sixth-place medal in the 100-yard breaststroke and added a 12th-place finish in the 500 freestyle after reaching the consolation finals. 
 

 
KAILA KARHOFF, ST. MARY’S COLGAN

After breaking through for her first state medal a year ago, Karhoff is poised to take another step forward this season. The Colgan junior has been a consistent state qualifier through her first two high school seasons, but turned a corner at the Class 5-1A state meet last year. She earned her first podium finish with an eighth-place medal in the 50-yard freestyle (25.46) and came within striking distance of a second medal, finishing ninth in the 100-yard butterfly. Swimming with Fort Scott during the regular season, Karhoff enters her junior campaign with her sights set on adding to her medal total and climbing higher in the 5-1A ranks. 
 

 
GABBY KINMAN, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
 
Kinman, a senior, qualified for state in diving for the third time in her career last season, finishing sixth in 5-1A after an eighth-place effort in 2024. The Greater Wichita Athletic League runner-up last year, Kinman enters her final season with a personal-best score of 358.85. With a few new dives in her arsenal, Kinman has the potential to set Kapaun records in the 6-dive and 11-dive competitions. 
 

 
PIPER KOBS, LANSING

Kobs begins her sophomore season as one of the Lions’ rising stars in the pool. Kobs made an immediate impact in her debut campaign, rewriting the school record book in both the 500-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke while also playing a key role on all three of Lansing’s record-setting relay teams. Her versatility proved just as valuable at the state level, where she helped the Lions to a third-place team finish. She was part of Lansing’s 200-yard freestyle relay that finished as state runner-up and also contributed to a third-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay. Individually, Kobs showed she could compete with the state’s best, placing sixth in the 200 freestyle and seventh in the 100 backstroke. 
 

 
MADELYN MCCLUSKEY, MAIZE SOUTH
 
After finishing second in the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I meet in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle last season, McCluskey, a junior, reached the medal stand in the 100 free at state, finishing seventh in 55.66. She swam the B final in the 200 free, taking 10^th in 2:03.96. McCluskey also teamed with Chloe and Camille Keeler, and Erin Wilson to finish sixth in the 200 medley relay (1:58.16) and eighth in the 200 freestyle relay (1:48.33). It marked the second straight year McCluskey medaled at state in the medley relay. 
 

 
RIDLEY NEWELL, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Newell returns as one of the Saints’ most dependable state performers, bringing both experience and consistency into her final season. Newell’s top events — the 200-yard individual medley and 500-yard freestyle — have made her a fixture on the state podium year after year. Newell already owns the Aquinas school record in the 200 IM with a time of 2:13.56. The Aquinas senior has placed in the top eight at the state meet in the 500 freestyle each of the past three seasons and has earned top-eight finishes in the 200 IM twice. Last season, she brought home medals in both events, finishing seventh in the 500 freestyle and eighth in the 200 IM. 
 

 
KAMERYN ROSS, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST

Ross turned in a strong debut at the Class 5-1A state meet, earning her first individual medal with a sixth-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle and just missed out on a medal in the 100 backstroke as she took ninth. She also proved to be a key piece of the Timberwolves’ relay success, helping the 400 freestyle relay to a state runner-up finish and the 200 medley relay to a third-place medal. Now entering her sophomore season, Ross is expected to build on that foundation as part of a Blue Valley Southwest squad that finished second as a team a year ago. 
 

 
SYDNEY SCHUMAKER, MAIZE SOUTH
 
Schumaker enters her senior season as the reigning Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I diving champion, winning last year’s title with a 406.25 total. She placed third at last year’s 5-1A meet, a one-spot improvement from her sophomore season. Schumaker’s 393.10 total at state was .10 behind Centre’s Olivia Carlson, who also edged her for third in the state competition two years ago. Schumaker qualified for state as a freshman as well, finishing 13^th. 
 

 
SOPHIA SPONSELLER, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST

Sponseller has proven herself across multiple disciplines, excelling in the butterfly, backstroke and freestyle, but it was her performance in the 100-yard butterfly that stood out most a year ago. She earned a third-place state medal in 58.34, firmly establishing herself among Kansas’ top returners in the event, while also placing 11th in the 100 backstroke. Beyond her individual success, Sponseller has been a cornerstone of Blue Valley Southwest’s relay dominance. She played a key role on the Timberwolves’ championship 200 and 400 freestyle relays, including a record-setting 1:38.53 in the 200 free relay where she posted a 24.81 split. She also delivered a strong 55.39 leg on the 400 free relay, helping continue a run of relay success that included state titles in 2023 and 2024. 
 

 
LAURYN VOGT, HILLSBORO
 
Vogt has become a must-see at the state meet during the course of her career, becoming Hillsboro’s first state girls swimming champion when she won the 50 freestyle as a freshman. She followed that up by tying a 26-year-old meet record when she defended her crown as a sophomore. Last year, Vogt claimed the mark for herself, swimming 23.57 in the prelims before coming back with a 23.39 in the finals for her third state title in the event. Vogt also won a featured showdown in the 100 freestyle with now-graduated Aleca Howard of Wichita Trinity, taking the title in 50.28. A University of Kansas signee, Vogt is also a past state champion in the 100 butterfly. 
 

 
ALLISYN WEISS, EMPORIA
 
Weiss, a senior, will try to join her older sister Haylee as a three-time state champion in diving this season after she easily defended the 5-1A crown she won as a sophomore. Weiss set a personal-best 11-dive score of 512.85 in her last regular-season meet a year ago. At state, Weiss posted a total of 453.75, just ahead of her winning mark of 451.20 in 2024. Weiss, the lone diver in 5-1A to score above 400 the past two years, took fourth at state as a freshman. Another of Haylee’s marks that Allisyn has in her sights is her school-record score of 531. 
 

 
WILLOW WENINGER, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST

Few swimmers in Kansas have built the kind of résumé Weninger brings into her final season. A dominant force in the distance freestyle events, Weninger returns as a five-time individual state champion over the past three years and a cornerstone of the Timberwolves’ success. She burst onto the scene as a freshman with a state title in the 200-yard freestyle and a runner-up finish in the 500 free, earning first-team all-state honors. From there, she has only elevated her standing. Weninger swept the 200 and 500 freestyle titles as both a sophomore and junior, giving her four individual championships over the last two seasons alone while continuing her run as a first-team all-state selection each year. As a junior, she also anchored Blue Valley Southwest’s 200 freestyle relay to a state record, showcasing her ability to deliver in the biggest moments. The school record holder in the 200 free, 500 free, and both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays, Weninger enters her senior campaign as one of the most accomplished swimmers in program history 
 

 
GENEVIEVE WILHITE, BISHOP CARROLL
 
Wilhite, a senior, raised her career state medal count to 10 last year with fourth-place finishes in the 200 freestyle (1:54.11) and 100 backstroke (57.96). Wilhite entered state as the Greater Wichita Athletic League champion in both. Fourth has been a common spot at state for Wilhite, who also landed there as a freshman in the backstroke and 200 individual medley before taking fourth as a sophomore in the 200 free. Her career-best individual finish was third in the backstroke as a sophomore. 
 

 
ALLI ZERGER, ANDOVER
 
Zerger was part of a productive freshman class last season for Andover, reaching the medal stand twice in her state meet debut to help the Trojans win their second 5-1A team title. Zerger teamed with Anaya Madden, Brynn Eilert and Ella Goodman to finish third in the 200 freestyle relay, anchoring the group to a time of 1:44.12. Zerger also finished eighth in the 100 butterfly, touching the wall in 1:01.05. Zerger helped Andover cruise to the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II team title, finishing third in the butterfly and fourth in the 50 freestyle.