By Matt Browning
Wichita Independent is the defending 5-1A champion and the Panthers have George and Daniel Jekov back this season, as well as Matthew Janssen. George Jekov won the 200 and 500 free events, while Daniel Jekov took third in the 500 free and third in the 100 backstroke. Janssen took fourth in the 200 IM and fourth in the 100 breaststroke.
Wichita Collegiate brings back Adam Sandid, who took fifth in both the 50 and 100 free and Joseph Gadalla, who took seventh in the 100 breaststroke.
Andover’s 200-medley relay team took eighth last season and returns three legs of that group this year in Luc Diefenbach, Sam Ellis and Henry Gott. Diefenbach also took fourth in the 100 backstroke.
East has a loaded roster returning from last season’s team that took sixth at the 6A Tournament. Drayden Bell won the 50 and 100 freestyle events last year and was a part of the 200 and 400 freestyle relay team that took fourth and third respectively. Cooper Cole is also a part of those relay teams. Lucas Laufer is also back and he took seventh in the 100 backstroke.
Heights returns two legs of its 200 medley that finished seventh last season at state (Javan Titus and Evan Jensen) and Tate Harrison, who took ninth in diving.
Daniel Bernal, who took eighth in the diving competition, is back for North, as well as Lane Werth in the 200 and 500 free.
Brendon Chadd from Campus took eighth in the 500 freestyle event, while Derby returns Will McCabe in the 500 and 200 free.
Kapaun Mount Carmel returns significant talent from last year’s team that took third at the 5-1A Tournament. The Crusaders have three legs of their 200 IM relay team that took second (Jackson Burrus, Tommy Higgins and Austin Schmidt). Burrus also took second in the 100 backstroke and sixth in the 200 IM, while Higgins took fifth in the 200 IM and sixth in the 100 breaststroke and Schmidt took sixth in the 200 freestyle.
Andover Central placed fourth as a team a year ago and the Jaguars return the talent that could win them a state title. P.J. Domico, Noah Krueger and Lucas Krueger are all back. All three swimmers placed inside the top eight in each of their individual events.
Bishop Carroll brings back Quade Harris, who took third in the 200 free and Jaxon Trower, who took fifth in diving.
Maize returns Luke Taylor, who placed fifth in the 500 free and eighth in the 200 IM.
Brandon Bowles took fourth in the 50 free for Maize South, while Reid Richardson took eighth. Along with Skyler Snow and Eli Stucky will be the Mavericks 200 yard free relay team that took fourth a year ago.
Northwest and El Dorado both have quality divers returning in Kaleb Clayton (fourth) for the Grizzlies and David Kilpatrick (eighth) for the Wildcats.
