Wyoming High School Girls Swimming and Diving State Championship Insights 2024

The girls’ state championships for the 2024 prep swimming and diving season are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in Cheyenne. The new reclassification enrollment structure, approved last year by the Wyoming High School Activities Association (WHSAA) Board of Directors, moved Evanston, Green River, and Riverton to Class 4A. There are 11 teams in the 3A championships, and 15 will compete in the 4A championships.

Here is a breakdown of the favorites for individual events and relay races. Plus, a look at how the team races stack up.

Class 3A

The Lander Tigers look to be a heavy favorite in this division. They have dominated throughout the 2024 season against 3A competition and beaten 4A teams, as well. The Tigers have two defending champions. Lara Robertson won the 200 and 500 freestyle races last year. She won the 200 by over four seconds and the 500 by almost seven seconds. Katy Anderson is the two-time defending champion in the 3A backstroke.

Anderson enters the state swim meet with the fastest time in five different events. Those are the 50 and 100 freestyles, the backstroke, butterfly, and 200 IM. Teammate Vayda Havens has the top times in the 200 and 500 freestyles, even over Robertson.

The only swimming event in which Lander does not have the top time entering the championships is the 100-breaststroke race. Sublette County’s Maggie Williams has that distinction by 0.18 seconds.

Other contenders could include Sara Kearns of Lander and Hailey Beastrom from Newcastle in the 50 free, Summer LaVigne of Cody in the 100 free, Kaitlin Diver of Powell in the 200 IM and 500 free, Patricia Christensen of Powell in the 100 back, and Cody’s Louella Cornell in the 100 fly.

The diving board could be an interesting contest. Horizon Hanson of Buffalo and Hanna Walker from Kemmerer enter as the favorites. In an 11-dive format, their scores are separated by 0.35 points. Cornell from Cody also dives and enters with the third-best score. She and Lander’s Brooklyn White could be dark horses in diving.

Lander is a heavy favorite in all three relays. Their top times are around ten seconds faster than any team in all three relays.

After Lander in the team competition, there looks to be a battle among three or four teams for the next two spots on the podium. Cody might have an inside shot at second, but Douglas, Buffalo, and Kemmerer will contend for a trophy, as well.

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Class 4A

Four swimmers from Green River and Jackson, plus some from Campbell County, Cheyenne Central, and Laramie, will contend for individual titles in the pool this weekend.

Tavia Arnell and Tanith Smith of Green River and Jackson’s Amaya Olivieri and Maren Tattersall will be a factor in whichever event they compete. Arnell enters the state championships in the 200 free, 100 back, and 200 IM. She has the second-best time in the 100 fly. Smith has the best time in the 50 free and second-fastest in the 100 free. Olivieri leads the pack in the 100 free and 100 fly. Tattersall has the top time in the 500 free and top three in the 100 free, 200 free, 100 fly, and 200 IM. All four have won state titles before. The question is, which events will they swim? Smith will be in the sprint freestyle races, but the other three could swim in two different events, including against each other.

The one swimmer that leads an event not from those four is Campbell County’s Brooke Noble, who leads the 100-breaststroke at 1:08.84.

Other contenders in the pool include Cheyenne East’s Nzelle Ayokosok in the sprint freestyle races. Laramie has Addi Graves and Libbie Roesler. Cheyenne Central has Kayleigh Hood, especially in the 100 back. Campbell County also has Addie Rehard in the 200 IM and 500 free.

4A diving sees Maggie Turpin of Laramie back as the defending champion. She must contend against a crowded top-level field. Central’s Ella Reed, Laramie’s Rowyn Birdsley, Evanston’s Rachel Johnson, who won 3A last year, and Colette Danby of Jackson can all push Turpin for the title on the board.

Green River, Campbell County, and Jackson are within a few seconds of each other in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays. The Wolves have the best 400 free relay time by nearly six seconds over Laramie and Jackson.

The team race will be another tight one. Kelly Walsh is the defending champions, but the Trojans probably won’t be in the mix this year. Green River, Laramie, and Cheyenne Central figure to be the top contenders. Jackson and Sheridan could also be in the mix to get on the podium. Last year saw the top four separated by 13 points. We don’t know if it will be that close, but it looks to be a hotly-contested race for the trophies.