AUSTIN — The Boerne Champion girls swim/ dive team repeated as state champions after they tallied 218 points to beat Frisco Reedy (190) for the 5A title last Saturday in Austin.
Champion won six gold medals, two in relay and four individual gold, and picked up a silver medal to secure the title.
Chargers head coach Scott Slay said last year’s state title was great, but to do it in consecutive years when other teams were gunning for them is probably more impressive.
“This one is super special; it’s amazing,” he said. “Back-to-back is hard to do, and it’s just a testament to these girls.”
Kate Canales and Cora Skoog both earned four gold medals, two in relay and two in individual events. The Lady Chargers set two new 5A records in the two relays, and Canales also broke another in an individual race.
Canales was named the 5A girls swimmer of the meet.
RESULTS
Champion set three 5A records at the event and bookended the meet with new 5A marks in the first and last relay races of the day.
The 200-medley relay set the tone in the first race Saturday morning after Karly Whitehead, Kate Canales, Addison Graham and Cora Skoog teamed up for a 1:43.08 to set a new 5A record and break the mark they set last year (1:43.79) In the last race of the day, the 400-free relay, consisting of Skoog, Whitehead, Graham and Canales, set another 5A record with a time of 3:27.19 to beat a mark set in 2024 by Lamar Fulshear (3:28.01).
Skoog won the 50 free with a 23.44 and also took first in the 100 free after posting a 50.61, while Canales captured first in the 100 butterfly with a time of 54.10 and later set a new 5A mark in the 100 breaststroke by recording a 1:00.44 to beat the mark she set last year (1:00.79).
Of the three 5A records she was involved with on Saturday, Canales said the 400-free relay meant the most to her.
“Last year we missed the 5A state record and to be able to get the gold and get the record this year is amazing,” she said.
Last year, Skoog was disqualified in the 50 free, and she said to bounce back and win the event this season meant a lot to her.
“I was so excited, this is redemption,” she said.
Karly Whitehead placed second in the 100 backstroke by touching the wall in 55.10 to earn silver, Addison Graham earned 14 team points in the 500 free with a time of 5:04.11 for fifth and Jada Green competed in 1-meter diving and tallied a score of 397.15 for sixth.
Also, in the consolation or B finals of the 200 free relay, Meghan Jackson, Madi Neuman, Addison Graham and Karly Whitehead teamed up for second with a 1:40.49 to earn 14 more team points.
The end of the meet brought mixed emotions for Skoog, a Texas A&M signee, who realized that it was her last high school competition with Champion.
“I’m so happy that we won and so sad that I don’t get to compete with this amazing team anymore,” she said as tears welled up in her eyes.
Canales, a University of Florida commit, is only a junior and said she’s looking forward to next season.
“I’m happy with how I did today, winning two (individual) gold medals is something to be proud of but next year I’m looking forward to coming back stronger and faster,” she said.
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