Sports

Papio swim and dive sails smoothly through state

Kaylie McNeill|March 6, 2023

Miles Graham, junior swimmer from Papio South, competing at state.

The Papio swim and dive team competed in the NSAA state meet Feb. 23-25, finishing 11th in boys and 14th in girls.

The boys team was predicted to finish 15th and the girls were predicted to place 12th.

Coach Nick Baker of Papillion-La Vista High School was satisfied with the team’s results. He said, “I thought that our team performed to the best of their abilities in all of our events.”

Cody Gross, junior swimmer at Papillion-LaVista South High School, was shocked by the team’s results. He said, “I was very surprised at how we placed as a team knowing that we only had four swimmers and one diver that made it to State … I had no idea with only five people that we could place as high as we did.”

Gross placed 11th overall in the 100 fly, and was a part of many relay teams. He and his teammates placed 9th In the 400 free relay, 12th in the 200 medley relay, and 11th in the 200 free relay.

Gross said, “I was very happy with all of my performances because I dropped time in all of my swims.”

Cody Gross, junior at Papio South, competing at state. (Photo: Piper Holland).

Chloe Brady, senior swimmer at Papillion-La Vista South High School, had great swims at state as well. Brady said, “I was very proud of my performance as I didn’t expect to drop time or anything so it was a great bonus. Everything went swimmingly, I had amazing starts and strong turns which are very important in such short events.”

Brady only got back into swimming eight weeks ago after a year and a half off due to a shoulder injury.

In the consolation finals, Brady placed 3rd in the 200-yard relay and 7th in the 200-yard medley relay. She also accomplished top 25 finishes in the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.

Chloe Brady, senior swimmer at Papio South, getting prepared to swim at state. (Photo: Piper Holland).

Papio swim and dive had a great meet with no major hiccups.

Many swimmers and divers had great highlights this season. Coach Baker said, “Lily Sherman had a great season in diving, as did Landon Orth. Both met the All-American scores during the season. Miles Graham swam a season-best at state, and Cody Gross and Evan Click had great seasons and state meets, too. Chloe Brady and Sheridan Conroy both rounded out our state team and had some great swims on our relays.”