News Summary

As the 2025 high school swimming season concludes, Wichita celebrates its standout athletes, notably Zachary Rife, crowned All-Metro Swimmer of the Year. Rife dominated both the 200 and 100 freestyle events, while divers like Giani Benoit and newcomers like Gage Cooper showcased impressive performances. The Collegiate and Andover teams also made headlines with their achievements. This season highlights the dedication and talent of young swimmers in the Wichita community, inspiring future generations.

Wichita Celebrates Its Swimmers: Zachary Rife Shines Bright

Wichita is buzzing with excitement as the swimming season comes to a close, and the spotlight shines brightly on some of the best high school swimmers in the region. With the recently announced All-Metro boys swimming team for the 2025 Kansas season, it’s clear that our local swimming talent is making waves, both literally and figuratively. This annual recognition honors the standout swimmers and coaches hailing from Sedgwick, Butler, and Harvey counties, and this year, the competition was fierce!

Meet the Stars of the Season

Stealing the show this year is none other than Zachary Rife, a junior from Maize, who has been crowned the All-Metro Swimmer of the Year. Rife isn’t just a talented swimmer; he’s a powerhouse, having clinched the titles in both the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle events at the 6A state meet. With impressive times of 1:40.60 and 46.10 seconds, respectively, it’s no wonder he’s grabbing headlines as a two-time individual Class 6A state gold medalist. There’s no stopping this rising star!

But Zachary Rife isn’t the only one making waves in Wichita’s swimming scene. Senior Giani Benoit from Northwest is diving right into the spotlight as the state champion diver, boasting a season-best score of 475.9. His athleticism and performance were hard to beat!

Fresh Faces and Returning Champions

Fresh talent is also showing promise this season! Gage Cooper, a freshman from Andale, has taken the diving world by storm, winning the 5-1A state championship with a remarkable score of 427.45. It looks like this young swimmer is just getting started and could be one to watch for years to come.

Meanwhile, senior Kooper Johnson from Maize has proven that hard work pays off, finishing as the runner-up in two events at the 6A state meet. Johnson earned silver medals in both the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle, which is no small feat!

Highlighting the Talent Across Events

Looking at the broader picture, several other talented swimmers made their mark this season. Nathan Lynch, a senior from Collegiate, is another name to remember, as he took home the state championship title in the 5-1A breaststroke with a time of 58.15 seconds and followed up with a silver in the 200 individual medley. Meanwhile, sophomore Dylan Patterson from Eisenhower showed his prowess by capturing double gold medals at the 5-1A state meet in both the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle events.

It wasn’t all about the individual glory; teamwork played a vital role in achieving success, too! The Collegiate 200 medley relay team, featuring Nathan Lynch, also celebrated victory with a state title time of 1:38.82. Not to be outdone, the Kapaun Mt. Carmel 200 free relay team made a splash as they secured third place at the 5-1A state meet with their best time of 1:30.36.

A Sweet Triumph for Andover

Andover is basking in the glory of another state championship, as they conquered the Class 5-1A state meet with a whopping 318 points, outpacing their nearest competitor by over 100 points. Under the guidance of coach Kelsie Biebighauser, this team has now clinched the title for three consecutive years, showcasing their unity and strength in the water!

With all these thrilling performances, the 2025 boys swimming season has indeed been one to remember. The achievements of these young swimmers not only highlight their talent and dedication but also inspire future generations to dive into this amazing sport.

As the dust settles on this season, one thing is clear: Wichita’s swimming community is alive and swimming strong, with lots of exciting talent ready to make a splash in the years to come!

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