SWIMMERS TO WATCH
Here are some swimmers from the Oklahoma City area to watch Friday and Saturday at the state swim meet at Jenks’ Aquatic Center:
Boys
• Jackson Baugh, Shawnee: The senior enters the Class 5A meet the favorite to the win the 100-yard backstroke. He’s also a contender in the 200 freestyle, though he’s 13 seconds behind Tulsa Kelley’s Patrick Callan.
• Luke Davis, Edmond North: He’s not seeded as a favorite, but the son of Olympic gold medal swimmer Josh Davis can still be dangerous in the 50 and 100 freestyles — even as a freshman.
• Alex Lawrence, Carl Albert: After finishing second in the 200 freestyle as a junior, Lawrence has turned his focus to the 500 freestyle and 100 backstroke this meet.
• Joe Short, Edmond North: The Drexel signee has had a big senior season. He enters the meet as the Huskies’ team leader and top seed in the 200-yard IM and second seed in the 100 butterfly — both events he won last year.
• Jonathan Ye, Edmond Memorial: The senior enters as the favorite for both 50 and 100 freestyles. Last season, he finished third in the 100 and second in the 200 IM.
Girls
• Dewi Blose, Stillwater: After finishing second in the 100yard backstroke last season, Blose is back as a sophomore for the talented team and the top seed in the event. She’s also seeded second in the 100 butterfly.
• Katie Callahan, Edmond Memorial: If anyone is going to take Lindhart down, it’s Callahan. The sophomore posted a nearly identical seed time (1:56.53-1:56.54) in the 200 freestyle. She’s also the top seed in the 500 freestyle.
• Rylee Lindhart, Edmond North: The Rice signee is the top seed in the 200-yard freestyle and third seed in the 500 freestyle. She set the state record in the 200 last season.
• Hanna Newby, McGuinness: Only a freshman, Newby is the top seed in two events — the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke.
THE FAVORITES
• The Class 6A field heavily favors the Bartlesville girls, but they will be pushed by both Edmond Memorial and Edmond North. The boys’ race is expected to come down to Bartlesville and Edmond North, which finished third last season.
• Altus returns as the favorite to repeat as the Class 5A boys state champions, but it could also take home the girls’ title. That would require knocking off defending champion Stillwater, which still remains the team to beat.