McNeil sets more records, leads Shawnee to title
EDMOND — Piper McNeil had already solidified herself as one of the best female swimmers in state history heading into her senior season at Shawnee.
With six individual state titles and a team championship, her accomplishments were about as good as it gets.
But McNeil added to her storied career Saturday.
The Missouri signee broke her state record in the 100-yard backstroke, the Class 5A record in the 100 freestyle and led Shawnee to its second straight team championship.
Overall, the day couldn’t have gone much better for McNeil and the Wolves.
“Honestly, my 100 free — I thought I’d do a little bit better,” McNeil said. “But that’s OK. Not everything goes as planned. And then for the 100 back, I always put so much pressure on myself in that event, so I think it’s really hard for me. I kind of have a mental block with that event.”
McNeil finished the 100 backstroke in 55.39 seconds, beating her previous mark by 0.02. McNeil tied former Classen SAS star Chelsea Ye for the Class 5A record in the 100 freestyle last year with a time of 51.47 and completed the swim in 51.26 on Saturday.
She became the fourth swimmer in state history to earn eight individual titles, joining Lori Halvorson (Jenks), Hanna Newby (Bishop McGuinness) and Samantha Woodward (Edmond Memorial).
Along with that, McNeil, Natalie Selman, Gracyn Simpson and Ashley McDonald won the 200 medley relay (1:53.83) and 400 freestyle relay (3:47.58).
Shawnee ran away in the team standings with 311 points. Carl Albert was the runner-up with 215, and McGuinness placed third with 199.
“We have the same people from last year,” McNeil said. “We only lost one girl and then we gained more people, so I knew it’d be something a lot better than last year. We’re so much stronger this year and faster than we were last year. I’m so proud of this team.”
McGuinness’ Macy Lewis adds to dominant career
Macy Lewis remains undefeated in individual state championship races.
The McGuinness junior claimed her fifth and sixth titles Saturday as she finished the 100 butterfly in 57.76 and the 500 freestyle in 5:12.09.
She can become the fifth swimmer in state history to claim eight individual state championships if she takes care of business next year.
“That’s crazy,” Lewis said. “Going into becoming a swimmer, I did not know that this would happen.”
Lewis is committed to Texas A&M. She wasn’t the only member of her family to claim a title Saturday. Her older sister, Allie, won the 50 freestyle in 25.04.
Victoria Whitbeck, another standout from McGuinness, won the 200 individual medley in 2:12.93.
The Lewis sisters, Whitbeck and Madison Walters won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:47.12. All of those girls except for Macy Lewis are seniors.
Other standout performances
❚ Tulsa Bishop Kelley edged Carl Albert 300-299 in the boys division. The battle came down to the final race, the 400 freestyle relay. Tulsa Kelley’s Owen Anderson, Jacob Hoang, Caleb Gilbert and Preston Hoang won with a time of 3:24.32, while Carl Albert’s Dylan Garcia, Owen Ramirez, Shane McClung and Eli Steele placed fourth in 3:33.84. That gave Tulsa Kelley just enough separation to help it claim its fourth boys swimming title.
❚ Mount St. Mary’s Keegan Lassiter won the 200 freestyle in 1:47.88.
❚ Carl Albert’s Kaleb Vaughn captured the title in the 100 butterfly (51.98). Vaughn, Steele, Brian Lam and Jackson Bales won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:33.27.