Texas High School Swimming took center stage over the weekend at the UIL State Swimming and Diving Championships held at the University of Texas’ Joe Jamail Swimming Center. Athletes from across the state gathered to showcase their talents, chase records, and strive for medals. This year’s meet was punctuated by remarkable performances, with several swimmers achieving personal bests and breaking long-standing state records.
One of the standout athletes was senior Grace Rabb from Dripping Springs, who claimed two gold medals and was named the Girls Swimmer of the Meet. After moving to Texas from Minnesota just before the school year started, Rabb quickly made her mark by winning the Class 6A girls 200 individual medley (IM) with a stellar time of 1:56.40. This impressive feat not only secured her the gold medal but also broke the previous state record of 1:56.56, set by Westlake’s Mary Beck back in 2008. Rabb’s commanding performance saw her finish more than two seconds faster than the runner-up, Keller’s Avery Collins.
Rabb wasn’t done yet. She added another gold to her collection by winning the 100-yard backstroke, again breaking another state record with her time of 53.01 seconds, eclipsing the previous record of 52.48 set by Lucie Nordmann of The Woodlands. To cap off her successful day, she also helped her team, Dripping Springs, take gold in the 400-yard relay, contributing to her remarkable haul of three medals.
Meanwhile, Amarillo High’s Alec Purdy delivered one of the most exciting moments of the Class 5A competition. The junior swimmer surprised everyone, including himself, by finishing the 100-yard butterfly event with a time of 49.69, earning him the bronze medal. Remarkably, Purdy's time was his fastest ever and marked the first time an Amarillo ISD swimmer took home state hardware since 1989. Coach Ron Lee praised Purdy for his strategic execution during the race, which was neck-and-neck with Austin Liberal Arts and Sciences Academy swimmer ZJ Hays. Their simultaneous touch at the wall resulted in both sharing the bronze medal.
The 100 fly event was particularly thrilling, as Purdy expressed excitement, saying, "I was holding my breath" just as the race reached its climax. Prosper Walnut Grove’s Grayden Barker topped the event with gold, finishing just one second faster than both Purdy and Hays.
Not to be outdone, Bowie junior Rowan Cox emerged as another remarkable talent, capturing gold in the 100 butterfly with an astounding state-record time of 46.19 seconds. This victory marked Cox’s first state gold medal after previously earning bronze as a freshman. Cox's day continued with another podium finish; he took silver in the 100 backstroke, with Humble Atascocita’s John Simmons winning the event.
Westwood senior Rafael Wang capped off his high school swimming career with both gold and silver medals. Wang secured his gold during the 100 breaststroke competition and previously earned silver earlier in the day during the 200 IM.
Rabb, Purdy, and Cox were among several athletes from Central Texas who put their talents on display, with others also achieving noteworthy finishes. For example, Ella Mongenel from Cedar Park won gold in the 50 freestyle and silver in the 100 freestyle, and Brooke Frushour of Leander won gold in the 100 backstroke along with silver in the 100 butterfly.
She and her teammates celebrated success as their efforts contributed to team points, enhancing their schools' standing. The fierce competition among Texas’s best young swimmers reflected the hard work, sacrifice, and sheer dedication all athletes displayed coming to this prestigious state event.
Coefficients of pride among athletes were high, with many noting how much it means to them to perform well at the state level. Rabb, who is headed off to swim for the University of Florida next year, exclaimed her gratitude, clutching her medal tightly, "I'm so thankful for the opportunity to achieve my final goal."
Westlake's 200 freestyle relay team and Vandegrift’s 400 freestyle relay team also enjoyed success, bringing home silver and bronze medals, respectively. The performances throughout the day weren’t just about medals; they were moments of joy, camaraderie, and the forging of memories on the road to future aspirations charged with competitive spirit.
The excitement of the UIL State Swimming and Diving Championships was evident as these young athletes proved themselves on the big stage, embodying the essence of sportsmanship, but more so, setting the groundwork for future stars on the pathway to professional swim careers and perhaps future Olympic glory.