Louisburg qualifies 2 relays for state; Brueggen to try for second state medal

Louisburg’s Dana Mattison swims the freestyle leg of the 200-yard medley relay earlier this season. Cadence Weichert, Sabra Brueggen, Janie Harth and Mattison qualified for state in the medley and freestyle relays.

OSAWATOMIE — Louisburg sophomore Sabra Brueggen has already qualified for state in several events this season.

Now her Louisburg teammates will get to experience that with her.

Brueggen, along with Janie Harth, Cadence Weichert and Dana Mattison, qualified for state in the 200-yard medley relay on May 3 during the Osawatomie Invitational. The Wildcat quartet took second and they qualified for their second relay on May 10 during the Independent League Championships. 

Harth, Brueggen, Weichert and Mattison finished second at the ILC meet in the 200 freestyle relay in a time of 1:54.37, which earned them spot at the state meet.

“It was absolutely thrilling to slide both relays into the state line-up,” coach Mary Argeropoulos said “The girls work hard in practice and it’s so nice to see the results of that hard work.”

The Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg team finished third overall in the league competition with 270 points. Fort Scott won the league crown with 431.

The team had plenty of highlights from the meet, including a second place finish in the 200 medley relay, and league championship finish for Brueggen in the 50 freestyle in 26.29 seconds.

Louisburg sophomore Sabra Brueggen will compete in the 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle at state this weekend in Topeka.

Brueggen also went on to finish second in the 100 freestyle in 57.07 seconds, while Mattison was second in the 500 freestyle in 6:46. Weichert was third in the 200 freestyle in 2:33.

Now the team will split off for the Class 5-1A Kansas State Swim and Dive Championships this Friday and Saturday in Topeka.

Along with the two relay spots, Brueggen qualified for state in six events, but is only allowed to compete in two. She chose to compete in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

Those were the same two events she competed last year, where she came home with a medal. She medaled fifth the 100 backstroke a year ago, and just missed a medal by one spot in the 50 freestyle.

“We didn’t know how this season would go for Sabra coming off injury, so we are so proud of all her hard work both in and out of the pool to return to state with such a big statement,” Argeropoulos said. “She qualified in six events this season and had her pick for state. We feel she has chosen wisely and put herself in a great position to take the medal stand on Saturday.”

The Class 5-1A state meet will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka. Prelims will take place on Friday, with the finals starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday.