Brueggen, Louisburg relays earn more state qualification times

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Louisburg girls swim saw its state qualification list grow quite a bit this past week and that included a pair of relays.

At the Turner Invitational on Tuesday, the Wildcat quartet of Sabra Brueggen, Janie Harth, Cadence Weichert and Ella Bockelman qualified for state in the 400-yard freestyle relay after they finished second in the event in 4 minutes and 9.80 seconds. They shave five seconds off their previous personal best time.

A week earlier, the same four swimmers competed at the Blue Valley Northwest dual and qualified another relay. They finished second in the 200 medley relay in 2:07.38.

Brueggen also qualified for state in the 50 freestyle at Blue Valley Northwest as she took first in 26.54 seconds.

At Turner, Brueggen won the 200 freestyle in a season-best time of 2:05.79 to earn a state bid in the event. She did the same in the 100 butterfly as she took second in 1:05.23.

The Louisburg group is also close to qualifying a third relay as they earned a state consideration time in the 200 freestyle relay at Turner with a first place finish of 1:54.49.

“We are so proud of Sabra for her continued state qualifications and new personal best times,” coach Mary Argeropoulos said. “We are also proud of those Louisburg relays. We have discussed many times that on paper their times should add up to a qualifying time, but each swimmer has to do their part to coordinate that great race. 

“The 200 relay continues to improve but that magical moment hasn’t landed just yet. We mixed up the traditional order of swimmers for the 400 relay at Turner, and boy, did that magic show up. A state qualifying leadoff leg, followed by all new PRs all around, was a recipe for a great time. The excitement on their faces after was priceless and they are ready to zip up all three relays for state.”

The Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg-Spring Hill team finished third overall as team in what was a challenging Turner meet. They recorded 32 new personal best times.

Harth finished second in the 50 freestyle in 27.71 seconds and was third in the 100 freestyle in a new personal best time of 1:02.79. Bockelman also took third in the 100 backstroke in a personal best time of 1:15.55.

Weichert finished fifth in both the 200 freestyle and 50 freestyle.

The Miami County team lost the dual to Blue Valley Northwest last week, 503-433, but earned 38 new personal best marks. 

Bockelman finished second in the 200 freestyle and fourth in the 100 backstroke. Harth was fourth in the 200 individual medley. 

Weichert took second in the 100 butterfly and was sixth in the 100 backstroke.

On Wednesday, the team concluded what was a busy week with a meet at Topeka-Hayden and took fourth with just six swimmers. Harth led the Louisburg side with a runner-up finish in the 100 butterfly and was third in the 100 backstroke.

The team is back in action this Tuesday at the Topeka West Invitational. 

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