Wildcat swimmers hope to bring home medals from state meet

By Andy Brown
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Updated: May 16, 2024

***Louisburg swimmers (from left) Talen McMurray, Sabra Brueggen, Janie Harth, Ella Bockelman and Cadence Weichert will compete in the Class 5-1A state meet this weekend.***

The Louisburg girls swim team is becoming more and more of a fixture at the state level and the Wildcats will be well-represented again at the Class 5-1A state meet this weekend.

Five Wildcats will compete among the best the state has to offer as they try to bring home state medals. Juniors Sabra Brueggen, Janie Harth and Cadence Weichert, along with freshmen Ella Bockelman and Talen McMurray, will hit the waters at the Shawnee Mission Aquatic Center in Lenexa beginning Friday morning.

“The level of anticipation is crazy at this point,” coach Mary Argeropoulos said. “We are so proud of these hard working ladies. They have pushed and pushed this season, and in previous seasons, to put themselves in the place they find themselves. It’s certainly not by accident.”

Brueggen has the most state experience in the group as this will be her third state meet. Last season, she came home with two state medals and earned another one as a freshman.

***Louisburg junior Sabra Brueggen will compete in two relays at state, and in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke. Brueggen has medaled at state the last two seasons.***

She will swim in the preliminaries of the 200-yard individual medley, along with the 100 backstroke — an event she has medaled in the last two seasons.

“I am so excited to compete at state again this year, and I am even more excited to see how much success we can put together in our three relays that are competing,” Brueggen said. “This weekend I am hoping to swim personal best times in all of my events as well as medal top eight in my individuals and maybe even a relay.”

As for Harth, she will just be the second Wildcat in school history to participate in an individual event as she qualified in the 50 freestyle in 27.22 seconds.

Harth, along with Weichert, participated in the state meet last season in a pair of relays with Brueggen. They will do the same again this season.

***Louisburg junior Janie Harth will swim the 50 freestyle at state Friday, along with three relays.***

Brueggen, Harth, Weichert and freshman Ella Bockelman will swim the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. They are currently sitting with the 22nd and 17th fastest times, respectively.

McMurray will join Harth, Weichert and Bockelman in the 200 freestyle relay as they are currently 19th.

“We have been laser-focused in these last few weeks, nailing down all the fine details of our swims and relay pieces,” Argeropoulos said. “We are expecting fast swims with beautiful exchanges as Cadence, Janie and Sabra introduce the freshmen girls to state competition. We are right within striking distance for relays to place in the top 16 and will want each swimmer to put together their best during prelims.

“It’s truly thrilling to have Janie join the fastest girls in the state in the 50 Free and we’d love to see an all time personal best from her on Friday. Sabra is capable of repeating on the medal podium in both of her events this weekend and we look forward to another great backstroke race and can’t wait to see how she puts together her new try at the 200 IM.”

Although Brueggen has experienced a lot of success individually at the state level, she is looking forward to seeing what she can accomplish with her teammates.

“I am so excited for all five of the Louisburg girls to get experience and swim at the state meet,” Brueggen said. “We worked hard all season to get these state cuts and to actually accomplish them means that we now have the opportunity to make lasting memories together at this competitive meet.”