Louisburg girls swim hoping for more state success

By Andy Brown
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Updated: March 28, 2025

**Louisburg senior Sabra Brueggen will try for her fourth straight season with a state medal in 2025 as she is one of three seniors on the team.**

For the Louisburg girls swim team, the 2024 season was a memorable one.

Sabra Brueggen swam at state in two individual events and medaled in one. The Wildcats qualified for state in all three relays and made the consolation finals in two.

Janie Harth also qualified for state in an event and the Wildcats had their best season in the young history of their program.

As good as that year was, Louisburg is hoping for bigger and better things in 2025. The Wildcats had five state qualifiers a season ago and all five are back and are led by three seniors in Sabra Brueggen, Janie Harth and Cadence Weichert.

As for the Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg-Spring Hill team itself, it has seen a big jump in numbers. The team has 27 members out this season, including 13 new athletes.

“These ladies have been working hard in practice already this season and preliminary time trials show we are picking up right where we left off at state last season,” coach Mary Argeropoulos said.

Brueggen is a returning state medalist for the Wildcats after she took fourth in the 200-yard individual medley and also qualified for state in the 100 backstroke. She has medaled at state the past three seasons and is looking to bring home more hardware for her final campaign.

“Sabra has performed so well for herself in high school competition,” Argeropoulos said. “This season we are looking for new best times, pushing the limits of her athleticism, and having the most enjoyment possible for this final high school swim moment. She should once again, have her choice of individual events at state and she’ll lead her relays to state success as well.”

***Louisburg senior Janie Harth swims the freestyle during the state meet last season.***

Harth and Weichert also return as they both bring back a lot of experience. The two Wildcat seniors competed in all three relays at state, while Harth earned a spot in the 50 freestyle.

“These two seniors have put the work in both out of season and in season,” Argeropoulos said. “They continue to improve each year, and we expect this year to bring more individual best times, hopefully with a return individually to state, and big contributions as the backbone to their relays. Janie swam the 50 free last year at state but was super close in several other events and Cadence has always been knocking on the door of individual events for state as well.”

Sophomores Ella Bockelman and Talen McMurray played big roles on the team last season as freshmen as both swam on state relays. They will be joined by foreign exchange student, Makayla Ellis, who also brings some swim experience.

“We anticipate returning all three relays to state prelims and are looking to improve our finals standings,” Argeropoulos said. “We will focus meet to meet on the task at hand and will be hunting down those qualification times.

“Sabra, Janie and Cadence lead the charge, but the position of that final spot will be interesting this season. Ella filled those shoes last season, but Talen was always hot on her heels. Australian foreign exchange student Makayla Ellis adds tons of swimming experience to our team this year and has potential for individual as well as relay contributions.”