Wildcat swim qualifies two relays for state at Blue Valley Southwest

By Andy Brown
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Updated: May 7, 2025

Louisburg senior Janie Harth swims the freestyle during a meet earlier this season. Harth, Sabra Brueggen, Ella Bockelman and Makayla Ellis qualified for state in the 200 and 400 free relays on May 3 at Blue Valley Southwest.

OVERLAND PARK — The Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg-Spring Hill girls swim team faced one of its toughest tests of the season on May 3 as it traveled to the Timberwolf Invitational at Blue Valley Southwest High School.

The 14-team meet provided a lot of obstacles, but the Miami County team had its best showing at the meet in program history as it took third with 128 points. Southwest won with 263 and Lansing was second at 244.

“Blue Valley Southwest is one of the biggest, most competitive meets we attend currently and the ladies stepped up to the mark,” coach Mary Argeropoulos said. “Attitudes and outlooks were positive and those turned into quality swims and a solid team performance.”

It was a strong showing from the Louisburg side as the Wildcats qualified for state in four more events, including a pair of relays.

Sabra Brueggen Janie Harth, Ella Bockelman and Makayla Ellis qualified in both the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays. In the 200, the Wildcats took fourth in a state qualifying time of 1 minutes and 51.43 seconds

In the 400 relay, the Louisburg quartet did much of the same as they finished fourth in 4:10.94 and the Wildcats have now qualified all three relays for the state competition.

“The Louisburg relays have been capable all season to throw down those state times, it was just a matter of all 4 athletes putting in the efficient swim at the same time,” Argeropoulos said. “There was a little shake up in personnel and everyone performed admirably.

“There is a friendly, fierce competition going for many slots in all three relays so it will be exciting to see what the make-up of each race holds. I’m sure the athletes, and I know the coaches, were relieved to put those qualifying times onto paper and now we are ready to charge to state with all three relays.”

Brueggen also added two more individual state times to her resume. The Louisburg senior finished second in the 100 breaststroke in a state time of 1:14 and also took fifth in the 100 butterfly in a qualifying time of 1:04.

Harth also had a pair of top 10 finishes for Louisburg as she was seventh in the 50 freestyle and ninth in the 100 freestyle. Weichert took ninth in the 100 butterfly.

Louisburg is back in action on May 7 as the Miami County team will host its final regular season meet of the year at the Ozone in Osawatomie. Events begin at 4 p.m.