Lady Jays Compete at MSHSAA Swimming Championships; Kauffeld Earns All-State Honors
Washington High School competed in eight events at the MSHSAA Class 1 Girls State Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday and Friday, February 15 and 16, at the Rec-Plex in St. Peters.
The Lady Jays competed in five individual events and for the second year in a row, all three relay events.
The top eight finishers in the preliminaries of each event advanced to the championship heat. Those who finished in places 9-16 in the preliminaries qualified for the consolation heat.
The top eight finishers in each event earned all-state honors.
“It was fantastic to qualify eight entries. The ladies did a beautiful job of representing themselves, their families and their Washington Blue Jays,” said Washington Coach Tracy Moreland.
Leading the Lady Jays was senior Ava Kauffeld, who earned all-state honors in the 100 breaststroke for the second straight year, placing sixth in a time of 1:08.62. She also finished sixth in the preliminaries in 1:08.28.
Kauffeld also competed in the 200 individual medley, where she finished 10th in the preliminaries in 2:16.48 to advance to the consolation heat. In the consolation race, she placed second in 2:16.99 to finish 10th overall.
“Ava is no stranger to all-state honors in the 100 breaststroke. This is the second year she has accomplished that feat,” Moreland said. “There isn't an event Ava doesn't swim well, but she definitely shines when it comes to breaststroke. I wish her the best as she continues her swimming career in college.”
Zoey Ziegler, a senior, also competed in two individual events, the 100 freestyle and the 100 backstroke. She finished 19th in the 100 freestyle in 56.42 and 27th in the 100 backstroke in 1:05.81.
Maddy Henderson, a senior, competed in the 100 butterfly, where she placed 29th in 1:06.72.
Washington also competed in all three relay events.
The 200 medley relay team of Brooke Schoonover, Ziegler, Kauffeld and Henderson placed 11th in the preliminaries in 1:56.90 to qualify for the consolation heat. In the consolation race, they placed fourth in 1:57.24 to finish 12th overall in the event.
Washington’s 400 freestyle relay team of Mia Mahon, Ziegler, Henderson and Kauffeld placed 21st in 4:00.77.
Washington’s 200 freestyle relay team of Olivia Mahon, Mia Mahon, Henderson and Schoonover finished 30th in 1:52.69.
Washington finished 22nd in the Class 1 team standings with 30 points.
See pictures below of Washington competing at the MSHSAA Class 1 Swimming Championships.
Washington senior Ava Kauffeld earned all-state honors in the 100 breaststroke, placing sixth in a time of 1:08.62.
Pictured is the Washington High School girls swimming team at the MSHSAA Championships. Front row, from left, are Ava Stone, Hannah Schneider, Kate Eckelkamp, Olivia Mahon, Tatum Reubell and Caroline Guinn. Back row, from left, are Assistant Coach Bob Sander, Anna Bade, Zoey Ziegler, Mia Mahon, Ava Kauffeld, Maddy Henderson, Brooke Schoonover and Head Coach Tracy Moreland. Not pictured is Dayton Griesheimer.
Pictured are seniors on the WHS Girls Swimming team. From left are Zoey Ziegler, Mia Mahon, Ava Kauffeld and Maddy Henderson.
Pictured are WHS swimmers who competed at the MSHSAA Class 1 Swimming Championships. From left are Ava Kauffeld, Maddy Henderson, Mia Mahon, Brooke Schoonover, Olivia Mahon and Zoey Ziegler.
Ava Kauffeld
Ava Kauffeld
