While other state events such as state track and state football often take the spotlight at schools like BT, state swim is an extremely well-attended event with representation from almost every corner of the state of Nebraska. Every year, the Nebraska State Swimming and Diving Championships bring together the fastest and most dedicated high school athletes from across the state. Hosted at the Devaney Center pool at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the event is the culmination of months of early mornings, intense trainings, and fierce competition.
Swimmers compete not just for individual success, but also for team glory. With events ranging from 50-yard freestyle races over in 25 seconds to long 500-yard marathons, the event tests physical endurance as well as mental fortitude. The atmosphere on the pool deck is electric. Teammates crowd behind the starting blocks, cheering at the top of their lungs, while coaches analyze every aspect of swimmers’ races down to the millisecond.
Fellow BT swimmer Dash Dunning said his favorite part of the meet was swimming with senior captain Taco Steiner and watching a friend win the state 200 IM race. BT freshman Millie Knudson broke a 9-year-old Nebraska state record in the Girls’ 50‑yd Freestyle, with a new record time of 22.63. She also placed 2nd in the 100 freestyle prelims before winning the event in the finals.
The 400 free relay team, which included BT swimmers Ella Anderson and Millie Knudson, placed 7th in prelims and improved 6th in the finals. On the boys’ side, sophomore Dash Dunning finished 5th in the Consolation Finals of the 400 Free Relay.
Overall, both boys and girls teams had their highest finish since Coach Parmenter and Coach Nelson took over the program in 2017, marking a major step forward for BT swimming.
