Splash zone: Skyridge boys swimming repeats as 6A champs
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- Skyridge swimmers pose for photos after winning the state title at the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Skyridge junior Mason Hemmert celebrates after winning the 100-yard freestyle during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- The Skyridge team of Wade Ogden, Sam Mortensen, Nate Moir and Mason Hemmert pose for photos after winning the 200-yard freestyle relay during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Skyridge sophomore Connor Clark competes in the 200-yard medley relay during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Skyridge senior Lincoln Burr competes in the 200-yard medley relay during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Skyridge swimmers prepare for the 200-yard medley relay during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Skyridge junior Mason Hemmert competes in the 200-yard freestyle during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- The Skyridge medley relay team of Lincoln Burr, Connor Clark, Dillon Giraldi and Skyler Taylor pose for photos after winning the 200-yard medley relay during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Skyridge senior Wade Ogden competes in the 200-yard individual medley during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Skyridge junior Mason Hemmert (center) poses for a photo after winning the 200-yard freestyle during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Skyridge senior Wade Ogden (top) and American Fork junior Truman James compete in the 200-yard individual medley during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Skyridge senior Wade Ogden (right) and American Fork junior Truman James congratulate each other after in the 200-yard individual medley during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Lone Peak freshman Beck Johnson competes in the 100-yard butterfly during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Lone Peak freshman Beck Johnson competes in the 100-yard butterfly during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Lone Peak senior Weston Steward (right) congratulates Skyridge junior Mason Hemmert after the 200-yard freestyle relay during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- during the 6A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Skyridge swimmers pose for photos after the boys won the state title and the girls came in second at the 6A swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Skyridge swimmers celebrate after the boys won the state title and the girls came in second at the 6A swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Springville senior Easton Mousser compeste in the 500-yard freestyle during the 5A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Springville senior Nathan Anderson (center) starts the 200-yard medley relay during the 5A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Timpview junior Casey Cummard prepares for the 200-yard freestyle during the 5A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
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- Springville senior Nick Oman dives into the pool in the 200-yard medley relay during the 5A boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
Skyridge senior Nate Moir stepped up onto the starting platform for the start of the 100-yard breaststroke championship at the 6A state boys swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday.
He had finished the preliminary race with the best time, so he was in prime position in Lane No. 4.
But what made that race truly unique was that when he looked to his left to Lane No. 5 and the second-fastest qualifier, he saw Falcon senior teammate Wade Ogden. And when he looked to his right to Lane No. 3 and the third-fastest qualifier, he saw Skyridge sophomore Connor Clark.
A minute later, he got to celebrate with Ogden and Clark as Moir won the race in 58.58 seconds, while Wade Ogden came in second (58.85 seconds) and Clark was third (1:00.12).
“I loved the 100-yard breaststroke with Wade and Connor, being able to take top three with those guys,” Moir said. “It was really fun.”
That race highlighted the Falcon depth and talent, which overpowered the competition to give Skyridge its second-consecutive 6A state title.
“It was incredible,” Moir said. “It was so much fun to have a second shot at taking state. It was totally different going from being underdogs to defending the title but it was still so much fun. All these guys came together. We’ve worked hard.”
Falcon head coach Matt Cox said he was thrilled to see his athletes enjoy success to defend the team title with 365 total points (Lone Peak was second with 292 points).
“The boys are incredible,” Cox said. “They’ve been led by a wonderful group of seniors. Nate Moir, Wade Ogden, Lincoln Burr and then our other captain, Jacob Southwick. They have done an amazing job setting the tone for the team and being an example of hard work and focusing on the process over results.
“It’s really hard to repeat. It’s really easy to think, ‘Oh, I’ve been there, done that’ and let your guard down. And that group of boys made sure that everybody worked all year round.”
The Falcons had individual winners in the 200-yard freestyle (junior Mason Hemmert, 1:43.28), 200-yard individual medley (Ogden, 1:57.30), 100-yard freestyle (Hemmert, 46.78)
Skyridge also won the 200-yard medley relay (1:37.64), 200-yard freestyle relay (1:26.05) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:11.31).
“These two days were so crazy with ups and downs,” Ogden said. “It was just so much fun. This last day was stellar and everyone did so well.”
One of the things Cox said his seniors should be most proud of was leading the evolution of the Falcon program to becoming champs.
“We’ve had a lot of individual success at Skyridge,” Cox said. “The seniors paved the way for team success. Ogden was second place in the breaststroke, although at times he’s been faster than Nate. He’s sacrificed not to be in the medley relay but be one of our freestyle leadoffs. They set that kind of example of sacrifice for the good of the team. Hopefully that carries on to the juniors and sophomores to follow them.”
Moir and Ogden said they hope the legacy of the Skyridge senior class is one of earning success through working hard.
“We were the first to take state last year and then were able to take it again this year,” Moir said. “That change that’s been made is not only with swimmers taking first but with the team. We’ve grown over the years and it’s been amazing. Whether or not Skyridge wins again, it’s always going to be something special.”
Ogden said: “A lot of seniors are leaving this year but next year we will still have a bunch of strong and competitive athletes. I have a feeling they are going to do really well. I think what we did was help set goals for them and I think it will be awesome.”
American Fork junior Truman James was the other individual boys champion as he won the 100-yard backstroke (50.99) and the Cavemen finished third overall.
Springville boys take fourth in 5A swimming finals
The Red Devils were able to have some solid performances as they came in behind swimming powers Olympus, Brighton and Skyline in the 5A state swimming finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday evening.
The Red Devils got a third-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay, while Springville senior Easton Mousser ended up third in the 500-yard freestyle and fourth in the 200-yard freestyle.
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