Pool stars: How the Lone Peak girls, American Fork boys won 6A state swim titles
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- The Lone Peak girls swim team poses for photos after winning the state title at the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Lone Peak senior Taylor Bennett celebrates after setting a new state record in the girls 50-yard freestyle during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- The American Fork boys swim team poses for photos with the state championship trophy after the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- The Lone Peak girls swim team is joined by the Knight boys team to celebrate the girls winning the state title after the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- The American Fork boys swim team celebrates winning the state title by jumping into the pool after the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- The Lone Peak swim teams splashed in celebration after the girls won the state title at the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- The Lone Peak girls swim team celebrates winning the state title by jumping into the pool after the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- American Fork senior Truman James competes in the boys 100-yard butterfly during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Lone Peak senior Taylor Bennett competes in the girls 100-yard freestyle during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- The Lone Peak 200-yard freestyle relay team of sophomore McKenna Garlick, senior Sophie Topham, senior Taylor Bennett and freshman Anastyn Kennard stand atop the podium after winning their race during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Lone Peak senior Taylor Bennett celebrates after setting a new 6A record in the girls 100-yard freestyle during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Lone Peak sophomore Sarah Favero competes in the girls 200-yard freestyle during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- The Lone Peak girls swim team poses for photos with the state championship trophy after the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- American Fork senior Jaxon Fellingham celebrates after his team won the boys 400-yard freestyle relay during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- The Lone Peak 400-yard freestyle relay team completes an exchange during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove senior Ruby Homer celebrates after winning the girls 100-yard breaststroke during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove senior Ruby Homer (center) stands atop the podium after winning the girls 100-yard breaststroke during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove senior Ruby Homer celebrates after winning the girls 100-yard breaststroke during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Lone Peak senior Sophie Topham (right) congratulates sophomore Sarah Favero after they finished first and second in the girls 200-yard freestyle during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- The American Fork boys medley relay team of senior Makai Smith, junior Zack Stevens, senior Jaxon Fellingham and senior Truman James stand atop the podium after winning their race during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Lone Peak sophomore Sarah Favero starts the girls 200-yard medley relay while her teammates look on during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- The Skyridge girls swim team poses for photos with the runner-up trophy after the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- The American Fork boys 400-yard freestyle relay team of senior Jaxon Fellingham, sophomore Sam Petersen, senior Truman James and senior Max Dickson stand atop the podium after winning their race during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- American Fork senior Jaxon Fellingham competes in the boys 400-yard freestyle relay during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- American Fork senior Max Dickson competes in the boys 400-yard freestyle relay during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- The American Fork 400-yard freestyle relay team completes an exchange during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- American Fork sophomore Sam Petersen takes a deep breath before the start of the boys 400-yard freestyle relay during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Skyridge junior Connor Clark celebrates after winning the boys 100-yard breaststroke during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Skyridge junior Connor Clark competes in the boys 100-yard breaststroke during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- American Fork senior Truman James (center) stands atop the podium after winning the boys 100-yard backstroke during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- American Fork senior Truman James competes in the boys 100-yard backstroke during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- American Fork senior Addie Harding (left) stands atop the podium after winning the girls 100-yard backstroke during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- American Fork senior Addie Harding competes in the girls 100-yard backstroke during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Swimmers arch back off the wall to start the girls 100-yard backstroke during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- The Lone Peak boys 200-yard freestyle relay team of junior Xander Berg, senior Tate Johnson, junior Jason Dumas and sophomore Beck Johnson stand atop the podium after winning their race during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Lone Peak sophomore Beck Johnson celebrates after swimming the anchor leg of the boys 200-yard freestyle relay during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Skyridge junior Kara Moir (center) stands atop the podium after winning the girls 500-yard freestyle during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Skyridge junior Kara Moir (left) and sophomore Ellie Sintay compete in the girls 500-yard freestyle during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- American Fork senior Jaxon Fellingham (center) stands atop the podium after winning the boys 100-yard freestyle during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Skyridge senior Mason Hemmert (right) congratulates American Fork senior Jaxon Fellingham after Fellingham won the boys 100-yard freestyle during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Lone Peak senior Taylor Bennett (right) stands atop the podium next to Pleasant Grove senior Sophie Scoville after they finished first and second in the girls 100-yard freestyle during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- American Fork senior Truman James (right) stands atop the podium next to Lone Peak sophomore Beck Johnson after they finished first and second in the boys 100-yard butterfly during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Lehi junior Alyssa Soderquist (left) stands atop the podium next to Lone Peak senior Grace Wilson after they finished first and second in the girls 100-yard butterfly during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Lehi junior Alyssa Soderquist competes in the girls 100-yard butterfly during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Skyridge senior Mason Hemmert (center) stands atop the podium after winning the boys 50-yard freestyle during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Skyridge senior Mason Hemmert celebrates after winning the boys 50-yard freestyle during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
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- Lone Peak senior Taylor Bennett (left) and Pleasant Grove senior Sophie Scoville dive into the pool at the start of the girls 50-yard freestyle during the 6A finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
More than a Dynasty, the Cardiac Kids and the Race Queen.
Those are just three of the dozens of stories that came out of Saturday’s 6A state swim meet at the Richards Building in Provo, an event the showcased the tremendous talents of hundreds of athletes.
But what great stories and performances they were.
Only two teams — the Lone Peak girls and the American Fork boys — got to bring home state championship trophies but how they accomplished those feats and the experiences of so many swimmers made for a compelling conclusion to the 2024-25 season.
Here is a look at a few of the top tales from Saturday’s finals:
The Race Queen
During her freshman, sophomore and junior years, Lone Peak’s Taylor Bennett compiled an impressive collection of 6A girls distance swimming awards, including winning the 200-yard individual medley three times with a title and two runner-up finishes in the 500-yard freestyle as well as a host of relay titles and state records.
But heading into her senior year for the 2024-25 season, Bennett went a different direction.
“The past three years I’ve done the 200 individual medley and the 500 free, and this year I wanted to switch it up a bit and do the 50 and the 100 free,” Bennett said. “It was definitely a really good change and I’m really glad I did it.”
She explained, however, that it required a dramatic change in how she approached everything.
“I switched club teams the beginning of my senior year, and just training has been different,” Bennett said. “It’s been really exciting. I felt really confident in those events. I’m really happy that I was able to show that I can do sprints.”
Knight head coach Celeste Tiffany explained that there was never any doubt about Bennett’s ability; it was just making the decision to go for it.
“She’s always been capable of swimming the 50 and 100 free,” Tiffany said. “That’s always been a really strong skillset of hers, so it was really neat to see her completely embrace it this year. She worked hard on her starts and her water transitions.”
Despite not having competed in those events at state before, Bennett proved to be more than just capable.
Not only did she win both races on Saturday but she also smashed the state record in the 50-yard freestyle, finishing in 23.06 seconds.
“That was so fun,” Bennett said. “It’s all really technical and it’s all about the mindset. Anything can go wrong. I think that just being in the zone, having confidence and setting it up right is key.”
She admitted that before the finals, she felt more stressed out than about any of the other races.
“I was really nervous because it isn’t my favorite,” Bennett said. “But then I swam it so well. I was shocked when I touched the wall and saw the time on the board. I was just so happy that I was able to execute as well as I did.”
Few high school swimmers have won state titles in their careers in both the sprints (the 50 and 100-yard freestyles) and the distance events (200-yard individual medley and 500-yard freestyle) but Bennett earned her spot on that list as one of the most versatile swimmers ever.
The Cardiac Kids
Anyone looking for drama at Saturday’s finals had to keep an eye on the Caveman boys squad. American Fork always seemed to be part of the most exciting races.
One example was Caveman senior Jaxon Fellingham and his sprint duels with Skyridge senior Mason Hemmert.
“I’ve been competing just a little bit less than two years now, but Mason’s been my biggest driving competitor for quite a while,” Fellingham said. “But me and Mason and all those boys in that pool have had a great relationship. I love those boys.”
Hemmert held off Fellingham in the boys 50-yard freestyle in both the preliminaries and the finals, although his margin in the preliminaries was just 1/100th of a second (21.38-21.39).
When the 100-yard freestyle came around though, it was Fellingham’s turn.
“That race was fun,” Fellingham said. “Going out in the first 50, I was like, all right, I’ve just got to dive off and hit my dive, and then break out and go, go, go. Personally, I’m better underwater so I was like, if I’m going to win the race it will be underwater.”
But Hemmert was right there with Fellingham all the way as the two talented athletes churned as hard as they could toward the wall.
“On the way home, I could see a little hand creeping up there around the 10-yard mark so I knew he was with me,” Fellingham said. “I knew I had to make my move there. I just brought it home, and right there, me and him.”
When the water settled after they both touched and looked up at the results, they showed that Fellingham had doubled Hemmert’s 50-yard freestyle prelim margin — winning by 2/100ths of a second (47.16-47.18).
“We just go back and forth,” Fellingham said. “It was awesome. I had so much fun and came out with the gold medal.”
The first person to congratulate the Caveman swimmer on his win was Hemmert, who had a huge grin on his face as he reached across the lane line toward Fellingham.
“He’s a dog, man,” Fellingham said with a grin. “I love him to death.”
While that individual finish was the best of the meet, the 6A boys team competition was just as dramatic.
Fellingham and American Fork were locked in a dogfight with Lone Peak and Mountain Ridge for the top spot, with the Sentinals only trailing the Cavemen by four points heading into the final event: the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Fellingham had the anchor leg in the relay and said the everyone knew what was on the line. He said the Caveman team that also included sophomore Sam Petersen and seniors Max Dickson and Truman James were confident in their ability but couldn’t make any mistakes.
“All we had to do is have safe starts,” Fellingham said. “We knew we had the talent to make it happen with really safe starts. The coaches told us to just wait until the previous swimmer touched the wall. Once they touch the wall, then you can go. There was no point in playing with really risky starts because it was not going to do us any favors.”
American Fork head coach Michael King explained that there was a very good reason to emphasize that point and make sure the swimmers understood.
“Last year we got disqualified on that relay,” King said. “So we talked about taking care of our own business and making sure we did what we needed to do.”
The Cavemen swimmers did just that and even with the added emphasis on safe starts, American Fork powered through the relay and set a new 6A record (3:10.54).
“We wanted to make sure we were safe and we still set the record, so it was the best of both worlds for us,” Fellingham said.
King said the drama of the final race and the way his athletes handled it was a fitting outcome since that was how the Cavemen got to that point in the first place.
“The team as a whole executed flawlessly,” King said. “It was awesome.”
More than a Dynasty
While Bennett’s success was certainly a highlight for the Lone Peak girls team, it was one of many such performances for the Knights as they dominated the competition again.
Lone Peak scored an amazing 404 total points, 228 more than second-place Skyridge. The Knights got event wins in the 200-yard medley relay, the 200-yard freestyle (sophomore Sarah Favero), the 50-yard freestyle (Bennett), the 100-yard freestyle (Bennett), the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay, as well as dozens of key individual scoring efforts.
Meanwhile, the Lone Peak boys team was also making a fantastic effort and although the Knights ended up third overall, they far surpassed expectations heading into the meet.
Tiffany said that it was no accident that both the Lone Peak boys and girls teams did so well because she saw them develop their abilities together all season.
“The way these kids came together, we’ve really never quite seen something as unified,” Tiffany said. “You can see what you can do when you are a team and with our men as well. It’s pretty unfathomable what these kids did together. That’s really what it was. Our margin this year was complete unification. The kids came together and you can obviously tell they love each other. It’s unbelievable.”
Tiffany explained that she saw both the boys and the girls bring important elements to the table that they were able to take advantage of from each other.
“They have fed off each other all year,” Tiffany said. “Our boys really brought a real light-hearted, engaged fun, which was really good for our women’s team. And our women brought a fierce competitiveness that they knew what they could do. So together it worked really well.”
Bennett said that she couldn’t have imagined it being any better for her senior year.
“It was phenomenal,” she said. “I love Lone Peak swimming with all my heart. To be a part of the women’s team and have a five-peat this year has been so rewarding. And then our men just blew us away. I’m so proud of our men. It’s just been so rewarding for this senior year.”
Other superlatives
While those were three of the top stories, so many other Utah Valley athletes had their own special moments:
- Skyridge junior Kara Moir and sophomore Ellie Sintay had one of the closest finishes in the girls 500-yard freestyle with Moir edging her Falcon teammate for the top spot by less than a second (5:24.51-5:25.41).
- Pleasant Grove senior Ruby Homer got to savor a big celebration after winning the girls 100-yard breaststroke (1:09.70), including having her closest competitors repeatedly laud her performance on the podium.
- Lehi junior Alyssa Soderquist was able to hold off Lone Peak senior Grace Wilson to win the girls 100-yard butterfly title.
- American Fork senior Addie Harding pulled away from the field to get first place in the girls 100-yard backstroke.
- Caveman senior Truman James won both of his individual events, winning the boys 100-yard backstroke (50.41) and the 100-yard butterfly (50.26).
- Skyridge junior Connor Clark just out-touched Mountain Ridge sophomore Ethan Brown to get the top spot in the boys 100-yard breaststroke.
In the team competition, Region 3 had the top three girls teams (No. 1 Lone Peak, No. 2 Skyridge and No. 3 Lehi) while it had three of the top four boys teams (No. 1 American Fork, No. 3 Lone Peak and No. 4 Skyridge).
5A swimming: SF’s Riding wins 200-yard freestyle
Spanish Fork senior Coco Riding said although there were some nerves she felt she was ready heading into the 5A state finals at the Richards Building in Provo on Saturday.
“I definitely had a good chance of winning because I knew I could just trust my training and go fast,” Riding said. “I was going quick in practice and I trust my coaches. They set me up perfect. I just tried to not really think about it and just go out and swim.”
She explained that once she dives into the pool, there isn’t time to be thinking much.
“There is some technique but I’m just kind of swimming,” Riding said. “You have less than two minutes, so thinkings doesn’t help you much. Most of the time I just trust my training.”
After slicing through the pool in the 200-yard freestyle and touched the wall, she got to savor the experience of looking up at the board and seeing that she came in first.
“I’ve never had that before, not in club, not in high school,” Riding said. “I was really excited. All my teammates were so happy. It just like felt really good to know that the hard work has paid off.”
Riding — who is heading to Utah Tech to swim at the next level — had one of the few highlights of the meet for Utah Valley-area athletes. The only other winner was Wasatch junior Ava Diedrichs, who got the top spot in the 100-yard freestyle.
The best performance of the meet came from BYU commit Abe Astle, who broke four state records for Olympus.
High School
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