Dive Into Excellence: Meet the 2024 Boys All-Area Swimming Stars!

At the conclusion of each season, The News-Press identifies All-Area teams that acknowledge the top athletes in each sport. Coaches from local schools receive nomination forms and are invited to propose and evaluate their athletes alongside those from other teams. This information, along with The News-Press’ investigation, culminated in the choice of the All-Area teams.

FIRST TEAM

Emma Best

School: Cape Coral

Year: Senior

Highlights: In the 100 fly, Best clinched district and regional championships and placed eighth at the Class 3A state competition. In the 200 free, she secured the district title and finished 11th at state.

Katia Bushko

School: Estero

Year: Sophomore

Highlights: Bushko achieved an eighth-place finish in the 500 free at the Class 2A state competition and also qualified in the 200 free. She took second place in the 500 free at both regionals and districts.

Alejandra Figueroa

School: Cape Coral

Year: Junior

Highlights: At the Class 3A state meet, Figueroa placed 13th in the 100 back. At districts, she achieved second place in both the 100 back and 200 IM.

Daynna Franklyn

School: Cape Coral

Year: Sophomore

Highlights: Franklyn secured second place in both the 50 free and 100 free at districts. Competing in both events at the Class 3A state meet, she finished 19th and 15th, respectively.

Lily Jason

School: Estero

Year: Senior

Highlights: Jason clinched the district championship in the 50 free, placed third in the same event at regionals, and finished 10th at the Class 2A state meet. She also qualified for state in the 100 free.

Sarah Kirby

School: Estero

Year: Freshman

Highlights: Kirby placed second in the 100 free and third in the 200 free at districts. She qualified for the Class 2A state competition in both events and concluded with 12th and 13th places, respectively.

Sabrina Lara

Institution: Cape Coral

Grade: Senior

Achievements: At the district competition, Lara secured second place in the 500 freestyle and third in the 200 freestyle. She earned a spot in the state competition for the 500 freestyle, finishing in 17th position.

Skye Persechino

Institution: Oasis

Grade: Sophomore

Achievements: Persechino clinched the district championship in the 200 freestyle and achieved second place in the 500 freestyle. She qualified for the Class 1A meet in the 500 freestyle.

Karter Seluk

Institution: Estero

Grade: Freshman

Achievements: Seluk triumphed in both district and regional championships for the 500 freestyle and earned a silver medal in that event at the Class 2A state competition. Additionally, she qualified for states in the 100 butterfly, finishing in 14th place.

SECOND TEAM

Blair Bennett, Estero

Lexi Bulawan, Bishop Verot

Zoe Chuang-Saladin, Fort Myers

Alexa Ferro, Cape Coral

Kettner Lewis, Estero

Ava Romine, Cape Coral

Alaina Skaggs, Cypress Lake

Lex Spooner, Canterbury

Ashley Villaflor, ECS

HONORABLE MENTION

Canterbury: Chloe Lohser, Olivia Rectenwald

Cape Coral: Amy Barcena, Elise Meyers

ECS: Leah Chappell, Vivian Glover

Estero: Ava Alfano, Elysianne Davis

Island Coast: Briana Watson

North Fort Myers: Sasa Chu

Oasis: Amanda Saiz

Riverdale: Lyla Bredenkamp, Maddie Peterman

SFCA: Catalina Picon, Tatiana Picon

COACH OF THE YEAR

Heather Fort

Institution: Estero

Achievements: The Wildcats maintained an undefeated record during regular-season competitions and secured the LCAC championship by taking nine out of the 11 swimming events. At the Class 2A state meet, Fort’s team placed 13th, while freshman Karter Seluk earned a state silver medal in the 500 freestyle.