Top boys, women highschool swimmers to observe in Polk County this fall

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The 2025 swimming and diving season is underway, and there are many acquainted faces within the pool, particularly for the boys.

George Jenkins’ Dylan Cardosi, a two-time boys swimmer of the 12 months, and Kathleen’s Ethan Ketchum, a first-team choice for diving, have graduated, however the remainder of the county’s high boys swimmers who had been first-team choices for the boys return.

For the women, McKeel’s Bryce Palmer, the ’24 women swimmer of the 12 months, is again together with George Jenkins’ Vanessa Calva, the opposite high contender for the award, are again, though 4 first-team choices have graduated.

While there are many acquainted faces, there’s one much less acquainted group as Lakeland dropped its swim program. Longtime coach Lee Stauffer retired two years in the past, and soccer coach Daniel Faint tried to take over this system final 12 months however could not proceed due to his work schedule.

Lakeland athletic director Tom Sasser hopes to have a brand new coach in place subsequent 12 months to rebuild this system. He stated the place has been posted for a 12 months with out success to find a brand new coach.

Boys Swimmers to observe

Marcos Cabrera, Lake Wales (Junior)

Cabrera is the preseason favourite to emerge as the highest boys swimmer. He was the county champion within the 200 particular person medley and 100 breaststroke. In the postseason, he dropped the person medley and added the 100 freestyle to the 100 breast and was district champion in each occasions. At regionals, he was second within the 100 breast and fifth within the 100 free and completed eleventh within the 100 breast on the state meet.

Jaxon Penick, Bartow (Sophomore)

Penick is the highest swimmer for Bartow, which has a brand new coach, Ingram Sinanan. Penick was the county champion within the 500 freestyle and took third at districts.

Kyle Hoerl, George Jenkins (Senior)

Hoerl returns because the Eagles’ high swimmer. He was the county champion within the 100 backstroke and took third at districts.

Ryan Fallaw, McKeel (Senior)

Fallaw gained the 200 particular person medley and 100 backstroke on the metropolis and district meets. He took second within the 200 IM on the county meet and was third within the backstroke.

Cal O’Connor, All Saints (Freshman)

O’Connor is the highest boys diver within the county. He positioned first at county and districts, third at regionals and tenth at state.

Dominic Nguyen, Lake Wales (Junior)

Nguyen gained the 50 free at districts and was runner-up within the 100 backstroke. He may additionally swim the 100 free.

Chance Swinburne, McKeel (Junior)

Swinburn was the county champion within the 100 free and took second within the 200 free. At districts, he was runner-up in each occasions and at regionals, positioned fifth within the 200 free and seventh within the 100 free. This 12 months, he would possibly drop the 200 free for one more occasion.

Nico Lee, George Jenkins (Junior)

Lee was Lakeland’s high boys swimmer. With Lakeland dropping its swim program, he’s now swimming for Jenkins. Last season for the Dreadnaughts, he positioned second within the 100 breast and third within the 200 IM in each the county and district meets.

Keegan Long, Auburndale (Senior)

Long returns for his senior season after being the county champion within the 50 free.

Gabriel Bourque, George Jenkins (Senior)

Bourque was county runner-up within the 50 free and fourth within the 100 free.

Oscar Munoz, Winter Haven (Junior)

Munoz completed third within the 100 butterfly on the county meet final 12 months and was fourth within the 50 free.

Tin Dang, McKeel (Senior)

Dan swims the 100 freestyle and the 200 particular person medley.

Andy White, Auburndale (Senior)

White swims the 100 breaststroke and completed seventh at county. He was additionally eighth within the 100 free.

Eduardo Ramirez De Arellano-Belen, Winter Haven (Junior)

De Arellano-Belen has proven enchancment within the offseason. He was seventh within the 100 again at county final season and likewise swam the 100 free.

Nathan Saylor, McKeel senior

Saylor swims the 100 free and 50 free and is effective on the relays.

Bryson Jones, McKeel (Eighth Grade)

Jones, an up-and-coming swimmer, swims the five hundred free and 100 backstroke.

Isaiah Lamb McKeel (Freshman)

Lamb swims the 100 butterfly and the 100 breast and is necessary on the relays.

Avery Simmers, All Saints (Senior)

Simmers swims the 50 free and the 100 free.

Brian Bohorquez, Lakeland Christian (Eighth Grade)

An up-and-coming swimmer, Bohorquez swims the five hundred free.

Sam Houghton, Lakeland Christian (Senior)

Houghton swims the 50 free.

Kolbey Cheston, Winter Haven (Sophomore)

Cheston was fifth final 12 months within the 200 medley at county and likewise swims the 100 free.

Zachary Sanchez, Winter Haven (boys)

Sanchez swims the 100 breast and the 50 free.

Girls Swimmers to observe

Bryce Palmer, McKeel (Junior) metropolis and county information

Palmer emerged as the highest women swimmer within the county. She gained the 100 butterfly and 100 breast on the metropolis and county mets. She was district champion within the 100 breast and positioned third within the 100 fly. At regionals, she completed fourth within the 100 breast and thirteenth within the fl,y then went on to complete ninth within the 100 breast on the state meet. She can even swim the person medley.

Vanessa Calva, George Jenkins (Senior)

Calva gained the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle on the metropolis and county meets. She additionally gained the 200 free at districts and was runner-up within the 100 free and certified for state in 200 free as first alternate.

Claire Scarborough, McKeel (Sophomore)

Scarborough is swimming for McKeel this 12 months after starting her profession at Lakeland Christian. She positioned first at metropolis and county within the 50 free final season, swimming for LCS.

Madeline Dolan, George Jenkins (Junior)

Dolan gained metropolis and county titles and was seventh at districts within the 200 IM.

Sophie Sliveria Lima, McKeel, Sophomore

Sliveria Lima completed as county runner-up, then gained the district title within the 100 again. She additionally swims the 100 free and the 100 butterfly.

Elin Jonsson, McKeel (Sophomore)

Elin Jonsson returns to highschool swimming, the place she was first-team as an eighth-grader after simply swimming membership final 12 months. She swims the 200 free and 100 again.

Lily Jonsson, McKeel (Senior)

Lily Jonsson returns to swimming after taking day off to get well from an damage she sustained previous to her sophomore season. She is the college document holder within the 500 free and the 100 butterfly.

Mali O’Connor, All Saints (Junior)

O’Connor is the highest returning diver. She was third on the county meet final 12 months.

Emma Ketchum, Kathleen (Sophomore)

Ketchum will problem for the county title. She was fourth on the county meet final 12 months.

Lucy Broyles, Winter Haven (Sophomore)

Broyles’ finest occasion is the 200 free. She completed fourth on the county meet and is the second-leading returner. She additionally completed eighth within the 100 free.

Nora VanGundy, Winter Haven (Junior)

VanGundy completed fifth within the 50 free ultimately 12 months’s county meet. She additionally took seventh within the 100 backstroke.

Jocelyn Chanthavongsa, McKeel (Freshman)

Chanthavongsa is a rising swimmer for McKeel. She was fourth within the 500 free at county final season and was third within the 100 breaststroke.

Joelle Borglund, McKeel (Freshman)

Borglund completed fourth within the 50 free and fifth within the 100 free on the county meet final 12 months.

Ady Warrick, Lake Wales (Junior)

Warrick, who is also taking dancing, was county runner-up within the 200 particular person medley and completed fourth within the 100 breaststroke. She can even swim the 100 again and the 100 free.

Callie Ruyle, All Saints, Sophomore

Ruyle’s finest occasion is the 100 again. She took third within the occasion at county final 12 months.

Gabrielle Lacen-Morales, Santa Fe Catholic (Sophomore)

Lacen-Morales is bettering within the butterfly. Last 12 months, she completed third within the 100 fly at county and took fourth within the 100 backstroke. She additionally swims the 50 free.

Quinn Reese, Lakeland Christian (Senior)

Reese is the Vikings’ high swimmer. She swims the 50 free.

Lyla Patterson, McKeel (Sophomore)

Patterson was sixth on the county meet final 12 months.

Ryleigh Rutherford, McKeel (Eighth Grade)

Rutherford offers McKeel two divers.