The 2025 Herald-Tribune Girls Swimmer of the Year, All-Area Team

At the tip of every season, The Herald-Tribune selects All-Area groups to honor the perfect athletes in each sport. Coaches from Sarasota and Manatee County faculties are despatched nomination kinds and are requested to appoint and fee their athletes in addition to these from different groups. That information, mixed with our analysis, led to the number of the All-Area staff. 

SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

Taylor Schwenk

School: Riverview

Year: Senior

The Riverview High ladies swim staff is on a stretch of excellence that nobody has been in a position to sustain with within the state.

The Rams gained their fifth straight state championship this season, which in fact implies that a number of of the staff’s swimmers are among the many finest within the state.

Naturally, that has created a excessive degree of competitors inside the staff and expectations which are difficult to fulfill.

Schwenk handled some doubt alongside the way in which this season, however overcame it to win particular person state championships within the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly.

“I’m proud of overcoming some mental challenges that I’ve had in the pool and having confidence in what I’m doing,” Schwenk stated. “I think I kind of saw the results of me having more confidence in myself paying off.”

That psychological power is one thing that Schwenk could have an opportunity to attract on within the close to future. The Rams senior is dedicated to NC State subsequent 12 months and has desires of someday changing into an Olympian — following within the footsteps of her father, Tripp Schwenk, an Olympic gold medal swimmer.

“I want to hopefully make the Olympics like my dad did,” Schwenk stated. “That’s something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a kid.”

What was your most memorable second this 12 months?

Schwenk: My 200 free relay. The majority of them have been freshmen and new ladies to our group. I simply actually preferred the environment and the power they introduced. They’re actually good folks, and so they made every part really feel lighter within the second.

What objectives are you continue to working towards?

Schwenk: I’m working towards competing on the highest degree. I’m dedicated to be within the NCAAs. I need to make NCAAs and do all of those wonderful issues, like my dad did. I’ve rather a lot to fill in that division.

How did you overcome your doubts this 12 months?

Schwenk: I educated laborious, remembered what I used to be doing, trusted my course of and thought every part via. I wrote lots of what I used to be pondering down, and I had a extremely good assist system.

FIRST TEAM

Danica Aten

School: Riverview

Year: Senior

Highlights: Aten swam the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard particular person medley and saved her finest for final. In the 100-yard breaststroke, she positioned second at districts, regionals, and the 4A state championships. In the 200-yard IM, she positioned fifth at districts, third at regionals, and fourth on the 4A state championships.

Clare Custer

School: Riverview

Year: Senior

Highlights: Custer was the Rams’ go-to swimmer in freestyle occasions and was particularly glorious within the 500-yard freestyle. She positioned first within the 500 at districts, regionals, and the 4A state championships. In the 200-yard freestyle, she positioned third at districts, first at regionals, and fourth within the 4A state championships.

Zoe Gruber

School: Out-of-Door Academy

Year: Junior

Highlights: Gruber was laborious to beat within the 200-yard particular person medley and the 100-yard breaststroke. In the 200-yard IM, she positioned first at each districts and regionals and third on the 1A state championships. In the 100-yard breaststroke, she positioned first at each districts and regionals and eighth on the 1A state championships.

Sydney Hardy

School: Riverview

Year: Freshman

Highlights: Hardy was one of many prime swimmers within the space regardless of being only a freshman. She positioned first within the 200-yard particular person medley and the 100-yard breaststroke at districts and regionals, and positioned second within the 200-yard IM and first within the 100-yard breaststroke on the 4A state championships.

Sofia Krajewski

School: Cardinal Mooney

Year: Sophomore

Highlights: Krajewski led Cardinal Mooney with prime finishes within the 200-yard particular person medley and the 100-yard backstroke. In the 200-yard IM, she positioned second at each districts and regionals and positioned seventh on the 1A state championships. In the 100-yard backstroke, she positioned first at each districts and regionals and sixth on the 1A state championships.

Angelina Lista

School: Riverview

Year: Junior

Highlights: Lista was used primarily within the 100-yard butterfly and the 50-yard freestyle. In the 100-yard butterfly, she positioned first at districts and regionals and third on the 4A state championships. In the 50-yard freestyle, she positioned second at districts and regionals and seventh on the 4A state championships.

Sophia Malkowicz

School: Riverview

Year: Sophomore

Highlights: Malkowicz was versatile for Riverview as a prime competitor within the 200-yard particular person medley and the 100-yard backstroke. In the 200-yard IM, she positioned second at districts and regionals and third on the 4A state championships. In the 100-yard backstroke, she positioned first at districts and regionals and fifth on the 4A state championships.

Makala Milburn

School: Venice

Year: Senior

Highlights: Milburn was a distinction maker for Venice within the 500-yard freestyle and the 200-yard particular person medley. In the 500-yard freestyle, she positioned sixth at districts, fifth at regionals, and 14^th on the 4A state championships. In the 200-yard IM, she positioned eighth at districts and regionals and 10^th on the 4A state championships.

Arabella Newport Derbyshire

School: Out-of-Door Academy

Year: Junior

Highlights: Newport Derbyshire excelled within the 100-yard backstroke and the 100-yard butterfly. In the backstroke, she positioned second at each districts and regionals and fifth on the 1A state championships. In the butterfly, she positioned first at each districts and regionals and positioned third on the 1A state championships.

Alexandra Pearson

School: Riverview

Year: Freshman

Highlights: Pearson was a specialist within the 50-yard freestyle and excelled, inserting first at districts and regionals.

Jessica Robie

School: Riverview

Year: Senior

Highlights: Robie was probably the greatest freestyle swimmers within the state. In the 500-yard freestyle, she positioned at districts, regionals, and the 4A state championships. In the 200-yard freestyle, she positioned second at districts, third at regionals, and fourth on the 4A state championships.

SECOND TEAM

Nella Duty, Riverview

Lola Dumblewski, Riverview

Helaina Gunn, Out-of-Door Academy

Dru Hershberger, Out-of-Door Academy

Mae Hershberger, Sarasota Christian

Brenna Kagels, Venice

Izabela Lesniewska, Cardinal Mooney

Gwen Metz, Venice

Makalya Muneio, Bradenton Christian

Maya Nowakowski, Riverview

Ridley O’Regan, Venice

Brooklyn Peters, Sarasota

HONORABLE MENTION

Lakewood Ranch: Leah Abrams, Zharra Conner, Payton Griffin

Out-of-Door Academy: Georgia Henry

Riverview: Gemma Gledhill, Avery Green, Kinley Meislahn, Claudia Nowakowski, Taylor Wagner

COACH OF THE YEAR

John Bruenning

School: Riverview

Highlights: Bruenning led the Riverview ladies swim staff to a fifth straight state championship. The Rams have been loaded with gifted swimmers, and Bruenning discovered a manner for them to make some sacrifices — like swimmers competing in occasions outdoors of their typical consolation zone — to maximise factors and technique. With some breakout underclassmen on Riverview’s roster, the Rams are able to proceed their dynasty subsequent 12 months.