TISCA swimming state champion Bryce Winzenread wears pink for a motive

• Homeschool scholar Bryce Winzenread received her third consecutive 100-yard breaststroke state title.
• Several swimmers, together with MBA’s Hutch Paxton and Collierville’s Ian Call, received their first TISCA state titles in shut races.

It began off as a enjoyable wardrobe selection. 

When she was youthful, Bryce Winzenread competed at meets sporting a pink-and-purple swimming cap with polka dots.

Now Winzenread’s solid-pink cap symbolizes one thing totally different, as she competes as an unattached homeschool scholar from Lebanon who has been dominant on the TISCA swimming state championships for the previous three years. 

“That’s my team color, I guess,” mentioned Winzenread, who’s a junior. 

More: Boston College swimming signee Quincy Topping cherishes first TISCA state title

Winzenread, who has dedicated to Indiana, received her third consecutive 100-yard breaststroke title on the TISCA swimming state championships with a time of 1:00.63 on Feb. 7.

Winzenread competed for Mt. Juliet as a freshman however has been unaffiliated the previous two seasons. She would not at all times have a squad of college teammates cheering her on at Centennial Sportsplex, however she will get numerous help from fellow rivals and swimmers at her membership. 

Her mother and father additionally wore pink shirts to the meet in solidarity. 

TISCA qualifiers are required to be represented by a coach. Winzenread’s dad, Stephen, accomplished the NFHS-required coaching this 12 months to fill that function for his daughter regardless of not having a swimming background.

“The fact that Tennessee allows homeschool students to participate in high school sports is phenomenal,” Winzenread’s dad  mentioned. “That doesn’t exist everywhere.”

Winzenread’s three-peat wasn’t a cakewalk. She outlasted Ensworth sophomore Salem Bahr (1:00.69) by six-tenths of a second in one of many evening’s closest races. 

“To be that close in a race and win, it’s so exciting,” Bryce Winzenread mentioned. “I think this year there was a lot more competition. A lot of people are improving. I knew it was going to be hard.”

MBA’s Hutch Paxton captures first TICSA state title

Hutch Paxton surged down the stretch for the 100-yard freestyle title, ending with a time of 44.34 in a thriller in opposition to Baylor School’s Ethan Gover, who swam a 44.40. 

Paxton, an MBA sophomore, completed second within the 100-yard butterfly (47.21) the earlier evening. 

“Getting second last night was a bummer. I’d probably consider the butterfly to be my best stroke,” mentioned Paxton, who missed eight weeks this season with a again harm. “So this one was really rewarding. One thing about this sport, you’ve got to learn how to flush stuff. Tonight, I came out here with no pressure.”

Gatlinburg-Pittman’s Kuba Shaw redeems himself in 500 free

Kuba Shaw, a North Carolina signee, didn’t go away Nashville empty-handed after capturing the 500-yard freestyle title in 4:23.81. 

The Gatlinburg-Pittman senior got here up simply brief within the 200 free the evening earlier than, putting second (1:36.39). 

“I lost that race (the 500) last year,” Shaw mentioned. “I really wanted it this year, my senior season. I had a great couple weeks of training coming into this. I’m not necessarily surprised by the way I swam this weekend. It’s hard, but it’s a fun meet.”

Collierville’s Ian Call wins TISCA state title in a thriller

It took Ian Call, a Collierville junior dedicated to Texas, a second to understand that he’d received the 100-yard breaststroke. 

“I knew it was really, really close. But everyone was blocking the board and I couldn’t see what happened,” Call mentioned. “When I saw the score, when I saw a 52, I was so happy.” 

Call’s 52.51 time was sufficient to seize his first TISCA state title over Concord Christian junior Landon Hall, who was proper behind at 52.80. 

Rottink twins from Houston win extra titles 

Houston seniors Roos and Eva Rottink, who’re twins, each captured their second particular person titles of the weekend. 

Eva, an Indiana signee, received the 100-yard backstroke in 51.99. She received the 100-yard butterfly title (52.88) on Feb. 6.

Roos, a Virginia signee, received the 100-yard freestyle in 49.53. She received the 50 free (22.67) on Feb. 6. 

Bearden’s Garrett Bailey wins diving state title

Garrett Bailey, a senior, received the 1-meter diving state title with a rating of 469.75.

Tyler Palmateer covers highschool sports activities for The Tennessean. Have a narrative thought for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.

He additionally contributes to The Tennessean’s highschool sports activities e-newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.