Introducing the Wichita Eagle All-Metro girls swim and dive team for 2025 season
The Wichita area featured some of the best high school girls swimmers and divers in Kansas this season, and that star power is highlighted on 2025 All-Metro team selected by The Eagle.
The All-Metro squad features the top swimmers, divers and coaches from teams in Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties. Selections are based on a heavy emphasis on postseason finishes.
After each winning gold medals at the Class 5-1A state meet, Trinity Academy senior Aleca Howard and Andover senior Mari Griffin were named Co-Swimmer of the Year on the All-Metro team.
Wichita Eagle All-Metro girls swim and dive team
Jillian Davis, Valley Center senior
A two-time All-Metro selection, Davis placed third at the 5-1A state meet in both of her open events: the 100 butterfly (58.34) and 100 backstroke (57.65).
Kiersten Elliott, Andover senior
A core member of the Trojans who helped the program win its second 5-1A team state championship. Elliott, a three-time All-Metro choice and Drury commit, was an individual state champion in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.75) and took fifth in the 100 free (53.64). She also swam a leg on Andover’s title-winning 200 medley and 400 free relays.
Mari Griffin, Andover senior
One of the most distinguished swimmers to come out of Wichita in recent memory, Griffin won another state title in the backstroke with a record-setting time of 54.88. She also placed second in the 200 IM (2:03.64), as the Arkansas commit and four-time All-Metro pick helped Andover win its second 5-1A state championship by also swimming a leg on the title-winning 200 medley and 400 free relays.
Aleca Howard, Trinity Academy senior
Another four-time All-Metro selection who etched her name in the history books as one of Wichita’s finest. Howard, a Missouri State commit, defended her title in the 200 IM (2:03.50) and also placed second in the 100 free (51.92) at the 5-1A state meet.
Jordan Kleeman, East junior
A double medalist in the 6A state meet, Kleeman took third in the 100 butterfly (57.89) and fifth in the 100 backstroke (59.47). The first-time All-Metro choice also swam a leg on East’s 200 free relay that took eighth.
Kate Kochenderfer, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior
A three-time All-Metro selection, Kochenderfer added two more individual medals from the 5-1A state meet this season. The Omaha commit took second in the 500 free (5:07.74) and fifth in the 200 free (1:56.54), while swimming a leg on Kapaun’s 200 free relay (fourth) and 400 free relay (sixth) that also picked up medals.
Briley Larcom, El Dorado senior
A Southwest Baptist recruit, Larcom earned his first All-Metro selection after placing third in the 50 free (24.43) and sixth in the 100 free (53.85) at the 5-1A state meet.
Sophia Mandanis, Andover senior
The third and final star in the Andover trio who helped the Trojans secure two 5-1A team championships during their career. Mandanis is a three-time All-Metro pick, as the Trinity commit took second in the 100 butterfly (58.33) and third in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.11) and also swam a leg on Andover’s title-winning 200 medley and 400 free relays.
Sydney Schumaker, Maize South junior
A first-time All-Metro selection, Schumaker was the top diver in the area this season. She placed third at the 5-1A state meet with a score of 393.1 points.
Genevieve Wilhite, Bishop Carroll junior
Wilhite made it 3-for-3 in her career with All-Metro selections, as she again came away with two medals from the 5-1A state meet: fourth in the 200 free (1:54.11) and fourth in the 100 backstroke (57.96).
Andover 200 medley relay
The relay of senior Mari Griffin, senior Kiersten Elliott, senior Sophia Mandanis and freshman Hollyn Griffin delivered Andover’s fourth straight 5-1A state title in the event with a record-breaking time of 1:46.09.
Andover 200 free relay
Even with Andover’s second wave of talented swimmers on the relay, the Trojans still managed to take third at the 5-1A state meet in a time of 1:44.12. The relay consisted of senior Anaya Madden, sophomore Brynn Eilert, freshman Ella Goodman and freshman Alli Zerger.
Andover 400 free relay
The same trio of seniors in Kiersten Elliott, Mari Griffin and Sophia Mandanis teamed up with freshman Hollyn Griffin to win another 5-1A relay title with a season-best time of 3:33.99.
Bethany Bastian, Andover coach
After winning the 5-1A team championship in 2022, Bastian and the same foundation of seniors in Kiersten Elliott, Mari Griffin and Sophia Mandanis won the Trojans their second team title in program history this season. Andover’s top-notch talent at the top and wave of depth was too much for anyone in the area to match.
All-Metro girls swimming second team
Sydney Albers, Heights senior
Maggie Bailey, Bishop Carroll junior
Faith Butler, Andover Central senior
Angela Ewert, Hesston junior
Hollyn Griffin, Andover freshman
Sienna Hurst, Andover Central junior
Camille Keeler, Maize South senior
Gabby Kinman, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior
Anaya Madden, Andover senior
Madelyn McCluskey, Maize South sophomore
Ridlee Parkhurst, Derby sophomore
Derby 200 medley relay (Ridlee Parkhurst, Hope Friedel, Leah Rogers, Michaela Blankenship)
Kapaun Mt. Carmel 200 free relay (Isabel Wentzel, Emily Kauffman, Kate Kochenderfer, Anna Vermeeren)
Andover Central 400 free relay (Lindsay McIntyre, Sarah McClellan, Faith Butler, Sienna Hurst)
Christine Vermeeren, Kapaun Mt. Carmel coach
All-Metro girls swimming third team
McKenna Blessant, East senior
Jane Carroll, Maize senior
Joaslyn Cox, Campus sophomore
Brynn Eilert, Andover sophomore
Hope Friedel, Derby freshman
Ella Goodman, Andover freshman
Quinn Hamilton, Andover Central freshman
Carlyle Johnson, Collegiate junior
Kaitlyn Ly, East sophomore
Lindsay McIntyre, Andover Central sophomore
June Schmidt, East junior
Kylie Thorn, Maize sophomore
Anna Vermeeren, Kapaun Mt. Carmel freshman
Alli Zerger, Andover freshman
Madey Zerger, Andover freshman
Bishop Carroll 200 medley relay (Genevieve Wilhite, Jada Kearn, Maggie Bailey, Laini Hesse)
Maize South 200 medley relay (Chloe Keeler, Camille Keeler, Madelyn McCluskey, Erin Wilson)
East 200 free relay (Jordan Kleeman, Kaitlyn Ly, McKenna Blessant, June Schmidt)
Maize South 200 free relay (Madelyn McCluskey, Erin Wilson, Chloe Keeler, Camille Keeler)
Kapaun Mt. Carmel 400 free relay (Isabel Wentzel, Alexandra Grimm, Kate Kochenderfer, Anna Vermeeren)
Derby 400 free relay (Leah Rogers, Hope Friedel, Michaela Blankenship, Ridlee Parkhurst)
Kirsten Nicholas, Andover Central coach
Tedd Gibson, Maize South coach
This story was originally published June 30, 2025 at 6:01 AM.
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