Lincoln Southwest swim teams bring home gold at states
The Lincoln Southwest Silver Hawks stole the show at the NSAA Swimming Championships, becoming the first school to sweep states since 1994.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Lincoln Southwest Silver Hawks stole the show at the NSAA Swimming Championships, becoming the first school to sweep states since 1994.
Both boys and girls teams finished the state swim meet at the top of the team standings, with the boys team edging Creighton Prep by 12.50 points, while the Silver Hawk girls narrowly defeating Omaha Marian by a two point margin.
Lincoln Southwest’s Boys 200 medley relay team of Mason Schroder, Kael Mlinek, Thomas Neil, and Tommy Palmer made history in their event, setting a state record time of 1:29.37.
“We just work so well together, at practices, at meets, we all know our part,” Palmer said.
The Silver Hawk boys also won the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Palmer won gold in the 50 freestyle and finished second in the 200 freestyle, while Mlinek finished first in both the 100 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke.
“We just kind of like to have fun and enjoy each other’s time as we’re swimming,” Mlinek said.
Southwest’s Bella Livingston was the lone Silver Hawk to finish first in an event, besting Marian’s Molly Von Seggern in the 50 yard freestyle in a photo finish.
“Just seeing that #1 by my name, I just burst into tears,” Livingston said. “It was very overwhelming, but I’m very happy and I’m very excited.”
Lincoln Southeast’s Natalya Woods also won two gold medals, finishing first in both the 200 and 500 freestyle events.
BOYS
1. Lincoln Southwest – 394.50
2. Creighton Prep – 382.00
3. Omaha Westside – 230.00
4. Elkhorn – 217.00
5. Lincoln East – 135.00
6. Millard North & Kearney (tie) – 111.00
8. Papillion-LaVista/Papillion-LaVista South – 105.00
9. Pius X – 100.00
10. Omaha Burke – 83.00
GIRLS
1. Lincoln Southwest – 294.00
2. Omaha Marian – 292.00
3. Omaha Westside – 207.00
4. Papillion-LaVista/Papillion-LaVista South – 173.00
5. Lincoln East – 162.00
6. Millard North – 146.00
7. Norfolk – 133.00
8. Lincoln Southeast – 105.00
9. Fremont – 102.00
10. Elkhorn – 86.00
