The 2024 Wyoming Girls’ Swimming and Diving State Championships, held over the weekend at the Cheyenne East Aquatics Facility, showcased thrilling competition and team triumphs as Lander claimed the Class 3A title with dominating performances, while Laramie emerged victorious in Class 4A through impressive depth across events.
Lander secured a powerful win in the Class 3A division, winning 11 of 12 events and racking up 431 points to finish far ahead of runner-up Cody, who scored 199 points. Junior standout Katy Anderson led the Tigers, defending her 100-yard backstroke title and clinching the 100 butterfly as well. Anderson and freshman Sara Kearns contributed two individual wins each, with Anderson also swimming for gold in the 200 medley and 400 free relays. Sophomore Emily Plaisted and freshmen Vayda Havens added to Lander’s remarkable record with two event victories each, helping the Tigers break school records in three individual events and two relays.
“We put in the work, and it was amazing to see it all come together… They left everything in the pool,” said head coach Erik DeClue, honored as 3A Coach of the Year.
In the Class 4A competition, Laramie’s strategy relied on consistent depth rather than numerous event wins, allowing them to outpace rivals and finish with 231.5 points, just ahead of Green River’s 208 points. Senior Maggie Turpin clinched her second state diving title, and the Plainsmen secured a gold finish in the final 400 free relay, led by senior Brooklyn Smith, junior MacKenna Schabron, and sophomores Libbie Roesler and Addi Graves, sealing Laramie’s seventh 4A title in eight years.
Green River, moving up from Class 3A to 4A this year, put forth a strong showing with individual titles from senior Tanith Smith in the 50 free and junior Tavia Arnell in the 200 IM and 100 fly, along with relay victories in both the 200 medley and 200 free.
Jackson junior Amaya Olivieri repeated as champion in the 100 back and added a win in the 100 free, while teammate Maren Tattersall claimed the 200 free title for the second year, also securing the 500 free championship. Campbell County’s Brooke Noble emerged victorious in the 100 breaststroke for 4A.
The Wyoming Coaches Association released the All-State awards following the championships. Notably, Green River’s Tanith Smith and Lander’s Lara Robertson achieved All-State honors for all four years of their high school careers, joining an elite group in Wyoming high school swimming.
The high-stakes atmosphere, with team chants, favorite tunes, and intense relays, kept the energy high as athletes delivered memorable performances. Celebrations erupted as Lander’s championship team and coaches plunged into the pool in triumph.
Casper Star Tribune, County 10, and Wyopreps.com contributed to this report.
