With a strong kick and a terrific second half, sophomore Jonah Park left the competition behind to become the 6A 500 freestyle State champion at the KSHSAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Topeka, Kan. on Feb. 18. Park posted a time of 4:39.78 besting the mark 0f 4:43.38 set by alum Michael Glenn in 2011.

     Park also placed 4th in the 200 freestyle and was a part of the 400 freestyle relay. His efforts placed Park on the list of athletes on those named First Team All-State. Several other Jaguars helped the team claim an eighth place finish among the 22 competing.

     Senior Mason Witterstaetter earned 22 points with a 9th place finish in the 50 freestyle and a 6th place finish in the 100 free. Witterstaetter joined Park on the 200 and 400 freestyle relays that placed 8th and 7th respectively. 

     Senior Chad Coates earned 10 points at the Championships with a 16th place finish in the 200 freestyle and a gutsy swim in the 100 butterfly. Coates came into the consolation final of the fly seeded 14th after dropping two seconds from his season best time. Coates dropped another three seconds in the consolation final to win the heat in a time of 55.37 and placing him 9th. He joined Park and Witterstaetter on the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

     Joining Coates in the 100 butterfly consolation final, junior Mitch DeWalt placed 12th. DeWalt joined the other top scorers on the 200 freestyle relay and served as the senior member of the 200 medley relay. Other members of the medley relay included sophomore Anthony Albarelli and freshmen Chase Lane and Trevor Sinclair. The medley relay placed 13th.

     Other State competitors included sophomore Trevor Baier and freshman Lucas Park.