Bend's girls swim team had a meet for the ages in the state championships last year, taking first in nine of the 11 events to rack up a 5A record 119 points, more than the next three teams combined.
With their top four swimmers eligible to return this season, it appeared that the Lava Bears were primed to smash some records, in particular the 200-yard medley relay, which set an all-time OSAA record of 1:41.91.
Unfortunately for them, senior Kamryn Meskill – a three-time state champion in the 50 freestyle and two-time champion in the 100 freestyle – has moved out of state, putting a dent in some of those expectations.
“We might not get the records like we got last year,” said first-year coach Alexandra Winslow, who was promoted from assistant after Brandon Powers resigned. “But I do think our relays without her have a good chance of placing in the top three, hopefully No. 1.”
Bend, which has won five state championships since 2015, remains the overwhelming favorite to win a third consecutive 5A title. The Lava Bears have a power-packed lineup that is headed by juniors Maddie Thornton and Emma Bronson and senior Hadley Hayes, the other three members of the record-setting relay and all individual state champions.
“They have great spirits when it comes to racing and being in the water,” Winslow said. “They're all really good leaders in the sense that they like to help the others. They like to win. They cheer each other on, push each other. They really feed off each other.”
Last year, Thornton repeated as champion in the 100 backstroke and captured the 200 IM. Her winning backstroke time of 54.94 came within an eyelash of the 5A record of 54.91, set by Bend's Elliyana Ferrin in 2017.
Considering the personal bests that Thornton recorded in the Junior Nationals West meet in mid-December, the University of Georgia-bound Thornton is ready to make some new entries in the state record book.
Thornton finished the 100 backstroke in 54.18, faster than the 5A record and within striking range of the OSAA meet record (53.71, Emily Cook, Jesuit, 2017). She swam the 200 IM in 1:59.97, better than the 5A record (2:00.45, Kelsey Wasikowski, Crescent Valley, 2023) and closing in on the OSAA meet record (1:58.95, Keaton Blovad, Lakeridge, 2016).
Bronson transferred from cross-town Mountain View as a sophomore and made a big splash, breaking Meskill's 5A record to win the state title in the 100 butterfly (55.47). She also placed second to Thornton in the 100 backstroke.
But Bronson has made dramatic strides since the state meet. At Junior Nationals West, she swam the 100 butterfly in a personal-best 53.05, faster than the OSAA meet record of 53.13 (Michelle Cefal, Westview, 2013).
Hayes, the reigning state champion in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.81), also could make her mark in the record book. At the Oregon Senior Open last month, she swam a personal-best 1:02.94 in the breaststroke, inching toward the 5A meet record of 1:02.51 (Viola Teglassy, Crescent Valley, 2023).
Bend won all three relays at state last year after taking two in 2023. The absence of Meskill creates open spots, giving opportunities for some of the Lava Bears' younger swimmers to shine.
Sophomore Ayla Vodak, strong in the 100 freestyle, is a likely candidate in the 400 freestyle relay.
“For the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay, we're still in limbo about who we're going to put in there,” Winslow said. “It kind of depends on how some of the other girls do 50-free wise.”
Sophomores Ellie Goldblatt and Rebekah Williams, state qualifiers last year, are among the other relay candidates. Two freshmen – freestyler Rowan Long and breaststroker Ella McGonigal – also could be in the mix.
An influx of young swimmers has boosted the team's turnout to the mid-30s, up about 10 from last season. The Lava Bears “feel the expectation” to compete at a high level, according to Winslow, who was a senior on Bend's 2015 state title team.
“I think all the girls have that motivation, like they want to be a part of a team that goes to state and becomes state champions,” Winslow said. “I think we have really good potential at keeping up as state champions.”
jerryu@osaa.org
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