3A high school girls swimming championships: Bulldogs put an 'exclamation point' on the year

PROVO — The Judge Memorial girls swimming team got done what they set out to do — and more — at the 3A Utah High School State Championships at BYU on Saturday.

"Coming in, we wanted to accomplish three things: have fun, do our best and let the score take care of itself," Bulldogs coach Matt Finnigan said after his team took the state title in overwhelming fashion. "So I guess they have one more trophy now."

Judge racked up 378 points to Desert Hills' second-place total of 254. Juan Diego was third (219 points), followed by Wasatch (212.5) and Park City (195).

Judge's Amelia Wolfgramm dominated in both the 100-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke.

"Winning is fun and losing is not; we know the experience of losing and we don't want that," Wolfgramm said. "You swim for your teammates; even though you're in that water by yourself, I feel like swimming is very much a team sport."

Kelsey Leeson of Juan Diego collected another win, this time in the 100-yard butterfly, and was part of two victorious Juan Diego teams in the 400-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle relays.

Leeson's win in the 100-yard butterfly was a close call, something she said she wasn't fully aware of while in the moment.

"I saw her in my peripheral vision, but I was trying not to concentrate on that."

Amelia Draney turned in an amazing performance in the 500-yard freestyle, shattering the state record by more than six seconds (5:03.07).

"I went out really easy and then let it all go later," said an ecstatic Draney after her victory. "I'm just really excited right now. It's everything you think about. I felt more confident today; I got the nervousness out yesterday."

Waterford's Aspen Johnson took first in the 100-yard breaststroke.

"It's really an exclamation point on the season," Finnigan said. "When you work hard for a long time, that's when amazing things can happen."

3A Girls Swimming State Championship

Day 2

At BYU

Girls

Final Team Standings