Leopard Swim Team Leaves It All in the Pool at Regionals

The La Grange Leopard Swim Team delivered an inspiring performance at the Region 4 Championship Meet, giving it their all and pushing their limits in one of the toughest swimming regions in Texas 4A. Their coach challenged them to dig deep, and they rose to the occasion, proving their dedication and resilience in the pool.

Two-day swimming meets are demanding, not only physically but also mentally. The back-to-back races require endurance, perseverance, and the ability to stay focused despite fatigue. Swimmers must carefully manage recovery, maintain peak performance, and remain mentally strong through the highs and lows of competition. The ability to push through exhaustion and stay sharp under pressure is what sets great swimmers apart in these grueling meets.

Understanding the UIL State Qualification Process For those unfamiliar with the UIL state qualification process, only the top 16 swimmers in each event earn a coveted spot at the state meet. Swimmers must perform at their absolute best during preliminaries to secure a place in the top 8 and qualify for the championship final. The top 2 finishers from each of the four regions automatically advance to state, regardless of time. The remaining eight fastesttimes statewide round out the 16 state finalists.

Facing fierce competition, the Leopard swimmers displayed incredible determination, setting multiple school records and leaving a lasting mark on the program’s history. Their performance at regionals was nothing short of remarkable, proving the strength and dedication of La Grange swimming.

Leopard Boys’ 200 Freestyle Relay Breaks Through with Record-Setting Performance

The La Grange boys’ 200 freestyle relay team has been chasing school records all season, coming close but falling just short at every meet. However, at the Region 4 Championship Meet, they finally broke through in spectacular fashion.

In the preliminaries, the team delivered a standout performance, securing an 8thplace finish while shaving an impressive 2.19 seconds off their entry time. This earned them a spot in the championship final, but from an outside lane—a challenging position in any race.

Against the odds, Gavin Cook, Rogan Mihatsch, John Kaspar, and Hunter Sabo delivered a remarkable performance, finishing 7th overall and surpassing even their own expectations. They shaved another 2.32 seconds off their preliminary time, setting a new school record of 1:42.06—a testament to their perseverance and determination.

Though they narrowly missed qualifying for the UIL State Meet by just two places, their efforts did not go unnoticed. Based on statewide times, the boys’ 200 freestyle relay team concluded the season ranked 18th among all 4A teams in Texas—an incredible achievement that cements their place as a rising force in Texas high school swimming.

Leopard Girls’ Relay Teams Set Back-to-Back Records at Regionals 200 Medley Relay

The La Grange girls’ 200 medley relay team knew they had to secure a spot in the championship final if they wanted a shot at the UIL State Meet. Rising to the challenge, Celeine Fabre, Adysen Janacek, Hope Michalke, and Eleanor Carey delivered a record-breaking performance, finishing 7th in preliminaries and setting a new school record of 2:11.28.

With all four UIL regions competing on the same day, the girls knew that a 6th place finish in the finals would likely be their ticket to state. Determined to fight for their spot, they swam an even stronger race, finishing 7th in the final heat and breaking their own school record again with a time of 2:10.95. Unfortunately, they fell just one place short of earning the coveted state invitation.

Despite the heartbreak, the girls finished the season ranked as the 16th-fastest medley relay in 4A across Texas—a remarkable accomplishment.

200 Freestyle Relay

The girls’ 200 freestyle relay is one of the most demanding and competitive races, requiring both speed and precision. Knowing the high level of competition they were up against, the La Grange relay team stepped up with a record-breaking performance in the preliminaries, finishing 7th and setting a new school record of 1:54.42—securing their spot in the championship heat.

After reviewing their times, they knew they had to finish ahead of Davenport in the final to qualify for state. Coach Ledwik challenged them to give it everything they had, setting specific split goals for each swimmer. When it mattered most, the girls delivered under pressure, finishing 6th in the championship final while shaving another 0.80 seconds off their time.

Their incredible swim of 1:53.62 not only set another school record but also secured their ticket to the UIL State Championship Meet.

Relay members: Adysen Janacek, Celeine Fabre, Paige Michalke, and Eleanor Carey.

400 Freestyle Relay

The girls’ 400 freestyle relay delivered a standout performance, cutting 1.83 seconds off their previous time to set a new school record of 4:21.37 and securing a spot in the championship final. Despite the tough competition, the team rose to the occasion, delivering an exceptional race from lane 1 and narrowly missing state qualification by just one place.

Coach Ledwik praised their effort, noting that the girls posted some of their best splits of the season. Their hard work and determination paid off as they broke their own school record for the fourth time this year, setting the new mark at 4:21.05.

Based on statewide times, the girls’ 400 freestyle relay wrapped up their season ranked 15th in 4A across Texas—an incredible achievement highlighting their dedication and progress.

Relay members: Eleanor Carey, Madeline Willrich, Celeine Fabre, and Adysen Janacek.

Coach’s Reflection & Other Notable Performances

Coach Ledwik added that this was the first time in the school’s history that any of her relays had made it to the championship finals.

“I asked my swimmers to give me more than they ever had before, and each time I did, they found another gear,” she said.

Other notable performances at regionals: Boys 200-Yard Medley Relay – 9th place: Rogan Mihatsch, Gavin Cook, Hunter Sabo, and John Kaspar.

Girls 50-Yard Freestyle – 13th place: Eleanor Carey; 14th place: Paige Michalke.

Girls 100-Yard Butterfly – 14th place: Hope Michalke; 15th place: Elena Supak.

Boys 100-Yard Freestyle – 16th place: John Kaspar.

Girls 100-Yard Backstroke – 14th place: Laney Herdler.

Boys 100-Yard Breaststroke – 11th place: Gavin Cook.

Boys 400-Yard Freestyle Relay – 12th place: John Kaspar, Rogan Mihatsch, Hunter Sabo, and Gavin Cook.

A Season to Remember With the season coming to an end, the swimmers should be incredibly proud of their accomplishments and the legacy this team has created. They have represented La Grange High School with pride, dedication, and passion, pouring their hearts into the sport of swimming. Their hard work and achievements will leave a lasting impact on the program for years to come.

“This has truly been my best season,” said Coach Gretchen Ledwik.