MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — The Waukee girls swim team captured its third consecutive state title on Saturday at the 2023 IGHSAU state swim meet in Marshalltown.
This was the team's final year competing as a combined team with Waukee Northwest before the Wolves split off to form their own team.
Waukee junior Willa Hage and Johnston junior Faith Frantum tied for athlete of the year.
Frantum took first in the 200-yard freestyle and repeated as state champ in the 500-yard freestyle.
"I think that my countless hours in the pool have contributed a whole lot," Frantum said. "And then also the time I've spent outside of the pool thinking about swimming at like the gym, visualizing spending time with my teammates and coaches and just talking about it."
Johnston head coach Darin Robertson praised Frantum for her hard work up until this big moment.
"She's worked so hard to get to where she's at. She knew that she had to swim her own race today and I mean there's a lot of great competition, but she was just using every bit of motivation she could," Robertson said.
Hage took first in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley. She also set new school record times in both events. She also helped Waukee win the 200-yard medley relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay.
"I think just my training and just like my teammates supporting me. And just during practice this whole season and putting in that work. It's really cool just to be able to do it with all these girls. A lot of them are seniors so it's really fun and it means a lot trying to get one last win together because next year we'll be splitting up," Hage said.
Here's a full list of final results: