By Michael Adams
madams@onthesidelinessports.com

The 2024 UIL Class 5A and 6A swimming and diving state championships begin on Friday.

Thirty-six boys and girls swimmers and divers, along with 17 relay teams from the Greater Austin Metro Area qualified for the meet, scheduled for Feb. 23-24 at the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.

On the Sidelines Sports put together of teams and swimmers to watch at this year’s state meet.  

Class 6A UIL State Championships

Feb. 23-24 at the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, University of Texas, Austin

Diving prelims: 2:50 p.m., Friday, Feb. 23

Swimming prelims: 3:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 23

Finals: 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 24

Class 5A UIL State Championships

Feb. 23-24 at the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, University of Texas, Austin

Diving prelims: 8:50 a.m., Friday, Feb. 23

Swimming prelims: 9:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 23

Finals: 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 24

Teams to watch

Westlake girls

Westlake won three-straight girls Class 6A state championships from 2014 to 2016 but are always in the mix. The Chaparrals finished fourth last year but are always serious contenders for a team title.

Georgetown boys

With four individuals and two relay teams participating in the state meet, Georgetown’s boys are legit contenders to repeat as Class 5A boys state champions.

LASA boys

With the most qualifiers at the state meet, the Raptors could be in contention for a state title with the right placements in each event. LASA has two relay teams and swimmers in four events.

Westwood girls

With two relay teams, a diver and two individual events, Westwood could compete for one of the three team spots on the podium with the right placements. It might be an uphill in a stacked Class 6A girls field.

Athletes to watch

Bianca Hutter, Westlake, sophomore

Hutter finished third as a freshman in Class 6A girls 1-meter diving finals last year. She is a heavy favorite to bring home gold in this years state meet. Hutter’s score is nearly 20 points better than the second-best score.

Celeste Donegan, Westlake, junior

Donegan is a member of the Chaparrals’ 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay teams that finished third and fourth, respectively, a year ago. Both teams are contenders to medal this year. Individually, Donegan is part of a group with the top eight times in the Class 6A girls 100 freestyle that are separated by less than 0.7 seconds.

Oliver Rowe, Round Rock, junior

Rowe is a newcomer to the state meet and holds the top qualifying time in the Class 6A boys 200 boys freestyle, but it’s by a very slim margin. Rowe and Humble Atascocita’s John Simmons are separated by .02 seconds. It will be one of the more exciting races on Saturday should both make the finals as expected.

Aaron Gordon, Vandegrift, junior

Gordon is a member of both the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams that competed last year. The 200-medley team finished third. This year, Gordon will be on both teams again, but is a favorite in the 100 backstroke. He enters the state meet with the second best time in the event at 49.15 seconds.

Ella McQuinn, Rouse, senior

McQuinn returns to the state meet after bringing home bronze in the Class 5A girls 100 freestyle a year ago.  She is a medal contender in both the 100 free and 50 free this year. She enters with the second-best time in the 100 free at 41.01 seconds and her time in the 50 free is only .6 seconds behind the tip time in the event.

Iris Burns-Trahanovsky, McCallum, sophomore

Burns-Trahanovsky has the fourth highest qualifying score in the Class 5A girls 1-meter diving field. However, she’s going to have to have a good showing as the topo three scores are 55 points better.

Kai Funaro, Rouse, junior

Funaro placed seventh in the Class 5A boys 50 freestyle last year and returns this year as part of a competitive field of swimmers. His time of 20.77 is the fourth fastest among the field of 16; however, the top five – which includes Georgetown’s Marcus Pinerio – are only separated by .6 seconds.

Evan Roberts, Cedar Park, senior

Roberts enters the Class 5A boys 100 butterfly with the third best qualifying time at 49.94, which is only .34 seconds slower than Prosper Walnut Grove’s Grayden Barker. Roberts is also a medal contender in the 100 backstroke. His qualifying time of 51.15 is the third best among the field of 16.

Jeremy Kelly, Georgetown, senior

Kelly won gold medals in the Class 5A boys 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle last year as a junior. He will return to defend his state championship in the 100, but not the 50. Kelly is the favorite in the 100 freestyle with a time that’s .53 seconds faster than the second-best qualifying time. He’s also a medal contender for the 100-yard breaststroke with the second fastest time of 57.51.