NatalieCusick

The swim and dive team defended their first place title Feb. 25-27 with 16 gold medals in seven different events. They ended the meet 171 points above runner up Lincoln Southwest. Their 416-point total was the sixth highest point total in the state and third highest in Marian history. 

Senior Megan Carter started the state meet out with her fourth consecutive diving state championship. She now holds the second all-time highest score with 511.30 points and is the second girl in state history to win all four years. 

Senior Jojo Randby was a part of four winning events, two of which she was defending from last year. She had the second fastest time in state history in the 50 freestyle (23.01). This time also broke the school record, which makes two individual school records for her. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln commit also won the 100 breaststroke.

Close behind Randby’s medal count was sophomore Josie Hood, with three gold medals. Her individual first place in the 100 freestyle placed her at number nine in state history. “Winning as a sophomore is also scary because I feel like I have to win the same event my next two years. There is a lot of pressure around it to win, but as our assistant coach says, pressure is a privilege,” Hood said. 

Marian also had three winning relays. The 200 medley consisted of Maddie Clark ‘21, Jojo Randby ‘21, Rylee Trojan ‘21 and Katy Foley ‘23. The 400 freestyle relay featured Josie Hood ‘23, Molly Von Seggern ‘23, Katy Foley ‘23 and Rylee Trojan ‘21.

Finally, Marian secured the number four all-time spot in state records with the 200 freestyle relay team of Jojo Randby ‘21, Josie Hood ‘23, Jessica Brusnahan ‘21 and Molly VonSeggern ‘23.

Following the state win, coach B.J. Christiansen received the Nebraska Swimming Coaches Association Coach of the Year award. 

The swim and dive team may have experienced a lot of changes throughout their season due to the pandemic, but they ended the season with one thing that didn’t change- their state title. “COVID has changed a lot, but it hasn’t changed the fact that we are a team and wanted the best for our teammates. We all swam really well and I’m so extremely proud of everyone that contributed to our state championship,” Randby said.