In one of their best showings in the history of the Friendswood swim program, the Mustangs were edged out by Georgetown for the boys’ state swim championship.
The 2024 UIL state swim meet was held at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center on the University of Texas Campus in Austin.
In the battle for the boys’ state title — Georgetown scored 197 points to grab the team’s state title, while Friendswood scored 183 for second place.
Lubbock came in third with 145 points, while Frisco Heritage came in fourth with 126, and Fort Bend Kempner rounded out the top five with 122.5 points.
In the battle for the girls’ state title — Frisco Reedy scored 193 points to edge Lamar Fulshear for the team title, while Boerne Champion placed third with 164 points, and Friendswood placed fourth with 144 points.
88 Class 5A schools across Texas started the competition on Friday, with roughly two-thirds advancing to the finals on Saturday.
The 16 Mustang swimmers who competed were Olivia Esbeck, Edi Jakob, Andi Jeanes, Kk LeBlanc, Paige McCray, Lauren Tillman, Taylor Welch, Nick Hardt, Nate Henderson, Hayden Holcomb, Lane Jordan, Tony Laurito, Caleb Livesay, Marshall Odom, Paul Podrebarac, and Talon Welch.
Marshall Odom was named the 5A Boys State “Swimmer of the Meet” after he won three gold medals and one silver medal. Odom won the 100-yard butterfly, 50-yard free, and swam a leg on the state record-setting 200-yard medley relay and a silver medal with a leg on the second-place 400-yard free relay.
Others who captured medals at the state swim meet were:
Kk LeBlanc: 1st – 200 Free and 1st – 100 Free
Tony Laurito: 1st – 200 Individual Medley and 1st – 100 Back
Girls 400 Free Relay: 3rd – Paige McCray, Edi Jakob, Andi Jeanes, Kk LeBlanc
Boys 200 Medley Relay: 1st – Tony Laurito, Nick Hardt, Marshall Odom, Caleb Livesay
Boys 400 Free Relay: 2nd – Marshall Odom, Nick Hardt, Caleb Livesay, Tony Laurito
There were also six new Friendswood HS records set at the state meet.
The Mustang Swim and Dive Team is led by head coach Craig Sikkema and varsity assistant coach Smith.
