Members of the Wayne Dolphins competed in their final two meets of the season in July while coach Jaden Todd named his final 'Swimmers of the Week' in the most recent edition of the Wayne Herald.
Final Wayne Dolphin swimmers of the week recognized by coach Todd
Over the course of the 2025 Wayne Dolphin swim team season, coach Jaden Todd has provided the Wayne Herald 'Swimmer of the Week' honorees.
With the season in the books, a pair of swimmers were chosen for the July 9 Blair meet, a final individual from the East Husker Conference meet in West Point on July 13 along with a relay team being recognized.
Lillian and Cora McLaughlin (both eight and under girls) were named 'Co-Swimmers of the Week' following the Blair Invite.
“I couldn’t just give the swimmer of the week to one sister because both Lily and Cora were amazing at Blair," said coach Todd. "They just kept pushing themselves and winning their heats for all their events. By the end of the night they were wearing a lot of Hawaiian leis (handed out for heat winners). Great job to the McLaughlin girls.”
Moving into the jam-packed conference meet, Emily Gilliland (13 - 14 girls) was selected as the 'Swimmer of the Week' by coach Todd.
“It was truly tremendous and fun to watch Emily swim at conference," coach Todd added. "There are a lot of fast girls in this conference of 10 teams but none as fast as Emily. I truly didn’t expect a lot from a girl that swam in Wyoming but wow she has proven herself the best in the league. Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication towards swim and the Wayne dolphin swim team. Great work this swim season.”
Coach Todd of the Wayne Dolphins also wanted to highlight the 15 - 18 mixed freestyle relay being Cole Zach, Hallie Heithold, Clara Ankeny and Kyler Parker.
“Time to tell you the craziest freestyle relay I’ve seen in a while," coach Todd mentioned. "After being behind the Arlington freestyle relay by a body length, Kyler Parker anchored and dove in for the Wayne freestyle relay. He caught up and out touched Arlington by .10 of a second. But the out touch wasn’t enough for the judge who was officiating the swim meet and he gave the first place to Arlington. Even though the judge said Wayne got second, I’ll always remember the 15-18 freestyle relay that should have gotten first, great work guys.”
That's a wrap on the Wayne Dolphins Swim season as the Wayne Herald would like to wish the best of luck to all youth on their next athletic event or activity for the 2025-26 school year.
Wayne Dolphins conclude season with East Husker Conference, 16 champions crowned
Following two swim meets in West Point on June 11 and June 28, the Wayne Dolphins closed out their nine-meet schedule among top swimmers in the area.
Several conference champions were crowned by the Wayne Dolphins.
Back in West Point for a third time, the 2025 East Husker Conference took place on July 13 featuring nine teams who scored points in the overall team standings.
Wayne brought 40 athletes and stole the show scoring 513 points being well ahead of runner-up Hartington (36 athletes) with 380 points.
Blair (27) finished third with 237 points, West Point (19) took fourth with 231 points and Fremont (10) rounded out the top five teams with 196 points.
Emily Gilliand (13 - 14 girls) led the female division for the Wayne Dolphins with 42 points as Lennox Smith (9 - 10 girls) totaled 38 points.
Emily Gilliland won the 100-yard individual medley (1:19.9), the 50-yard backstroke (36.92) and 50-yard freestyle (31.12) as well as a second place time in the 50-yard breaststroke (41.96).
She was also on two third place mixed relays during the 200-yard medley performing the butterfly along with Kendall Klein (backstroke), Benjamin Patefield (breaststroke) and Alyssa Bargholz (freestyle) in 2:36.58 as well as 200m freestyle with Alyssa Bargholz, Alex Ziska and Penelope Zavada-Cupp during a time of 2:16.46.
Lennox Smith won both the 25-yard backstroke (21.58) and 25-yard freestyle (17.12), took second in the 25-yard butterfly (20.39) and third during the 100-yard individual medley (1:46.85).
She also was on two third place mixed relays performing the freestyle during the 100-yard medley along with Elizabeth Kuchta (backstroke), Megan Gilliland (breaststroke) and Thomas Plager (butterfly) in 1:39.32 as well as the 100-yard freestyle with Megan Gilliland, Elizabeth Kuchta and Thomas Plager during a time of 1:22.48.
Kyler Parker (15 - 18 men's) for the second meet in a row led the Wayne Dolphins overall and in the male division with 45.5 points as Cole Zach (15 - 18 men's) tallied 33.5 points.
Kyler Parker won the 100-yard individual medley (1:11.64), 50-yard butterfly (30.01), 50-yard backstroke (31.65) and 50-yard freestyle (27.13).
He was also on two mixed relay teams performing the butterfly during the first place 200-yard medley with Hallie Heithold (backstrokle), Cole Zach (breaststroke) and Clara Ankeny (freestyle) in 2:22.58 as well as a runner-up finish during the 200-yard freestyle along with Cole Zach, Hallie Heithold and Clara Ankeny during a time of 2:00.47 (first was 2:00.42).
Cole Zach won the 50-yard breaststroke (39.28) and third in the 100-yard individual medley (1:15.1), 50-yard backstroke (36.59) and 50-yard freestyle (29.24).
He also was on two mixed relay teams finishing first in the 200-yard medley and second during the 200-yard freestyle both listed with Kyler Parker.
Along with also finishing first, Thomas Plager (9 - 10 boys) broke the 25-yard buttefly team record with a time of 21.87 (previously held by Liam Rockhill in 2021, 22.02).
Other EHC Wayne Dolphin swim team champions were Nolan Plager (eight and under boys) in the 25-yard butterfly (30.4), Elsie Gilliland (15 - 18 women's) in the 50-yard butterfly (35.54), Kamdyn Parker (eight and under girls) during the 25-yard backstroke (29.42) and Clara Ankeny (15 - 18 women's) in the 50-yard freestyle (33.00).
Wayne Dolphins place third in Blair
Ahead of their final swim meet of the season, the Wayne Dolphins competed during a mid-week invite.
From Blair, the 2025 Blair Swim Meet was held on July 9.
The Wayne Dolphin swim team recorded a third place team finish among their 24 athletes scoring 305 points.
Blair held off Hartington (443-330) to win their home invite with 46 athletes compared to 26 athletes from Hartington.
The West Point Dolphins (20 athletes) took fourth with 253 points as Arlington (14 athletes) closed out the fop five teams with 191 points.
Hallie Heithold (15 - 18 women's) led the female division in scoring for the Wayne Dolphins with 41.5 points followed by Alyssa Bargholz (13 - 14 girls) with 37.5 points.
Hallie Heithold won the 100m individual medley (1:28.4) and 50m freestyle (34.93) while also taking runner-up in the 50m butterfly (40.26) and 50m backstroke (40.11).
She also was on two mixed relays performing the backstroke during the 200m medley with Haley Brogren (breaststroke), Kyler Parker (butterfly) and Alyssa Bargholz (freestyle) in 2:26.53 and second place 200m freestyle relay team with Alyssa Bargholz, Haley Brogren and Kyler Parker during a time of 2:09.62.
Alyssa Bargholz won the 100m individual medley (1:26.33), took second in both the 50m butterfly (38.5) and 50m backstroke (41.26) as well as a third place time in the 50m freestyle (34.06).
She was also on two mixed relays winning the 100m individual medley and second on the 200m freestyle relay previously listed both with Hallie Heithold.
Kyler Parker (15 - 18 men's) led the male division and also scored the most team points for the Wayne Dolphins with 45.5 points as Ryker Heithold (11 - 12 boys) was second in the boys scoring with 26.5 points.
Kyler Parker won 50m butterfly (31.11), 50m backstroke (32.92), 50m breaststroke (37.39) and 50m freestyle (27.97).
He was also on two mixed relays winning the 100m individual medley and second on the 200m freestyle relay previously listed both with Hallie Heithold.
Ryker Heithold took second in both the 50m butterfly (49.76) and 50m freestyle (38.23); finished fourth in the 100m individual medley (1:48.91) and fifth during the 50m breaststroke (58.89).
He was also on two mixed relays winning the 200m freestyle with Kate Patefield, Liberty Swinton and Kaylee Parker in 2:43.02 and a fourth place finish during the 200m medley performing the butterfly with Kaylee Parker (backstroke), Kate Patefield (breaststroke) and Liberty Swinton (freestyle) during a time of 3:18.57.
