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It wasn’t too long ago when you would be hard pressed to even find a Black Hills High School swimmer competing at the state meet, much less challenging for a title.

Those days appear to be long over.

The Wolves continued to showcase just how improved the program has become at the Class 2A girls’ state swimming and diving championships at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way on November 10-11, receiving high placings from senior diver CeCe Pennella, junior Rylee Denney and sophomore Emma Prybylski.

The overall performance by the three individuals and their teammates helped Black Hills finished eighth overall as a team with 120 points. It marks the first top 10 finish for the team in the 2A classification.

Black Hills swimming
Black Hills received top 8 placings in two events from both junior Rylee Denney and sophomore Emma Prybylski at the state meet. Photo credit: Grant Clark

Liberty of Renton took the team championship with 298 points. The Patriots were followed by runner-up North Kitsap (248 points) and third-place finisher Port Angeles (173).

“We’ve got some fast swimmers,” Black Hills coach Henry Valz said. “The big thing this year was some of our sophomores have really matured this season since last year. It’s just very cool to see a freshman who is just learning to compete come back the following year and see how much they’ve improved. We’ve had several swimmers improve significantly since last year, and it shows.”

Pennella, appearing in her fourth state meet, registered her second consecutive third-place finish in the 1-meter diving event, finishing with 303.05 points. Archbishop Murphy senior Kelsy Bassett took first with a score of 339.25, while Fife senior Haley Welch was second with 306.15.

CeCe Pennella
Senior CeCe Pennella, a four-time state qualifier, prepares for a dive at the state. Pennella finished third in the event, the second consecutive year she has claimed third place. Photo credit: Grant Clark

Pennella was just seventh through the preliminary round, but excelled as the competition went on, pulling into fourth place following the semi-final round before securing third overall in the event.

Pennella ends her high school diving career as a three-time top 10 state placer. She also finished 10th as a freshman, and 13th during her sophomore campaign.

“CeCe has just been amazing for us since she first arrived here four years ago,” Valz said. “She’s a four-time state qualifier, three-time district champion. You really can’t ask much more out of a diver.”

Black Hills High School swimming
Black Hills junior Rylee Denney talks to Wolves’ coach Henry Valz prior to a state preliminary race. Denney placed in two events at the meet. Photo credit: Grant Clark

Denney, a long-time club swimmer who turned out for the high school team for the first time this year, and Prybylski both earned a pair of top 8 finishes and helped two Wolves’ relay teams secure top 8 placings.

Denney took home third in the 100 butterfly with a time of 59.36. Klahowya senior Kira Crane won the event, covering the distance in 57.95, while Olympic junior Chloe Partsch came in second with a time of 58.59.

Denney wrapped up her second individual top placing by coming in a strong sixth in the 200 IM, posting a final time of 2:17.98.

Prybylski made two trips to the podium as well, finishing seventh in the 500 freestyle (5:25.24) and eighth in the 200 freestyle (2:02.43).

Denney and Prybylski joined junior Brielle Bryan and senior Leah Rietema to pick up fourth place in the 200 freestyle relay (1:43.64).

State 2A swimming
The team of Denney, Prybylski, Brielle Bryan and Leah Rietema finished fourth in the 200 freestyle relay. Photo credit: Grant Clark

The Wolves closed out their stellar state meet by watching the team of Denney, Prybylski, Rietema and junior Kalli Bishop secure eighth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:54.27).

“We will lose four seniors, but we will bring back a lot of swimmers next year,” Valz said. “I think we’re going to be able to hang around for the next few years. This is a great experience for all the girls. This meet is something they can really enjoy and it’s something that will help them next year. They get to see what championship swimming is like and go up against some of the fast swimmers in the state.”

Teammates Martin and Nooney Lead Capital at 3A State Meet

The Capital Cougars finished 13th overall in the final team standings at the Class 3A state meet, getting top 8 finishes in the 100 backstroke from both junior Alexa Nooney and sophomore Camden Martin.

Capital was the only program to place two swimmers in the top 8 in the 100 backstroke after Nooney finished sixth in the event with a time of 59.93 and Martin secured seventh in 1:00.43.

Nooney and Martin kicked off the championship meet by joining teammates Olivia Young and Cynthia Czikall to take eighth in the 200 medley relay (1:53.30).

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