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Oklahoma high school girls swimming 2023-24 preview: Storylines, swimmers & teams to watch

Nick Sardis, The Oklahoman
·4 min read

The Oklahoma high school girls swimming season began last month, and meets are set to continue through the middle of February.

Class 5A Shawnee and Class 6A Jenks are the defending state champions, but it’s a new season and those programs will face some stiff competition as they go for a repeat.

Here are three Oklahoma City-area storylines and 10 swimmers to watch during the 2023-24 season.

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Bishop McGuinness' Macy Lewis swims in the 100-yard butterfly during the Class 5A state meet on Feb. 18 at Edmond Schools Aquatic Center.
Bishop McGuinness' Macy Lewis swims in the 100-yard butterfly during the Class 5A state meet on Feb. 18 at Edmond Schools Aquatic Center.

Top OKC-area girls swimming storylines for the 2023-24 season

Shawnee attempts to stay on top in Class 5A. The Wolves have won two straight Class 5A titles in girls swimming. Although Piper McNeil, one of the most decorated swimmers in state history, graduated and is now competing at Missouri, Shawnee remains a contender with athletes like juniors Ashley McDonald and Gracyn Simpson.

Macy Lewis looks to join elite company. The McGuinness senior has never lost an individual state race and holds six Class 5A titles. McGuinness will compete in Class 6A this year and if Lewis goes 2 for 2 in her individual races, she’ll become the fifth girls swimmer in state history to have eight championships. Lewis, who will continue her career at Texas A&M, would join Lori Halvorson (Jenks), Piper McNeil (Shawnee), Hanna Newby (Bishop McGuinness) and Samantha Woodward (Edmond Memorial).

Edmond Memorial, Edmond North among contenders in Class 6A. Each team has finished ahead of the other when they’ve gone head-to-head this season. Edmond North placed third at the state meet last season and Edmond Memorial placed fourth. Jenks won the title, finishing with 318½ points, while Bartlesville was the runner-up with 318.

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Stillwater's Avery Littlefield finishes the 100-yard freestyle during the Class 6A state meet at Edmond Schools Aquatic Center on Feb. 19. 2022.
Stillwater's Avery Littlefield finishes the 100-yard freestyle during the Class 6A state meet at Edmond Schools Aquatic Center on Feb. 19. 2022.

10 OKC-area girls swimmers to watch during the 2023-24 season

Gabby Beck, So., Norman: One of many talented young swimmers to watch this season, Beck placed fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke (1 minute, 9.66 seconds) and eighth in the 100 butterfly (1:01.94) at the Class 6A state meet last season.

Kaida Bradley, So., Norman: Bradley is coming off a great freshman season. She made The Oklahoman’s All-City first team after placing second in the 500 freestyle (5:20.90) and fourth in the 200 freestyle (1:57.52) at the Class 6A state meet.

Jemerie Brister, So., Norman North: Her top performance at last season’s Class 6A state meet was in the 100 butterfly. Brister placed sixth in 1:01.68.

Ashlyn Bucy, So., Deer Creek: Bucy proved she’s one of the top swimmers in the state as just a freshman. She was the Class 6A state runner-up in both the 100 butterfly (58.73) and 100 backstroke (57.61).

Kelsey Healy, Jr., Edmond North: Healy is a two-time defending Class 6A state champion in the 100 backstroke. She won in 56.52 last season while also placing second in the 200 individual medley (2:09.25).

Laney Jones, Jr., Edmond North: Another junior from Edmond North, Jones is a standout short-distance swimmer. She was the Class 6A state runner-up in the 50 freestyle (23.39) and 100 freestyle (52.24) last season.

Avery Littlefield, Sr., Stillwater: One of the state’s best since she was a freshman, the LSU signee claimed Class 6A state championships in the 50 freestyle (23.09) and 100 freestyle (50.71) during her junior year.

Maddy Lu, Sr., Casady: The Class 5A Cyclones are making their season debut in the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, and Lu is a key leader. After her high school career, she’ll compete at Division III Emory University in Atlanta.

Kinley Manuel, Sr., Deer Creek: Manuel, who is set to continue her career at Division II Biola University in La Mirada, California, had a pair of solid individual performances at last season’s Class 6A state meet, placing fifth in the 50 freestyle (25.37) and eighth in the 100 freestyle (55.53).

Brenda Nguyen, Sr., Mustang: Her best swim at last year’s Class 6A state meet was in the 50 freestyle as she finished in 24.94.

Nick Sardis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Nick? He can be reached at nsardis@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @nicksardis. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Nick's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HS girls swimming 2023-24 preview: Swimmers, teams to watch