Oklahoma HS swimming: Stillwater's Avery Littlefield honors mom while winning 6A titles
JENKS — Avery Littlefield couldn’t help but think about her mom as she competed in her final state swim meet with Stillwater.
It’s only been a little more than a year since Diana Littlefield passed away after a battle with cancer.
And for Avery Littlefield, it’s still strange to look up to the stands and not see her No. 1 fan.
“Even now, it’s difficult,” Littlefield said. “Today, I was thinking about it.”
Littlefield has been through a lot in her last two seasons of high school swimming. But as Littlefield did as a freshman and sophomore, she continued to thrive, and the LSU signee added to her legacy Saturday.
Littlefield claimed two championships at the Class 6A state meet at Jenks Trojan Aquatic Center, winning the 50-yard freestyle in 23.14 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 50.46. That raised her total number of individual titles to seven, an impressive feat.
Littlefield wanted to finish the 50 freestyle under 23 seconds but didn’t quite reach that goal.
It was still a great day.
“It didn’t turn out how I expected, but that’s OK,” Littlefield said. “I know it’s all about the win. I was really satisfied with my effort levels.”
Littlefield competed in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle at all four of her state meets. Her only loss at state was in the 100 freestyle during her sophomore year.
And despite her mom passing away in October 2022, Littlefield remained one of the top swimmers in the state and added two championships that season.
“Getting over that and still being able to compete as well as I did last year, it was really tough,” she said.
Littlefield was highly recruited and took official visits to Kansas, LSU and UCLA.
She announced her commitment to LSU last May.
“I took my LSU visit last,” she said. “And when I stepped on the campus, I feel like I just knew. It was awesome. I had a great time with all the girls on the team, all the coaches.
“And when I was in my meeting with the head coach, Rick Bishop, I was so motivated by what he was telling me about his plans for the team and his long-term goals. It made me want to start swimming right then. Like, ‘Let’s get in the pool. Let’s go.’”
With her college decision made, Littlefield soaked in her final high school season.
“This last year has probably been my best year and my favorite year,” she said. “Just the girls that I’ve been able to swim with these four years, really seen them grow, that’s just been incredible.”
Littlefield has formed special bonds with her teammates and even swimmers who don’t compete for Stillwater.
Bishop McGuinness standout and Texas A&M signee Macy Lewis, who placed second in the 100 butterfly (56.24) and 100 backstroke (55.53), handed her flowers after the meet.
And although Littlefield’s mom wasn’t physically with her in Jenks, Littlefield still felt a connection of sorts.
“I know she’s smiling on me,” Littlefield said. “I know she’s proud of me.”
More: Oklahoma high school swimming: Carl Albert boys, Shawnee girls win at Class 5A state meet
Norman’s JD Thumann wins two more titles
JD Thumann remains unbeaten in individual state races.
The Norman sophomore won the 50 freestyle in 20.15 and 100 butterfly in 47.86.
Thumann beat Edmond North junior Riley Conway by 0.80 in the 50 freestyle. In the 100 butterfly, Thumann defeated Bartlesville senior Griffin Craig by 0.51.
“I felt like overall it went pretty well,” Thumann said. “There were some things that I could have improved on.”
Thumann, the son of former OU and Norman High baseball player Chuck Thumann, claimed titles in the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle last year.
He made a statement as a freshman, and expectations are high.
“He did best times in both the 50 freestyle and 100 fly,” Norman coach Kent Nicholson said. “Both of those are best times. And so you know that’s what we’re looking for coming in here. He’s got a bunch of meets coming up after this and so he’s not fully rested for this meet, so to come here, race as well as he did, drop some dang times — really good.”
Thumann isn’t just great at the state level.
He’s one of the nation’s top swimmers in his age group.
“He’s got a good shot at sectionals coming up and making the Olympic trials cut,” Nicholson said. “About 3/10ths (of a second) off. So going up to Missouri in about a month and trying to make the Olympic trials cut.”
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Other standout performances
● Bartlesville sophomore Addison Howze broke the state record in the 100 backstroke as she finished in 54.76. Missouri swimmer and former Shawnee standout Piper McNeil was the previous record holder with a time of 55.39. McNeil recorded that at last year’s Class 5A state meet.
● Bartlesville won the girls title with 254½ points, while Jenks placed second with 196 and Edmond North took third with 163. Jenks won on the boys side with 260 and was followed by Bartlesville (193) and Edmond North (180).
● Edmond North’s Jack Starrett claimed the title in the 200 freestyle (1:40.28), Garrett Levendofsky won the 200 individual medley (1:54.14) and Riley Conway won the 100 freestyle (46.51). All are juniors.
● Starrett, Conway, Levendofsky and sophomore Dylan Eden won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:25.48. Starrett, Conway, Levendofsky and junior Jonah Beth won the 400 freestyle relay in 3:08.84.
● Edmond Memorial sophomore Max Spory won the 500 freestyle in 4:37.13, beating Bartlesville senior Cody Lay by just 0.34.
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: Avery Littlefield ends Stillwater career with two more 6A swim titles
