2025 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – West: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2025 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – West

• December 10 – 13, 2025
• Lee & Joe Jamil Texas Swimming Center, Austin, Texas
• SCY (25 Yards)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results (also available on Meet Mobile: “2025 West Speedo Winter Juniors”)
• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 2 | Day 3
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

The final day of the 2025 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – West is set to get underway from the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, with preliminary heats on tap in four different events for both genders.

The session will kick off with the 200 backstroke, followed by the 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, and 200 butterfly.

Stay tuned for live updates.

Girls’ 200 Backstroke — Prelims

• West Record: 1:48.32 – Bella Sims (2022)
• Meet Record: 1:48.32 – Bella Sims (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:50.95 – Charlotte Crush (2023)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:48.30 – Regan Smith (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:47.16 – Regan Smith (2019)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Sydney Schoeck (CSP) – 1:53.65
2. Maggie Dickinson (SSTY) – 1:54.12
3. Hayden Gibson (HAWG) – 1:56.06
4. Maddie Thornton (BEND) – 1:56.36
5. Rowyn Wilber (CLOV) – 1:56.82
6. Lexi Cook (CSP) – 1:56.87
7. Macey Degroot (SHRK) – 1:56.99
8. Rachel Ritter (SFST) – 1:57.05

The CSP Tideriders’ Sydney Schoeck posted the only sub-1:54 girls’ 200 back of the morning, stopping the clock with a time of 1:53.65. Her time is the fastest going into the final by 0.47, but will need to drop over a second to reach her PB of 1:52.37.

Seventeen-year-old Schoeck, who is slated to join the Texas Longhorns next fall, won the 1000 free in an upset over Indiana commit Kayla Han on night one. She has since grabbed two runner-up finishes in the 500 free and 400 IM, going 3-for-3 in PBs throughout the meet.

The only other swimmer to crack 1:56 was Schroeder Swim Team’s Maggie Dickson, who hit the wall in 1:54.12. The 15-year-old’s best time remains 1:53.40, and given she clocked a 52.56 best to take bronze in yesterday’s 100 back, it could very well be on the cards later today.

Hayden Gibson rounded out the top three with a time of 1:56.06. The 17-year-old Arkansas commit entered the meet as the second seed at 1:52.88, but has been a bit off her PBs so far this week.

Schoeck was fourth, Gibson was fifth, and Dickinson was seventh in this event last season.

It took 1:57.05 to grab a lane in tonight’s ‘A’ final, about three tenths slower than the 1:56.70 required to advance a year ago.

Boys’ 200 Backstroke — Prelims

• West Record: 1:40.32 – Keaton Jones (2022)
• Meet Record: 1:39.62 – Daniel Diehl (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:43.15 – Michael Andrew (2014)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:40.58 – Baylor Stanton (2024)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:37.35 – Ryan Murphy (2014)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Joey Sudermann (FST) – 1:43.64
2. Joshua Smith (LRAD) – 1:43.75
3. Brayden Capen (ACAD) – 1:44.62
4. Jackson Hartzler (CFSC) – 1:44.95
5. Owen Stauffer (IST) – 1:45.16
6. Nico Lee (HEAT) – 1:45.18
7. Austin Chu (CSP) – 1:45.31
8. Grant Bellin (KING) – 1:45.53

Fast Swim Team’s Joey Sudermann led the way in the boys’ 200 back prelims, posting the quickest time of the morning at 1:43.64.

The 17-year-old dropped 3.12 seconds off his previous best time of 1:46.76, a strong follow-up to his 2.22-second time drop in the 200 IM that earned him fifth.

The Wyoming commit is also slated to contest the 200 fly at the end of this session, where he enters as the 19th seed.

The only other boy to break 1:44 this morning was Joshua Smith, who dropped 0.72 seconds from his PB with a time of 1:43.75. The 18-year-old Wisconsin commit already made two other ‘A’ finals this week, he finished sixth in the 100 back and eighth in the 200 IM, both with personal best time performances.

Rounding out the top three qualifiers was Academy Bullets’ Brayden Capen, who hit the wall in 1:44.62, 0.73 outside of his lifetime best. He was the top seed coming in at 1:43.89, but it appears he will need to do a best time to maintain his seed once finals rolls around.

It took a time of 1:45.53 to make it into the championship final, just over three tenths slower than the 1:45.22 that was required in 2024.

Tonight’s final will be a complete refresh from last year as eight entirely new swimmers comprise the field.

Girls’ 100 Freestyle — Prelims

• West Record: 46.29 – Abby Weitzeil (2014)
• Meet Record: 46.29 – Abby Weitzeil (2014)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 47.67 – Claire Curzan (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 47.14 – Rylee Erisman (2024)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 46.09 – Simone Manuel (2015)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

Results currently unavailable. I will update the article with a recap when they become available.

Boys’ 100 Freestyle — Prelims

• West Record: 41.23 – Ryan Hoffer (2015)
• Meet Record: 41.23 – Ryan Hoffer (2015)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 43.51 – Thomas Heilman (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 41.96 – Kaii Winkler (2023)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 41.23 – Ryan Hoffer (2015)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Jordan Ragland (LIFE) – 42.88
2. Nathan Foucu (QSS) – 43.02
3. Brody Chandler (SMST) – 43.27
4. Ty Thomas (RCA) – 43.34
5. Rowan Cox (TXLA) – 43.45
6. Brody Engelstad (WFF) – 43.66
7. Miles Blackson-Dunbar (BCA) – 43.72
8. Alex Pletcher (SDSA) – 44.03

Jordan Ragland is on track to complete the sprint double; he clocked 42.88 to lead the boys’ 100 free prelims by 14 one-hundredths.

He demolished his best time by over a full second as he came into the meet with a mark of 43.91, which had him seeded eighth.

Earlier in the meet, the 17-year-old Cal commit obliterated his best 50 time, dropping it from 19.61 to 19.28 to grab gold.

Quicksilver Swimming’s Nathan Foucu grabbed the second seed at 43.02, while Sierra Marlins’ Brody Chandler (43.27) advanced third. Foucu sliced 0.52 off his PB, while Chandler slid under his by 14 one-hundredths.

Foucu is headed to Stanford next fall, while Chandler is verbally committed to the U.S. Military Academy. Chandler was seventh in this event a year ago, while it will be Ragland and Foucu’s debut in this final.

While seeded outside of the top three going into the final, River City Aquatics’ Ty Thomas (43.34) and Beach Cities Aquatics Miles Blackson-Dunbar (43.72) are ones to watch, currently situated fourth and seventh.

Thomas is one of our “Honorable Mention” recruits from the Way Too Early list of top boys’ swimmers in the class of 2027. That ranking is very likely to change following his massive week in Austin, where he’s torn apart all of his PBs.

He entered the meet seeded seventh and dropped a 0.47-second PB this morning.

As for Blackson-Dunbar, a Tennessee commit, he was ranked 15th in SwimSwam’s top 20 recruits in the class of 2026. His PB of 43.39 ranked him second coming in, but it’s likely a new lifetime best will be required to make it into the top three.

Blackson-Dunbar took runner-up in the 50 on night two, and was seventh in this event a year ago.

It was a quarter of a second quicker to earn a lane in the championship final this year, as 44.03 was the cut-off compared to 44.28 last year.

Girls’ 200 Breaststroke — Prelims

• West Record: 2:06.81 – Lydia Jacoby (2022)
• Meet Record: 2:06.02 – Alex Walsh (2018)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 2:10.22 – Allie Szekely (2012)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 2:06.45 – Alex Walsh (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 2:04.32 – Lydia Jacoby (2023)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Mikayla Tan (SRVA) – 2:10.37
2. Grace Koenig-Song (WILD) – 2:13.27
3. Mia Su (SCSC) – 2:13.35
4. Sofia Szymanowski (NOVA) – 2:13.92
5. Sasha Volkova (GM) – 2:14.38
6. Marina Didenko (TERA) – 2:14.68
7. Emma Fouke (CSP) – 2:14.71
8. Abby Moore (ACAD) – 2:15.15

San Ramon Valley Aquatics’ Mikayla Tan dominated the girls’ 200 breast prelims, as she was the only swimmer to break 2:13 with her result of 2:10.37. She leads all qualifiers heading into the final by a whopping 2.90 seconds.

The 15-year-old Tan, who has been as quick as 2:08.74 in her career, is coming off winning the 100 breast in a 0.78-second PB of 59.04 last night, so she appears to be well on her way to a breaststroke sweep.

NASA Wildcats’ Grace Koenig-Song (2:13.27) and Santa Clara’s Mia Su (2:13.35) rounded out the top three qualifiers. 15-year-old Koenig-Song’s PB is 2:11.81, while Cal commit Su has been as fast as 2:12.65 in her career. We ranked Su #20 in the cohort on our Way Too Early list of top swimming recruits from the high school class of 2027.

It was a youthful event, with the top three qualifiers all 16 or under. Two 14-year-olds and three 15-year-olds comprised the top eight, along with two 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old.

Tan is the only one of the top three to have made the final a year ago—she earned bronze.

Boys’ 200 Breaststroke — Prelims

• West Record: 1:52.92 – Zhier Fan (2021)
• Meet Record: 1:52.12 – Josh Matheny (2019)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:55.52 – Reece Whitley (2014)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:52.37 – Reece Whitley (2016)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:51.38 – Josh Matheny (2020)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Andrew Eubanks (TDPS) – 1:56.12
2. Isaac Carsel (DART) – 1:57.75
3. Tyler Bardak (HSC) – 1:57.82
4. Peter Vu (NOVA) – 1:58.03
5. Jacob Bougaieff (DADS) – 1:58.13
6. Nathaniel Malcolm (SAC) – 1:58.20
7. Jack Maddan (FCST) – 1:58.23
8. Gunnar Hansen (LSC) – 1:58.39

The Dolphins Portland Swimming’s Andrew Eubanks led all qualifiers into the boys’ 200 breast final, holding a 1.63-second cushion.

The 17-year-old hit the wall in 1:56.12, just over a second off his personal best time of 1:54.82. He will almost certainly be looking to upgrade his runner-up finish in the 100 breast (52.69) from last night, where he chipped 0.15 off his lifetime best. He won the bronze medal in this race a year ago.

Eubanks holds the top time in the 200 breast for his class, and was recently ranked as SwimSwam’s #11 recruit in the boys’ high school class of 2026.

Two other swimmers broke 1:58, Dart Swimming’s Isaac Carsel (1:57.75) and Hinsdale Swim Club’s Tyler Bardak (1:57.82). Carsel came up just six one-hundredths shy of his career best, while Bardak slid under his by 28 one-hundredths.

Carsel, ranked in SwimSwam’s “Best of the Rest” category for the high school class of 2026, is head to UNC next fall.

Bardak was named to the “Best of the Rest” section on our Way Too Early list of top recruits from the high school class of 2025. While he was set to join the Wolfpack a few months ago, he appears to have flipped his commitment to D2 McKendree.

Carsel qualified fourth into yesterday’s 100 breast final but was ultimately given a DQ, while Carsel was 41st.

Both swimmers have never made the ‘A’ final of this 200 breast at Winter Juniors.

It took an almost identical time to make the ‘A’ final as last year, as 1:58.38 was required this year compared to this morning’s 1:58.39 cutoff.

Girls’ 200 Butterfly — Prelims

• West Record: 1:51.06 – Bella Sims (2022)
• Meet Record: 1:51.06 – Bella Sims (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:54.33 – Audrey Derivaux (2024)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:51.24 – Regan Smith (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:50.15 – Alex Shackell (2023)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Kelsey Zhang (PASA) – 1:56.25
2. Clare Watson (BC) – 1:56.55
3. Lexi Byrn (FAC) – 1:57.34
4. Eryn Arnold (BCA) – 1:57.86
5. Maya Hetland (PASA) – 1:57.95
6. Emma Belk (SPA) – 1:58.64
7. Hannah Renaud (CSP) – 1:58.92
8. Ava Otteson (RAA) – 1:59.16

Defending champion Kelsey Zhang (1:56.25) posted the top girls’ 200 fly time, leading all qualifiers by three-tenths. Her best time remains 1:53.51 she posted in April of last season.

She’s seeking her first event win of the meet after grabbing third in the 200 IM and the 100 fly.

Zhang, a Cal commit, swims year-round with Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics and is a member of the U.S. National Junior Team for 2024-25. We ranked the 18-year-old #5 on our Way Too Early list of top recruits from the high school class of 2026.

Bellevue Club’s Clare Watson (1:56.55) was the only other swimmer under 1:57, while Flatiron Athletic Club’s Lexi Byrn (1:57.34) rounded out the top three qualifiers.

18-year-old Watson, headed to Stanford, obliterated her former best time of 1:57.56. We ranked her #15 on our Way Too Early list of top swimming recruits from the high school class of 2026.

As for 17-year-old Byrn, she smashed her former PB of 1:58.84.

Watson was eighth in this event in 2024, while this is Bryn’s first time making the ‘A’ heat.

It was about a second slower to make the championship final this year, as 1:59.16 ensured you got a lane compared to the 1:58.26 last December.

Boys’ 200 Butterfly — Prelims

• West Record: 1:40.01 – Luca Urlando (2018)
• Meet Record: 1:40.86 – Thomas Heilman (2022)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:42.77 – Thomas Heilman (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:40.73 – Thomas Heilman (2023)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:40.39 – Aiden Hayes (2022)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Charlie Cancelmo (SMAC) – 1:42.51
2. Brandon Ha (DART) – 1:43.53
3. Micah Davis (AQJT) – 1:44.28
4. Maxwell Stanislaus (LAC) – 1:44.92
5. Nathan Carr (AQJT) – 1:45.26
6. Joey Sudermann (FST) – 1:45.42
7. Caleb Kattau (SAND) – 1:45.55
8. Shareef Elaydi (SCSC) – 1:45.66

16-year-old Charlie Cancelmo demolished his personal-best 1:45.03 in the 200 fly to secure the top seed, touching the wall with a time of 1:42.51.

It’s his second ‘A’ final of the meet after earning bronze in yesterday’s 100 fly with a 0.83 PB. He leads all qualifiers by 1.02 seconds.

Dart Swimming’s Brandon Ha (1:43.53) also broke 1:44, with Micah Davis of Aqua Jets advancing third in a time of 1:44.28. Ha dropped 1.99 seconds from his former best time, while Davis added three-quarters of a second.

Ha, a Northwestern commit, was named an “Honorable Mention” recruit on our Way Too Early list of top swimmers from the high school class of 2026. He finished second in yesterday’s 100 fly with a season-best 46.38.

We ranked Virginia commit Davis as the #5 recruit in our initial round of rankings for the high school class of 2026, thanks to his class-leading time in the 100 fly and his #3 time in the 200 fly (at the time).

Davis won the 100 fly in a lifetime-best 46.17, and will need a big-time PB to complete the fly sweep.

It was faster to make the ‘A’ final this year, as 1:45.66 was required versus the 1:46.10 that advanced in 2024.