Alexa Lauze smiles as she climbs out of the pool during an earlier competition in Green River. The Green River High Schoolgirls swimming and diving team took home their first state championship in 44 years this weekend.
The cold, the rain and the wind wasn't enough to keep the city from celebrating their victory Saturday night.
The Green River High School girls swimming and diving team earned its first State title in 44 years Saturday, coming home as the 3A State champions. For head coach Colleen Seiloff, it was her first state title win as a head swimming coach. It was also an emotional end to a unique season she hopes future teams won't have to experience.
"This one was pretty special -- our first year in 3A," Seiloff said.
Seiloff said she through the team had a good shot at taking the title, but also recognizes the high level of talent the other 3A schools have, believing the girls would need to show up ready to compete to stand a chance.
"The girls went in to this weekend knowing they had to give it their best," she said.
After seeing the results Friday, Seiloff knew the Lady Wolves were in contention for the title, but it wasn't until after the 500 freestyle where she realized they were going to win.
The final event, the 400 freestyle relay is always an exciting time at State, as the swimmers competing want to give it their all before the end of the meet.
"They went crazy," Sieloff said, describing the parents, coaches and swimmers not participating as they cheered the Lady Wolves in the pool.
At the end of the weekend, the Lady Wolves left their mark on the state record books with a 3A record set in the 200-yard medley relay. A number of swimmers earned medals in their events and Lauren Jensen was named the Athlete of the Meet. Seiloff was named 3A Coach of the Year, her first state coach of the year accolade.
However, Seiloff said the award itself was courtesy of the coaches and teams that welcomed the Lady Wolves into the 3A conference and reflected the work and dedication of everyone involved in the program, not just her contributions.
"I share it with many people and I think a lot of people for (the award.)"
The Lady Wolves will lose their team captains with graduation. Lauren Lee, Alexa Lauze, Madison Young and Jensen had their final year in the pool. Seiloff said the four girls contributed a positivity to the team every time they met for competition or practice and said she will miss them when the year ends. She also credited the captains for helping set the tone of the season, where any meet they participated in could be their last if COVID-19 spread amongst swimmers and prematurely ended the season.
State results
200-yard medley relay
1. GRHS (Lauren Jensen, Hailey Uhrig, Lauren Lee, Lilly Munoz), 1:50.24
200-yard freestyle
3. Alexa Lauze, 2:03.41
7. Courtney Clark, 2:06.71
9. Amaya Spartz, 2:12.28
200-yard individual medley
3. H. Uhrig, 2:19.25
5. Madi Young, 2:24.69
10. Brianna Uhrig, 2:29.99
50-yard freestyle
1. Jensen, 24.69
1-meter diving
6. Zella Maez, 285.95
9. Kaili Wadsworth, 255.55
10. Olive Roberts, 253.60
100-yard butterfly
4. Lee, 1:03.88
100-yard freestyle
3. Munoz, 56.86
500-yard freestyle
2. Lauze, 5:30.43
3. Clark, 5:38.69
5. Lee, 5:41.67
9. Spartz, 6:01.90
200-yard freestyle relay
4. GRHS (Clark, Munoz, Spartz, Lauze), 1:45.09
100-yard backstroke
1. Jensen, 58.51
5. Young, 1:04.10
100-yard breaststroke
1. H. Uhrig, 1:05.00
4. Munoz, 1:09.20
7. B. Uhrig, 1:12.28
400-freestyle relay
2. GRHS (Clark, Lee, Lauze, Jensen), 3.46.74
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