2022 MSHSAA BOYS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS – CLASS 2
- November 10-11, 2022
- St. Peters Rec-Plex, St. Peters, Mo.
- SCY (25 yards)
- MSHSAA Swim & Dive Central
- Results (PDF)
- Team Scores
Rockhurst High School claimed its third consecutive Missouri Class 2 boys swim & dive state title and record 14th overall on Friday, amassing a whopping 422 points to clear runner-up Park Hill South (268) by a comfortable margin.
Proud of the entire AquaHawk community for its continued success in Missouri Swim & Dive! The dedication from our athletes, families, coaches, and alumni is inspiring. Safe travels home from St. Peters – Rock State! pic.twitter.com/i8Ev4XWlMt
— Rockhurst HS Athletics (@GoHawklets) November 11, 2022
Propelling Rockhurst to victory was the strength of its relays, which went three-for-three on the day, including setting a new MSHSAA state record in the 400 free.
The team of Blake Francois (47.08), Carson Smith (46.53), John Tietjen (46.27) and Caden Francois (44.15) combined for a time of 3:04.03, breaking the previous record of 3:05.14, set by Rockhurst’s team way back in 2009.
Caden Francois blasted a 22.83 50 back split leading off the team’s 200 medley relay as they won in a time of 1:33.61, and fellow senior George Rebman anchored the squad home in 20.78 as Rockhurst won the 200 free relay in 1:25.21.
Francois, a Notre Dame commit, was the team’s top point scorer individually, winning the 100 back in a new best time of 48.37 while also taking second in the 100 free behind a near-record performance from Liberty’s Ian Everett.
An Indiana commit, Everett set back-to-back personal best times en route to the 100 free title, first clocking 44.80 in the prelims before getting down to 44.76 in the final. The MSHSAA record, set in 2017, stands at 44.56 from former Lee’s Summit North swimmer and current ASU member Liam Bresette.
Francois placed second in a time of 45.04, while Lee’s Summit West senior Leo Kurucz was third in 45.44.
You can watch the 100 free final, courtesy of Leo Kurucz on YouTube, below:
Kurucz, an ASU commit, roared to the 200 free title in a personal best time of 1:37.71, nearing Bresette’s state record of 1:37.04, set in 2017. Everett was the runner-up in 1:38.57, having set a best of 1:38.40 in the prelims.
Watch the 200 free final below:
Also performing well for Lee’s Summit West was junior Jack Ailshire, who won the 100 fly in 48.28 after setting a personal best of 47.90 in the prelims. The Auburn commit was also second to Francois in the 100 back (50.17) and split 21.53 swimming fly on Lee’s Summit West’s fourth-place finishing 200 medley relay.
Placing second to Ailshire in the 100 fly was Kirkwood senior Julio Suarez, who set a best time of 48.85 and also won the 200 IM in a lifetime best of 1:51.90.
The lone swimmer to win two titles individually was Park Hill South junior Jacob Duckworth, who previously played football and only went full-time with swimming this season.
Duckworth won the 50 free (20.52), just shy of the state record (20.48) set in 2020, and also topped the 100 breast (56.14).
Also picking up wins was Kirkwood junior Max Marcus in the 500 free (4:28.79) and Rockhurst senior Owen Stuckey in the 1-meter diving event (290.35).
TOP 10 TEAM SCORES
- Rockhurst, 422
- Park Hill South, 268
- Kirkwood, 242
- Lee’s Summit West, 189
- St. Louis Univ High, 163
- Rock Bridge, 160
- Blue Springs South, 107
- Liberty, 94
- MICDS, 84
- Kickapoo, 80