High School All-Americans In 500 Free Led By Grant Shoults and Katie Ledecky

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

Grant Shoults and Katie Ledecky each notched another spot atop the national high school All-Americans list with quick swims in the 500-yard freestyle in the 2014-2015 high school season. Ledecky reset her own national high school record, while Shoults made a bid for the boys’ national mark in the distance race.

Our 11-part NISCA All-American Showcase is highlighting each event on the high school swimming schedule, and Swimming World is proud to partner with the National Interscholatic Swim Coaches Association to provide a global spotlight on high school swimming in the United States.

It’s no surprise to find Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart’s Ledecky reigning as the top 500 freestyle swimmer in the high school ranks. The long course world record holder not only lowered her own national high school record with a 4:26.58, but took down her American record in the process. This is not a new concept, as Kate Ziegler did the same thing in 2006 … at the same meet. Ledecky’s swim occurred in the prelims of the D.C. Metro high school championships.

Katie Ledecky sets American, national high school record in 500 freestyle

The competition behind Ledecky for the right to follow her as the second-best high school distance swimmer of the season was tight. Gabrielle Kopenski, a freshman representing Prosper High School, posted a monster time of 4:42.16 to rank second in the nation.

Four ladies swam in the 4:43 range to take third through sixth spots, and like Kopenski, all will return next season. Leading that pack was Katie Drabot of Cedarburg High School with a 4:43.09. Megan Byrnes of Oakton High School (4:43.43), Taylor Ault of Sonora High School (4:43.46) and Isabella Rongione of Langley High School (4:43.61) all made it an exciting top six.

Girls 500 Freestyle National Top 8 (Mobile users: Click the “+” to expand content)

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Shoults, a junior at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, backed up a national independent high school record in the 200 freestyle with a top-ranked 4:15.56 in the 500 free. With one year remaining in his high school career, Shoults is on target to chase Jack Conger’s national high school record of 4:13.87, set in 2013. Shoults’ time is the second-fastest in high school history, and indicates a major shift forward in distance swimming.

Shoults had great competition at the California Interscholastic Federation’s Southern Section meet. Nick Norman Capistrano Valley High School was second to Shoults with a 4:17.00, good enough to also place second nationally on the high school All-Americans list.

Another major distance freestyle talent, Georgetown Preparatory School’s Matthew Hirschberger, posted a 4:17.13 to round out a stellar top three.

Boys 500 Freestyle National Top 8 (Mobile users: Click the “+” to expand content)

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2014-15 NISCA Girls High School All-Americans

2014-15 NISCA Boys High School All-Americans

NOTE: In order to be considered for All America selection, swimmers must qualify with a time standard and an application must be submitted to NISCA. See the NISCA website (www.niscaonline.org) for more information about time standards and application submission. Corrections can also be submitted to NISCA via three emails: Boys Swimming contact: boysswaa@niscaonline.org; Girls Swimming contact: girlsswaa@niscaonline.org; Boys and Girls Diving contact: aadiving@niscaonline.org

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Ahmed Bayern

8 years ago

Nice picter my friend