2019 Swammy Awards: High School Team of the Year Baylor School Girls

To see all of our 2019 Swammy Awards, click here. 

2019 High School Team of the Year: Baylor School (TN) Girls

The high school team of the year goes to the girls of Baylor School, who threw down an exciting battle against last year’s Tennessee state champion, Harpeth Hall, and the famed Walsh sisters.

Throughout the meet, Harpeth Hall was tight on Baylor’s tail, only letting them get at most 24 points ahead before slowly creeping up on the last three events. In the end, it was a matter of 6 points that determined Baylor as the 2019 TISCA girls team champion.

Propelling Baylor was the title-winning 200 medley relay (1:39.91), which was able to hold off Harpeth Hall’s relay (1:40.13), even with two Walshes. From that exciting battle, it produced the top two NISCA times of the 2018-19 season. To give perspective, if Harpeth Hall had won the 200 medley relay, they would have won the whole state meet.

• Click here to view the 2018-19 NISCA homepage.

Along with Baylor’s incredible depth, senior Addison Smith and sophomore Ellie Waldrep were key members in the team’s successful meet. After Smith placed 2nd in the 200 free, she bounced back to win the 500 free (4:46.11), which ranked 5th on the TISCA times.

Waldrep also produced a strong point contribution thanks to two runner-up finishes in the 100 fly and 100 back (#5 TISCA). The sophomore was also just one of few swimmers in the nation to broke a national high school record in 2019. At the Springhill Suites Elite High School Meet, Waldrep went on to set the SCM 100 back overall high school national record (59.87) as well as the SCM 200 IM independent national high school record (2:16.88).

HONORABLE MENTIONS 

In no particular order

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  Alex Walsh (photo: Jack Spitser)

  Harpeth Hall (TN) Girls — The home to sister duo/national teamers Alex Walsh and Gretchen Walsh, despite finishing second at the 2019 TISCA state meet to opponent Baylor, the team still produced an exceptional performance. At the meet, Harpeth Hall won 8 of 11 events, with 4 of their title wins being new state records. Likewise, the team scored five top-5 NISCA times, including the top times in the 200 free relay (1:31.29) and 100 back (51.57), courtesy of G. Walsh. Older sister A. Walsh also held the #2 times in the 200 IM and 100 breast.

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  Carson and Jake Foster (photo: Jack Spitser)

  Sycamore (OH) Boys — Sycamore High School is also home to another sibling duo, national teamers Jake Foster and Carson Foster. While Sycamore settled for second place at the 2019 Ohio state tournament to St. Xavier, the team was able to break 3 state records and one national record. In the same manner, all three of Sycamore’s relays rank in the NISCA top five, including the top 200 medley relay time (1:28.48). C. Foster ended his junior year campaign with the overall/public national high school record in the 200 free (1:32.99) as well as scoring the top 100 back NISCA time (46.28). Older brother J. Foster, who is now a freshman at Texas, ended his high school career with the top NISCA time in the 200 IM (1:43.99).

Past Winners

• 2018 Swammy: Fossil Ridge (CO) Girls
• 2017 Swammy: Carmel (IN) Girls
• 2016 Swammy: Carmel (IN) Girls
• 2015 Swammy: Carmel (IN) Girls