Waukesha Swimmer Ana Flanagan Wins State Championship
Waukesha was buzzing with excitement over the weekend as Ana Flanagan from Appleton North made waves at the state swimming championship. Flanagan clinched the title in the 100-yard breaststroke with an impressive time of 1:03.20, narrowly defeating Annika Curran from Verona Area, who finished just behind her at 1:03.34.
This victory marks a significant achievement for Flanagan, as she becomes the third girl from Appleton North to win a state championship. She joins the ranks of Cortnee Adams and Stephanie Gould, both of whom have left their mark in school history. Adams was a standout swimmer in the late 1990s, winning seven individual state titles, including multiple championships in the 50 and 100 freestyle events. Gould earned her spot as a champion after winning in diving in 1997.
In addition to her individual success, Flanagan also contributed to her team as part of the 200 freestyle relay team, which finished third with a time of 1:36.22. She swam alongside teammates Afton Scoresby, Elise Brazzale, and Maddie Loken. The relay event was won by Middleton, who set a record at 1:33.90.
Although Appleton North achieved impressive results, they finished seventh overall with a total of 107 points. The overall team championship went to Middleton, who scored a remarkable 334 points, followed by Verona Area with 211 points and Arrowhead with 200.5.
Other standout performances included Carly Larson of De Pere/West De Pere, who took third in the 100 butterfly with a time of 55.42 seconds. Germantown’s Julia Saxman dominated the event, finishing first at 53.34 seconds.
The state championship showcased remarkable talent and fierce competition among high school swimmers, with many athletes pushing themselves to achieve personal bests. The sun may have set on this year’s event, but the excitement for next year’s championships is already building.
