All Hail! Marian Captures Its 18th State Swimming & Diving Championship

Marian's swim and dive team clinched their 18th NSAA State Championship in a down-to-the-wire finish at the Devaney Center Natatorium in Lincoln on Saturday, Feb. 28. Entering the final event of the meet—the 400-yard freestyle relay—Marian trailed Lincoln East by five points. To secure the championship, the Crusaders needed a big surge, and they got it from senior Meredith Peyton, a University of Nebraska commit.

Peyton took the block for the anchor leg with Lincoln East holding the lead. In a her final 100 yards, she pushed past the competition to touch the wall first, winning the relay and securing the team title for Marian with a 322–319 victory over Lincoln East.

Marian’s most recent title was built on a wave of record-breaking individual performances:

• Peyton concluded her high school career with three gold medals and a silver. She became the first girl in Nebraska history to break 54-seconds in the 100 butterfly, setting a new state record of 53.73 seconds.

• Sophomore Leila Steinhoff provided an early boost by winning the individual state diving title with 433.40 points, while teammate Lucianna Popp, also a sophomore, added crucial team points with a sixth-place finish.

• In addition to the winning 400 free relay, Marian swimmers medaled consistently throughout the meet, including a silver in the 200 medley relay.

According to Head Coach B.J. Christiansen, this years competition included multiple teams that could have taken home the state trophy. "Our girls performed really well each day...and outscored what we were supposed to by 30 to 40 points. Having the relay take the win..., was the exclamation point, but really it took the contributions of the whole weekend," said Christiansen.

As back-to back state champs, the Crusaders continue to build their dynasty. Marian has won the most state titles in Nebraska girls' swimming history, 18 in all, since girls' swimming became sanctioned by the Nebraska State Activities Association in 1973. That year Marian won the first-ever girls' state meet.

"The girls and the culture they build here - they want to be competitive and have fun, and the ability to do that year in and year out is a testament to what they do," said Christiansen.