NISD swimmers and divers succeed at state meet

Student-athletes from Northwest and Eaton high schools traveled to the UIL Swim & Dive State Championships last weekend with six student-athletes advancing to finals on the second day of competition.

Eaton sophomore Gabi Aegerter highlighted the meet for NISD by finishing in seventh in the 6A 500-yard freestyle. Gabi became the first girl in Eaton history to qualify for a final, and she broke her own school record in the prelims in order to do so.

Northwest sophomore Haylee Poppel also qualified for a final and finished in 12th place in the 5A 1-meter diving competition.

Four other NISD swimmers advanced to the consolation finals, including Northwest junior Derek Smith who advanced to two consolation finals. Derek finished in ninth place in the 100-yard breaststroke and in 12th place in the 200-yard individual medley.

Other consolation finalists included Northwest senior Michaela Hickock (10th, 100-yard backstroke), Northwest senior freshman Owen Stutz (14th, 200-yard individual medley) and Eaton senior Evan Witte (16th, 100-yard breaststroke).

A total of 16 Northwest ISD swimmers and divers traveled to the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin to represent NISD.

Below is a full list of NISD’s state swim and dive finalists:

Northwest High School - Girls

• Michaela Hickok, Senior
  • 100-yard Breaststroke - 10th (Consolation Final)
• Haylee Poppel, Sophomore
  • 1-meter Diving - 12th (Final)

Northwest High School - Boys 

• Derek Smith
  • 100-yard Breaststroke - 9th (Consolation Final)
  • 200-yard Individual Medley - 12th (Consolation Final)
• Owen Stutz
  • 200-yard Individual Medley - 14th (Consolation Final)

Eaton High School - Girls

• Gabi Aegerter, Sophomore
  • 500-yard Freestyle - 7th (Final) 

Eaton High School - Boys

• Evan Witte, Senior
  • 100-yard Breaststroke - 16th (Consolation Final)