Jackson sophomore Kyleigh Troxel snares fourth at state swimming meet

ST. PETERS, Mo. -- Jackson sophomore Kyleigh Troxel made history Saturday at the state swimming meet at the St. Peters Rec Plex.

Troxel became the first all-state swimmer from Jackson in the program's four-year history.

Troxel, who fell one place short of earning all-state honors last year with a ninth-place finish, was fourth in the 500-yard freestyle Saturday, finishing in 5 minutes, 6.00 seconds.

She finished one place ahead of her twin brother, Kristian, who took fifth in the same event at the boys state meet in November.

"Last year was a little disappointing since I came so close to making it to the championship swim," Kyleigh Troxel said. "But I worked hard and was in better shape this year and it was easier having been there once before. I knew where to go and what to do."

And what she did was have the third-best time in the 500 freestyle in Friday's prelims to clinch her spot in the finals and earn the medal and all-state recognition.

Troxel swam a personal best 5:04.26 in the preliminaries.

"The goal coming into state was making it in the top eight, and I was happy with my swim in the prelims," Troxel said. "I was also happy with my swim today. I felt great in the water and was proud to get fourth. I want to continue to work, and I have high expectations next year. I want to get as close to winning as I can."

Jackson coach Carole Baugh was all smiles as she watched Troxel receive her medal.

"It was wonderful," Baugh said. "It is a great accomplishment just to get to this meet. It is even greater when you can step up on the podium and be all-state. She was very determined [Friday] to get in the top-eight bracket. She had a great swim [Friday] and another very good swim today."

The meet also was Allison Hobbs' final high school meet. Hobbs, a four-time state qualifier, competed in a pair of events Saturday. She was in the consolation division in the 500 freestyle, finishing 12th in 5:12.88. Her final event as a high school swimmer was one of her best. She finished second in the consolation final in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:00.40. That was good enough for 10th place.

"I am kind of sad that it is all over," Hobbs said. "But we had a good team all year and I was glad that I was able to go out strong as a senior. It feels good. I wasn't able to get in the top eight in the 500, which I wanted to do. But I was proud to finish in the top 10 in the back."

Hobbs plans to continue her swimming at the University of Northern Iowa.

"Allison was a charter member of the Jackson swim team and had a great career," Baugh said. "She was able to swim two events today and she had her best times this weekend. She has meant a lot to the program. Swimming is a big part of both Allison's and Kyleigh's lives. They are very dedicated to the sport, and I am happy to see them have some success."

Central freshman Maddie Siefert made it to the second day of the state meet. She finished 16th in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:11.24.

Parkway West won its record 12th team championship.

Friday preliminaries

200 medley relay -- 27. Jackson (Katie Garner, Kyleigh Troxel, Jenny Powell, Allison Hobbs) 1:59.99

200 freestyle -- 19. Troxel (J) 1:59.12; 25. Morgan Morris (ND) 2:00.24

100 butterfly -- 53. Lizzie Schmidt (C) 1:06.38

500 freestyle -- 3. Troxel (J) 5:04.26; 12. Hobbs (J) 5:13.87; 20. Morris (ND) 5:25.45; 24. Morgan Maquire (J) 5:27.99

100 backstroke -- 16. Hobbs (J) 1:01.15; 39. Natalie King (SV) 1:04.84

100 breaststroke -- 16. Maddie Siefert (C) 1:09.85; 23. Schmidt (C) 1:11.95

400 freestyle relay -- 29. Jackson (Hobbs, Maquire, Shelby Kate McCord, Troxel) 3:52.02