Inland swimmers turned in strong performances Saturday at the 2025 CIF State Championships at Clovis West High School.
Santiago’s Charlotte Milkie and Brinley Knoll and Murrieta Valley’s Kaylee Richmond each brought home a pair of medals by finishing top nine in their respective events. Riverside Poly’s Ava DeAnda and King’s Alyssa Bian also medaled at the meet.
DeAnda was looking to claim her third consecutive state championship in the girls 100-yard freestyle but was edged out by Campolindo’s Stella Canoles. DeAnda posted a time of 49.38 seconds, but Canoles touched first and won by 0.12 seconds. Canoles, a freshman, became the first swimmer to beat DeAnda in a high school 100-yard freestyle race.
DeAnda has now claimed five individual event state medals in her first three high school seasons (three firsts, two seconds).
Milkie capped her phenomenal sophomore season by placing second in the 200 freestyle (1:49.44) and fourth in the 100 freestyle (50.24). It was a significant improvement from last season, as Milkie was 10th and 15th, respectively, in those events.
Richmond was the area’s best freshman swimmer this season, and she collected her first two state medals by finishing third in the girls 100 freestyle (49.77) and fourth in the 50 freestyle (23.10).
Knoll put the final touches on her outstanding high school career with a fifth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.46) and seventh-place finish in the 200 individual medley (2:01.70). That fifth-place medal is Knoll’s career best at a state meet.
Bian finished ninth in the 100 butterfly (55.62), a major improvement on her 29th-place finish in that event as a freshman.
Santa Margarita’s Teagan O’Dell, who is a resident of Chino Hills, will go down as one of the best and most decorated swimmers in state history. Saturday, O’Dell claimed the titles in the girls 200 individual medley (1:53.96) and the 100 backstroke (51.27). O’Dell also swam legs on Santa Margarita’s victorious 200 freestyle relay (1:31.55) and 400 freestyle relay (3:22.76).
Santa Margarita won the team title with 229.5 points. Santiago was the top Inland girls team, placing 11th with 66 points.
Three Inland boys swimmers competed Saturday in the consolation final of the 100 butterfly. Pacific’s Connor McAleer won that race with a time of 49.01. Damien’s Ryder Davis and Redlands’ Maksim Kutsner tied for 16th with matching 49.78s.
