Eleven swimmers represented Nixa at the 2022 Class 2 State girls swimming and diving championships this year on Feb. 18 and 19.

Senior Ellie Turnbull was the lone swimmer to advance and compete in the final rounds. Turnbull, a 3x-state qualifier, at the beginning of the season had aspirations to finally get over that consolation hump performance and be atop the podium with a medal.

That Turnbull did, saving the best performance of her Nixa career for last.

She secured her right to compete in the finals in both the 50 and 100 freestyle during the preliminary rounds. 

In the 50, Turnbull placed fifth and posted a personal-best time of 24.46, qualifying her for the championship finals. The preliminary 50-free winning time was 23.54 swam by Eureka's Haiden Schoessel. Schoessel was also this year's 50-free champion with a time of 23.38 in the finals.

Although she did not beat her prelims time, Turnbull clocked in with a medal-winning and All-State time of 24.71 and placed sixth, achieving that long-awaited spot atop the podium. It was a major jump from Turnbull's state performance a year ago, where she placed 23rd at 25.12.

In the 100 free, Turnbull just missed out a spot in the championship finals, as she placed ninth with a time of 54.02, also a personal best. The eighth-place time was 54.19. 

The following day Turnbull competed in the consolation finals of the 100 free and replicated her prelims time. She swam 54.02, and in an epic reaching-defining finish, placed eleventh and received All-State honorable mention recognition. Timberland's Emma Wisker finished tenth at 54.01.

This was Turnbull's third time competing in the 100 at state championships, and it was her best performance. Turnbull ousted her previous times by over a second, as she placed 17th in 2020 at 55.32 and 15th in 2019 at 55.15.

Junior Aspyn Howard was Nixa's other individual-event competitor. Howard competed in the 200 free and placed 27th with a time of 2:03.17. She also competed in the 100 breaststroke and placed 25th with a time of 1:11.84.

Both Howard and Turnbull also competed in the state-qualifying 200 and 400-free relays. 

In the 200-free relay, Howard swam the opening leg while Turnbull anchored. Sophie Dunn and Abby Martin were the team's second and third legs. The four swam a season-best time of 1:45.36 and placed 19th, propelled by Howard's 25.66 and Turnbull's 24.68 times during their legs.

The final event of the preliminary rounds was the 400-free relay. Turnbull and Howard switched legs during this event. Martin swam the same leg while Sophie Anderson replaced Dunn in the second leg. 

Clocking in at 3:52.21, the team finished with their best time of the year and placed 21st. Again, it was Turnbull and Howard who ignited the team to the overall placement.

Full results of the state meet can be found here.