2026 Nebraska State Swimming and Diving Championships: BNFF Qualifiers, Results

Congratulations to all of the athletes from the BNFF swim squad that have qualified to compete at the 2026 NSAA Swimming and Diving State Championships this week in Lincoln!

The combo squad representing student-athletes from four Southeast Nebraska schools (Beatrice, Norris, Fairbury and Freeman) had three swimmers automatically qualify for a total of five events at the state meet, while 12 swimmers met the secondary state qualifying times in a total of 22 events.

That means a total of 13 athletes from the squad will be competing for the state championship in a total of 12 events over the course of this week at the Devaney Natatorium. Competition begins on Thursday with the diving events - the girls competition begins at 10 AM with the boys to follow around 2:30.

The swimming events then take center stage over the final two days. Girls prelims begin at 10 AM Friday with the boys to follow at 3 PM; and then the championship races for all events start at noon on Saturday. All of Saturday's action will be televised by Nebraska Public Media.

The following is a list of every event an individual or a team from the BNFF squad will be competing in this week. This page will be updated with final results over the course of the week.

2026 NSAA Swimming and Diving State Championships

Final BNFF Team Standings:

Girls: 6 team points (23rd/26 scoring teams)

Boys: 11.5 team points (23rd/26 scoring teams)

Diving

Boys:

JR Carter Mertz - 336.20 seed score - Diver #9

Results:

Prelims: 150.30 Semifinals: 241.30 Finals: 298.50

Final Place: 16th/28 - 1 team point

Girls:

SO Clara Trantham - 341.70 seed score - Diver #13

Prelims: 149.75 Semifinals: 223.50

Final Place: 18th/25 (cut after semis)

Swimming

Girls 200 Medley Relay

FR Hayley Kuhlman - JR Sophia Meints - JR Savannah Bolli - SR Tabitha Crawford

Heat 2 - 2:03.50 seed time

Prelims: 2:02.54 (22nd/27, DNQ)

Boys 200 Medley Relay

SO Reid Novotny - JR Tobias Kidder - SO James Given - SR Jarrett Guenther

Heat 2 - 1:47.76 seed time

Prelims: 1:49.05 (25th/30, DNQ)

Boys 200 IM

JR Dru Breeden - Heat 1 - 2:08.59 seed time

Prelims: DFS (Declared False Start, not competing)

Boys 50 Freestyle

SO Reid Novotny - Heat 2 - 22.16 seed time

Prelims: 21.80 (10th/31)

Finals: 22.08 (T-13th/16 - 3.5 team points)

Girls 500 Freestyle

SR Tabitha Crawford - Heat 1 - 5:43.72 seed time

Prelims: 5:39.14 (19th/32, DNQ)

Girls 200 Freestyle Relay

JR Sophia Meints - FR Hayley Kuhlman - SR Tabitha Crawford - SO Alyse Bassett

Heat 3 - 1:47.46 seed time

Prelims: 1:45.63 (16th/31)

Finals: 1:46.14 (16th/16 - 2 team points)

Boys 200 Freestyle Relay

SO Reid Novotny - JR Colton Shubert - SR Jarrett Guenther - SO James Given

Heat 1 - 1:36.37 seed time

Prelims: 1:37.81 (27th/32 - DNQ)

Boys 100 Backstroke

SO Reid Novotny - Heat 3 - 54.39 seed time

Prelims: 54.05 (11th/32)

Finals: 54.24 (10th/16 - 7 team points)

JR Dru Breeden - Heat 1 - 57.25 seed time

Prelims: DFS

Girls 400 Freestyle Relay

SO Alyse Bassett - JR Petra Van Cleave - JR Sophia Meints - SR Tabitha Crawford

Heat 2 - 4:04.00 seed time

Prelims: 3:55.67 (14th/27)

Finals: 3:56.02 (14th/16 - 4 team points)

Boys 400 Freestyle Relay

SO James Given - JR Tobias Kidder - JR Colton Shubert - SR Jarrett Guenther

Heat 3 - 3:32.84 seed time

Prelims: 3:55.08 (28th/29, DNQ)