Readers Can Vote for Eugene-Springfield Girls Swimmer of the Year
Fifteen local swimmers are nominated for the 2025-26 girls swimmer of the year, with voting open through noon Sunday, March 15.
The 2025-26 OSAA swimming season produced some of the strongest results Lane County has seen in years, and now readers can weigh in on who deserves the top individual honor. The Register-Guard's annual girls swimmer of the year poll is open, with 15 nominees drawn from schools across the Eugene-Springfield area and neighboring communities. Voting closes at noon Sunday, March 15.
It was a banner year at the team level as well as the individual. Thurston, Cottage Grove and Marist Catholic all notched top-10 team finishes in their respective divisions at the state championships, while South Eugene won the Southwest Conference district title in dominant fashion.
Two nominees arrive with particularly notable state meet credentials. Marist Catholic freshman Anna Sperley took second in the 100 breaststroke at the Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state championships, touching the wall in 1:06.87. She also won a district title in the 100 breaststroke and finished second in the 50 freestyle at the district meet. South Eugene senior Reena Zhao placed ninth in the 100 backstroke (1:01.71) at the Class 6A state championships and helped the Axe to an eighth-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay. At the Southwest Conference championships, Zhao swept the 100 backstroke title and added a second-place finish in the 200 individual medley.
The full ballot also includes Avery Bengtson of Cottage Grove; Torryn Del Castillo, Madelyn Del Castillo, Analeigh Mjelde, Sofia Scott and Mckenzielee Speldrich of Thurston/Mohawk; Ella Hughes of Willamette; Ana Hockema-Jenkins of Springfield; Sophia Ledbetter of North Eugene; Isa Matthews of South Eugene; Fina Miret of Marist Catholic; Elsie Mohr of Sheldon; and Mary Mokrohisky of Churchill.
The state championships in the 5A classification were held Feb. 21, 2026, at Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center in Beaverton. Register-Guard sports reporter Jarrid Denney, who compiled the nominees, can be reached at jdenney@registerguard.com or on X at @jarrid_denney.
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