High school swim preview: Boise-area teams deep with talent ahead of 2025 season
The perennial Idaho high school swimming powers appear to be loaded for another run in 2025.
Ten-time defending boys team champion Boise — which tied for first with Mountain View last season at the 6A level — welcomes back many of its top swimmers, while the Bishop Kelly girls won state a year ago despite moving up a classification.
Boise-area swimmers won 20 of 22 events at the 6A meet last season, and many champs are back to defend their title.
We surveyed the area’s coaches for the top swimmers to watch this fall. These were the names that kept coming up. Swimmers are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
TOP GIRLS SWIMMERS TO WATCH
Josie Fernald, Cole Valley Christian
She made quite the splash as a freshman, qualifying for the 5A state meet in four events. Fernald earned a runner-up finish in the 100-yard freestyle behind a senior and was part of the Chargers’ second-place 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays. She also added a third-place showing in the 200 freestyle, again behind two seniors.
Katelyn Giffen, Bishop Kelly
Heading into her senior season, she already holds two schools records. Giffen earned bronze at the 6A state meet in the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly. She also was part of the Knights’ state champion 200 medley relay that set a state meet record (1:46.50) and took fifth in the 200 freestyle relay.
Brayleigh Hoisington, Bishop Kelly
Her varsity debut included district titles in the 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. Hoisington kept up her winning ways at state, claiming gold in the 200 free, 100 back and helping the Knights set state meet records in the 200 medley relay (1:46.50) and 400 freestyle relay (3:36.61). She owns five school records and recently competed at the USA Swimming Futures Championships.
Rylan Holcomb, Parma
Holcomb was another freshman that made a huge impact in her first season, winning the 50 freestyle and placing third in the 100 freestyle at the 5A state meet. She also won a district championship in the 50 freestyle.
Gabi Midgett, Timberline
She was part of the Wolves’ district championship 200 freestyle relay and fourth-place 400 freestyle relay, while adding runner-up finishes in the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle. At state, Midgett earned bronze in both the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle. She won gold with Timberline as the anchor of the 200 freestyle relay and took sixth in the 400 freestyle relay.
Myah Singkhaophet, Ridgevue
The reigning 6A District Three champion in the 50 freestyle also placed third in the 100 breaststroke. Singkhaophet earned the same placings at the state meet, this time setting a meet record in winning the 50 freestyle in 24.20.
Sedona Stratton, Bishop Kelly
Perhaps the top swimming recruit in Idaho, Stratton made her varsity debut in record fashion. At the 6A District Three meet, she set records in winning the 200 individual medley (2:07.38) and 100 breaststroke (1:06.47) as well as the 200 medley relay (1:51.10) and 400 freestyle relay (3:45.06). She won all four events at state, setting records. She already owns eight school records at BK.
TOP BOYS SWIMMERS TO WATCH
Jaden Akpan, Mountain View
He was part of the Mavericks’ runner-up 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays at the 6A District Three meet and took third individually in the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle. At state, Akpan swam to third in the 500 freestyle and fourth in the 200 IM as the Mavericks took fifth in the 200 freestyle relay and third in the 400 freestyle relay.
Kael Bokma, Eagle
He was the 6A district runner-up in the 100 breaststroke and placed third in the 200 individual medley while teaming up for the Mustangs’ third-place 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay. His best finish at state was second in the 200 breaststroke and sixth in the 200 individual medley. Bokma was part of the Eagle’s third-place 200 medley relay.
Jacek Brown, Mountain View
Brown competed in three relays for the Mavericks at the 6A District Three meet, taking second in the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay. He was an individual runner-up in the 100 butterfly. Brown earned silver medals at state in the 100 butterfly and 200 medley relay and added a third-place showing in the 400 freestyle relay and fifth in the 200 freestyle relay.
Zeke Burgi, Columbia
The reigning 6A District Three champion in the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 400 freestyle relay also earned silver with the Wildcats in the 200 medley relay. At the 5A state meet, Burgi swam to second in the 50 freestyle, third in the 100 butterfly, and fifth in both the 400 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay.
Braydon Fong, Owyhee
Fong claimed silver in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle at the 6A District Three meet and helped the Storm win the 200 freestyle relay while placing fourth in the 200 medley relay. The state meet saw Fong take third in the 100 freestyle, fourth in the 50 freestyle, gold in the 200 freestyle relay and fourth in the 200 medley relay.
Ace Garcia, Mountain View
He set a 6A District Three meet record in winning the 500 freestyle (4:47.78), placed second in the 200 freestyle and was part of the Mavericks’ second-place 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay. Garcia claimed the state title in the 500 freestyle, placed second in the 200 freestyle, second in the 200 medley relay and fifth in the 200 freestyle relay.
Sam Shuler, Boise
Shuler swam to a runner-up finish in the 100 backstroke and was fifth in the 200 freestyle at the 6A District Three meet while teaming up for the Brave’s championship 400 freestyle and 200 medley relays. He walked away from the state meet with gold medals in the 400 freestyle and 200 medley relays, a runner-up showing in the 100 backstroke and fifth in the 200 freestyle.
Tyler Young, Boise
Young also was part of Boise’s district and state winning 400 freestyle and 200 medley relays and was an individual district champ in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke. He stood atop the podium at state as an individual in the 100 backstroke and was second in the 200 IM.
TEAM PREVIEWS
The top swimmers to watch from each team in the Treasure Valley. Teams not listed did not participate in the Idaho Statesman’s preseason survey.
Bishop Kelly: Sedona Stratton, so.; Brayleigh Hoisington, so.; Katelyn Giffen, sr.; Ben Rubocki, sr.; Kevin Martinez, jr.; Yeven Smith-Sanchez, jr.
Boise: Tyler Young, sr.; Sam Shuler, sr.; Genevieve Winters, jr.; Olivia Judah, sr.; Reese Quarterman, jr.
Capital: Amelia Arnstam, jr.
Centennial: Liam Rieth, sr.; Jaxon Pharis, sr.; Tate Harris, fr.; Mackenzie Harsch, so.; Jordyn Cummins, jr.
Eagle: Kael Bokma, jr.; Brooks Toomey, jr.; Ian Wood, jr.; Ruize Sun, so.; Maddy Kelly, sr.; Abbie Roberson, so.
Kuna: Sean McDonald, sr.
Meridian: River Spaulding, sr.
Mountain View: Ace Garcia, so.; Jaden Akpan, sr.; Jacek Brown, jr.
Nampa Unified (Nampa, Columbia, Skyview, Nampa Christian): Zeke Burgi, so.
Owyhee: Braydon Fong, jr.; Kai Wilson, sr.; Tobi Davis, sr.; Kiowa Davis, jr.
Rocky Mountain: Matthew Rethens, sr.; Matt Codispoti, sr.
Timberline: Gabi Midgett, sr.; Elliott West, sr.
