Weightman, Culberson Collect 5A State Swimming Medals – Houston Chronicle

This time around, the senior made the most of her final UIL state championship appearance by claiming some individual hardware at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.

Weightman took bronze in the Class 5A 200 freestyle with a time of 1:52.29. It was a personal-best time. She took sixth place in the event last year at 1:54.73, and was determined to come back stronger.

“That’s been my goal since freshman year,” Weightman said. “I started off winning state with my team, and I wanted to close it out with an individual medal. I’m just proud of all the hard work I’ve put into it.”

Weightman signed with Incarnate Word in November and is excited for her next chapter. Saturday was full of emotion as she swam the final races of her career with the Bears.

Weightman was also a member of the 200 freestyle relay team that finished seventh at 1:39.89. She was joined by Kaelynn Miller, Reese Balkcom and Kate McDowell in that event.

“It’s definitely bittersweet,” Weightman said. “It’s been a really emotional day. Me and all my friends from Magnolia, Kingwood Park, we’ve been crying after every race. Going off to college, I’m going to miss all my little sophomore babies. But I’m excited to go on to college swimming.”

Culberson delivers silver for Magnolia

Sarah Culberson was elated when she finished her race and looked up at the results on the big screen.

But what really touched her was seeing the reaction of her teammates to her silver-medal performance.

The Magnolia junior clocked in at 2:04.89 in the individual medley to get on the podium.

“It meant a lot, especially watching them all jump up and down for me,” Culberson said. “It was definitely one of the best moments to see how excited they were for me because I train with them every single day.”

Culberson, who did not swim in the 200 IM at state last year, also nabbed a sixth-place finish in the 100 backstroke. She clocked in with a time of 57.78 in that race. She finished 11th in the same event last year.

Magnolia was the top team from Montgomery County, taking sixth place with 108 points. Lubbock won the title with 163 points, Prosper Rock Hill was the runner-up at 144.5, and Friendswood was third at 138.

Whitaker caps career at state

Lake Creek senior Jacob Whitaker capped a strong career with a fourth-place finish in the 100 butterfly for the second straight year. He touched the wall at 49.99 seconds.

Whitaker also finished sixth in the 100 backstroke with a time of 51.83.

Moons leads local divers

Lake Creek diver Julie Moons took sixth place in the 1-meter event with a score of 397.65. Magnolia sophomore Jake Bigler finished ninth in the boys event with a score of 390.65.

Magnolia leads boys teams

Magnolia was the top Houston-area team in the final boys standings, taking sixth with 102 points. Frisco Wakeland won the championship in landslide fashion with 259.5 points.