Kennedy High School sophomore swimmer Kaylee Von Ruden broke her own school record in the 100 yard backstroke three times over the course of postseason competition, headlining an impressive season for the girls swim and dive team.

Von Ruden has been a formidable competitive swimmer, breaking the high school backstroke record for the first time as an 8th grader in 2023. At this season’s Section 2A meet, Von Ruden placed second in the 100 yard backstroke and lowered the record to 1:00.88. She set it again with a time of 1:00.25 in the Class A state preliminaries. Von Ruden placed 11th in state finals with a new school record of 59.98. She is also the first Kennedy girls swimmer to compete in state finals since 2013.

“It’s rare for a swimmer to get faster in every race at the end of the season, which makes her record-breaking swims all the more amazing,” said head coach Todd Walsh. “She has a relentless pursuit to improve and we all saw that pay off this season.”

Additional team and coaching accolades from the postseason include:

• Von Ruden also qualified for state in the 100 yard freestyle, finishing 19th with a time of 54.85 in prelims.
• Senior Hannah Oliver finished fourth in the 100 yard butterfly at the Section 2A meet with a time of 1:03.61 – the fourth fastest time in school history.
• The 200 yard medley relay team of Von Ruden, Oliver, Sasha Nicholson, and Esme Eyberg finished sixth at the Section 2A meet.
• The 200 yard freestyle relay team of Nicholson, Sophia Keller, Eyberg and Meredith Farrell finished eighth at the Section 2A meet.
• Coach Walsh was named swim and dive Section 2A Coach of the Year.