By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

MESA — When he stepped onto a podium Saturday to claim his 100-yard freestyle Division 2 state championship medal, Tanner Sheffert looked gassed.

That’s probably because for the second time in about a one-hour span, the Estrella Foothills senior had swum fast enough to win an individual state championship.

Sheffert, whose school moved up from Division 3 to 2 this year in swimming, won 500-yard freestyle and 200-yard individual medley titles at the D3 state meet in 2023. He coupled those longer-distance titles with 200- and 100-freestyle championships at this year’s Division 2 meet Saturday at Skyline High School.

“Those were pretty challenging fields,” Sheffert said after winning his second state championship medal Saturday. “The times were what I wanted. So I’m pretty happy with that.”

Sheffert helped the EFHS boys team place ninth in Division 2, among 32 scoring teams, with 149 points. The girls team scored 32 points, placing 21st.

In 2023, the Estrella boys were 12th in Division 3 with 86 points and the girls were 21st with 25.

Sheffert said in the pool, he usually has a strong sense of how close his competitors are — especially if they’re in a nearby lane.

“I try to see most of that,” he said. “You’re really not supposed to do that. But, mostly when I’m breathing, I try to see where I’m at in the race. It can make me go faster — kick my legs a little more.”

Sheffert said he plans to swim in college but isn’t sure yet where.

He also helped the Wolves’ relays. He teamed with fellow seniors Caed Waks, Dane Robinson and Gabriel Rodriguez to place fifth in the 400-yard relay and sixth in the 200 relay.

Sophomore Brandon Swetman placed fourth in 1-meter diving.

The Estrella girls got a 10th-place finish from senior Ashlyn Popham in the 100-yard backstroke. She also placed fourth in the consolation final of the 50 freestyle.

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Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.