Delaware Freshman Dominates in State Championship!
Payton Garnsey is the first freshman to win the award since Charter of Wilmington's Georgia Colborn in 2021.
Caesar Rodney's Payton Garnsey is the Swimmer of the Year and headlines the Delaware All-State Girls Swimming and Diving teams announced by the state’s coaches association. Garnsey is the first freshman to win the award since Charter of Wilmington's Georgia Colborn in 2021. Garnsey won the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 breaststroke at the DIAA Swimming and Diving championships on Feb.
28 at the University of Delaware's Rawstrom Natatorium. Her time of 1:02. 93 was the fastest winning time in the 100 breaststroke at the state meet in 15 years.
STATE MEET: Caesar Rodney's Payton Garnsey was ready for her moment; Ursuline wins girls title Payton's older sister Reagan graduated from Caesar Rodney in 2025 after earning All-State honors in swimming and golf. Payton watched Reagan's races while preparing mentally for her own. "She was chomping at the bit last year," Caesar Rodney coach Brenden Smith said.
"We were talking after the state meet last year and she said, 'I'm ready for next year. ' Yeah, I think everybody was ready for that. She's a good kid.