Tea swimmers capture two State relay titles at State Swim Meet: Willard, Boots grab individual titles

A group of young Tea swimmers made a big splash at the 2026 South Dakota State Swim Meet, bringing home two state relay championships and several individual honors during the three-day competition held July 24-26 in Rapid City.

Competing for the Sioux Falls Swim Team, four Tea students—Mia Willard, Layton Boots, Carly Koppes and Addison Koppes—captured state championships in both the 8-and-under 200-yard freestyle relay and the 200-yard medley relay. All four swimmers are third-grade students at Legacy Elementary School.

The quartet was among more than 300 swimmers from across South Dakota who competed at the annual state meet.

The relay victories highlighted an outstanding weekend for the young swimmers, who also turned in impressive individual performances.

Willard dominated the competition, winning all seven of her individual events to claim the 8-and-under girls overall high-point championship. She also earned individual state titles in her races and helped lead both championship relay teams.

Koppes finished fourth in the 8-and-under girls overall high-point standings while also contributing to the relay victories. 

Boots also enjoyed a standout performance, winning two individual state titles and finishing second in the 8-and-under boys overall high-point standings. 

Also representing Tea was Isaiah Volzke, a 15-year-old student at Tea Area High School. Volzke finished in the top eight in all of his events in his age division.

The swimmers compete year-round with the Sioux Falls Swim Team, where they are coached by several coaches, including Brooke Boots, a first grade teacher at Legacy Elementary in Tea.