The Bee’s Spring All-Stars: Co-Girls Swimming and Diving Athletes of Year Stephanie Bartel of Buchanan, Mallory Korenwinder of Tulare Western

The swimming season couldn’t have played out much better for Stephanie Bartel and Mallory Korenwinder.

Bartel, a Buchanan High School junior, set three Central Section records and went on to medal at the CIF State Swimming and Diving Championships.

“It was incredible to see the hard work I put into the season pay off,” Bartel said.

Korenwinder, a senior from Tulare Western, set a section record with an Olympic Trials-qualifying time and turned in the best individual placing for a section swimmer at the state meet.

“I was just going out there having fun and focusing on swimming fast,” Korenwinder said. “I just tried to put up some fast times and finish out strong.”

Bartel and Korenwinder are The Fresno Bee’s Co-Girls Swimmers of the Year. It’s the first such honor for Bartel, while Korenwinder was Co-Swimmer of the Year in 2014.

Bartel said she parlayed the added benefit of a week of training during the National Select Diversity Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the support of family and friends into a record-setting day at the section’s Division I finals.

“The Colorado Springs camp helped me so much with my motivation and drive,” Bartel said. “And the constant support of family and friends. They were all calling and texting me before the meet wishing me luck. They all kept up with my swimming and cared. I knew I was swimming for more than myself. All of that went into my motivation for that meet. It was a great combination that worked out really well.”

Bartel started her day by helping Buchanan place second in the 200-yard medley relay (1:48.59), then outraced defending section champion Caitlyn Snyder of Clovis West to win the 200 individual medley. Bartel touched the wall in an All-America 2:02.38, more than two seconds faster than Snyder’s section record of 2:04.94 set in 2015.

In the 100 back, Bartel won her third consecutive section title with an All-America 55.08 that was more than four seconds faster than second-place Abby Samansky of Clovis West and more than a second better than the section record of 56.37 by Exeter’s Samantha Goates in 2008.

Bartel capped her day with a leadoff 100 leg of 50.60 in the 400 free relay, an All-America time that was 0.46 seconds faster than the section record of 51.06 set by Monache’s Kristie Begin in 1998 and more than a half-second better than 100 free champion Skylar Elkington of Clovis West, who, with Snyder, was The Bee’s Co-Swimmer of the Year in 2015.

Her times rank 52nd (100 back), 62nd (200 IM) and 65th (100 free) nationally among high school girls this season.

She reached the finals in both individual events at the state meet, placing sixth in the 200 IM (2:02.96) and eighth in the 100 back (55.54).

“I always wanted to do something that would leave a mark or impression, so people would know I was there,” Bartel said. “To be a record holder or in the record books, I feel so blessed to have that opportunity. I hope I can keep improving and doing things like that in the future.”

The Arizona-bound Korenwinder put an exclamation point on a four-year career that saw her capture eight section Division II gold medals by smashing the overall 100 breaststroke record.

Korenwinder swam a 1:01.14, 1.23 seconds faster than the section record set by Jorie Caneta of Division I Frontier in 2013. It also was the eighth-fastest 100 breaststroke time in the nation by a high school female this season.

“Knowing it’s that high was really cool,” Korenwinder said. “Every year being on that list is such an honor, and to be able to be in the top 10 is a great feeling. To think of all the high schools swimmers in the country that I have the eighth fastest time is phenomenal.”

The time gave Korenwinder her first berth in the U.S. Olympic Trials, where she placed 110th in the 100 meters in 1:12.96 on Monday.

“To go out and accomplish one of my dreams since I was 8 years old, I’m so excited,” Korenwinder said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Korenwinder also won the 100 butterfly in a consideration All-America 55.34 seconds (a time that was second overall when combined with those from D-I), and powered relay wins in the 200 IM (1:54.24, fifth overall) and 400 free (3:43.99, fourth overall) during the D-II finals.

At the state meet, Korenwinder earned the best individual finish for a Central Section swimmer by taking second in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.40), and she was ninth in the 100 fly in 55.05, the 74th fastest time in the nation this season.

She ended her career with four swims that were the fastest overall of the section finals, four that were second and two state medals. Korenwinder was fifth at state in the 100 breaststroke in 2015.

“Looking back and seeing how much I’ve grown since my freshman year, physically in the pool in times and mentally with my confidence, it’s been a great four years and fantastic to represent my school at Valley and at state the last couple of years,” Korenwinder said. “It was challenging at times, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

This story was originally published June 29, 2016 at 8:18 PM with the headline "The Bee’s Spring All-Stars: Co-Girls Swimming and Diving Athletes of Year Stephanie Bartel of Buchanan, Mallory Korenwinder of Tulare Western."