FE Warriors Shine at FLAGS: Johnson Crowned State Champion

The FE Warriors made waves at the 2025 Florida Age Group Swimming Championships (FLAGS), turning heads with standout performances, team unity, and a rising program presence that left a lasting impression on spectators and competitors alike.

Individual Highlights

Mila Adriani delivered a strong showing in the 13–14 girls age group, earning top-8 finishes in the 50, 100, and 200 backstroke.

Ashlyn Burton dominated the 11–12 girls events, placing 4th in the 200 freestyle, 3rd in the 100 freestyle, and 4th in both the 50 and 500 freestyle.

Her sister, Payton Burton, also competed in the 13–14 girls category, finishing 12th in the 50 fly, 13th in the 200 IM, and 15th in the 100 fly.

Evan Moses had an exceptional meet in the 13–14 boys division, placing:

• 3rd in the 200 fly

• 4th in both the 50 and 100 fly

• 5th in the 50 back

• 6th in the 100 back

Jeremy Morgan continued to impress, placing 5th in both the 50 and 100 breast, and 7th in the 200 breast in the 13–14 boys category.

In the 11–12 girls division, Hirusha placed 9th in the 50 fly and helped anchor a 6th-place finish in the 200 free relay with teammates Ashlyn Burton, Riley Rosas, and Harper Klein.

The 10&U squad—Elora Tripp, Alexa Ramos, Verity Piazza, Sebastian Nock, Leila Moore, Connor Cummings, Laszlo Jakab, and Jhett Iwanow—delivered the largest FLAGS presence FE has ever had in that age group, making a strong impression and setting the stage for a bright future.

Relays on Fire

The relays showcased the Warriors' depth and chemistry:

• Adriani and Burton teamed up with Hailey McArdle and Lily Bixler to place 8th in the 200 free, 9th in the 400 medley, and 7th in the 800 free relay, alongside Anya Farooq.

• Adriani and Burton also joined forces with Atalia Tripp and Lily Maczuga to take 11th in the 200 medley.

• On the boys’ side, Morgan, Moses, Titus Caine, and Kevin Johnson earned top-8 finishes in both the 200 free and 400 medley relays, and took 5th in the 200 medley relay.

  
  

Johnson Makes History

The final day of FLAGS saw a magical moment as Kevin Johnson was crowned state champion in the 13–14 boys 50 freestyle.

“Being a FLAGS Champion feels good to accomplish,” Johnson said. “Next time you go to different meets, you can be recognized by people who saw you at the previous one.”

Johnson exploded off the blocks, surfaced first, and never looked back—flipping first at the 25 and holding strong to the wall.

“It felt really good for myself to win the 50 free because, to achieve something, you have to work hard toward it,” he added.

What makes Johnson’s victory even more remarkable is that he did it while sick.

“Saturday he was not looking too good,” said head coach Guerby Ruuska. “Every swim took so much out of him. Sunday it just got worse. One of the moms had some medicine, which I think held him through the end of the meet. To end the meet as a state champ and sick as a dog was really impressive.”

Despite being under the weather, Johnson pushed through. “Even though I was sick, that never stopped me from accomplishing my goals. I pushed to the limit and became what I wanted to become.”

Ruuska reflected on the moment: “At our team meeting, I shouted out Jeremy Morgan—he was our first FE state champion in our era, winning the 50 breast last summer. That skyrocketed the program. Now, we have two state champions. Kevin’s win just elevated everyone again.”

Looking Forward

“This isn’t my max potential,” said Johnson. “There’s still more to come. This will happen by listening to coaches, getting advice, and pushing to the limits.”

With summer training around the corner, Johnson has his sights set on:

• Competing against faster swimmers

• Refining technique for longer glides

• Helping others improve

Coach Ruuska added, “Trials 2028 is a real possibility for Kevin and his teammates. We can be a lot better than we were at this meet.”

A Rising Force

The FE Warriors' performance was more than just results—it was about presence and team chemistry.

“I got pulled aside by a Berkeley parent,” Ruuska shared. “She told me we were doing a great job, that she followed us on Instagram and noticed our team’s camaraderie. That meant a lot.”

As FE continues to build momentum, one thing is clear: the rest of the state is starting to take notice.

“This was a special meet,” said Ruuska. “Not just because of people like Kevin, but because the entire squad was magical to watch. The south part of the state woke up and noticed the Warriors that weekend… and there’s more to come.”