Reagan High Swimmers Shine at UIL State Meet

Grant Lilly defends 500 free title, girls relays lead Rattlers to top-5 finishes

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Reagan High School senior Grant Lilly won the boys 500-yard freestyle for the second consecutive year at the UIL Class 6A state swimming championships. Lilly also anchored the Rattlers' victorious 400 freestyle relay team. On the girls' side, Reagan's 400 freestyle relay team pulled off a surprise win, while the 200 freestyle relay squad placed second, helping the Rattlers finish third in the team standings.

Why it matters

Reagan's strong performances at the state meet showcase the depth and talent of the school's swimming program. The Rattlers' ability to overcome the loss of key swimmers and still excel in the relays demonstrates the program's coaching, training, and team-first culture.

The details

Lilly defended his 500 freestyle title with a time of 4:22.92, winning by nearly three seconds. He also claimed bronze in the 200 freestyle. On the girls' side, the 400 freestyle relay team of Tessa Christiansen, Amelia Miller, Daniela Delarue, and Sophia Williamson pulled off a narrow victory, clocking 3:26.96. The same quartet earlier earned bronze in the 200 freestyle relay.

  • Grant Lilly won the boys 500 yard freestyle for the second consecutive year on February 21, 2026.
  • Reagan's girls 400 yard freestyle relay team won the event on February 21, 2026.
  • Reagan's girls 200 yard freestyle relay team placed second on February 21, 2026.

The players

Grant Lilly

A senior at Reagan High School who won the boys 500 yard freestyle for the second straight year and also anchored the Rattlers' winning 400 freestyle relay team.

Tessa Christiansen

A senior on Reagan's girls 400 yard freestyle relay team that pulled off a surprise victory.

Amelia Miller

A sophomore on Reagan's girls 400 yard freestyle relay team that won the event and also placed third in the 200 yard freestyle relay.

Daniela Delarue

A junior on Reagan's girls 400 yard freestyle relay team that won the event.

Sophia Williamson

A member of Reagan's girls 400 yard freestyle relay team that won the event.

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What they’re saying

“That was super awesome. I was just excited to be out there again. I can't believe I've come so far in my high school career.”

— Grant Lilly (expressnews.com)

“I knew me and the guys could do it. They are the ones who dropped all that time. I'm happy because we can always rely on each other. That's what we work for day in, day out, every morning when we wake up and see each other. I'm just happy we were able to perform together.”

— Grant Lilly (expressnews.com)

“That was such a surprise. Insane. Every split matter. Every point mattered.”

— Amelia Miller, Sophomore (expressnews.com)

“We lost two of our swimmers, so we were working on rebuilding. To go up was insane. That was out of our mind. We just wanted to be there and put everything we had into that pool.”

— Amelia Miller, Sophomore (expressnews.com)

“We were just riding the high of the 200 free because that was such a crazy swim. I have so much faith in these girls. I feel like we bonded and I'm just so proud of everyone. Every time I think of this, it brings me to tears.”

— Tessa Christiansen, Senior (expressnews.com)

What’s next

The UIL state swimming and diving championships are an annual event, so Reagan's swimmers will look to build on their strong performances next year as they aim to defend their titles and medals.

The takeaway

Reagan's swimming program has demonstrated its ability to develop talent and foster a team-first culture, overcoming the loss of key swimmers to achieve unexpected success at the state meet. The Rattlers' performances showcase the depth and resilience of the program, which should continue to be a force in Texas high school swimming in the years to come.