Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Narrowing a long list of impressive qualities possessed by West High senior standout swimmer Aurora Roghair down to one characteristic that stands out the most is no easy task.

After coaching Roghair for four seasons West High head coach Byron Butler has seen up close every attribute that has made the Stanford recruit one of the best swimmers in West High history.

One of the areas that Butler appreciates most about Roghair is her ability to excel in a wide range of events.

“The most impressive thing that gets me every time is just their range,” West High coach Byron Butler said of Roghair and her junior teammate Scarlet Martin. “Both of them are 2:07 in the IM this year and when does Aurora ever swim the IM? Never. They are both at the top in the 50 all the way up to the 500. They are just incredible athletes with incredible range.”

Exactly how versatile is Roghair?

She currently ranks in the top four in the state in six of eight individual events and owns the fastest or second fastest time in the state in five of those events.

That range makes Roghair a unique talent and was the topic of several conversations with Butler leading up to the state qualifying meet last Saturday at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center.

After discussing the postseason options Buter and Roghair settled on the 200 and 500 freestyle races and the senior responded by winning both in season-best times.

“Aurora is one of the most mature athletes I have ever coached,” Butler said. “We had some different scenarios of what she might swim at the meet given that she is at the top in a lot of things and she said she was most comfortable with the 200 and the 500. Even though there is some really great state-wide competition in those two events she is excited about it.”

Roghair won the 200 freestyle in 1:49.49, the second fastest time in the state this season.

She added a title in the 500 freestyle in a time of 4:54.35, breaking her own pool record that was set earlier this season.

“I was really happy with all my events,” Roghair said. “I am trying to enjoy all the little moments and not let them pass me by. I am really grateful for this whole year, it has been a little crazy but this is an amazing team.”

In edition to her individual titles Roghair helped West High sweep the relay events, swimming on the Trojans’ winning 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.

Roghair joined Olivia Taeger, Martin and sister Jade Roghair on the 400 freestyle team that set a pool record with a time of 3:30.84.

“The relays are my favorite,” Roghair said. “I love being a part of the team and having them cheer me on and I know I am doing it for them so it makes me swim faster.”

A two-event state champion last season, Roghair now turns her focus to the state meet where she enters with the second fastest time this season in both the 200 and 500 freestyle, trailing only Waukee sophomore Jessi Wigham in both events.

Roghair hopes to add a state team title to her high school resume after helping West High to a fourth-place finish at the state meet last season.

“It’s going to be a tight competition,” Roghair said. “I think that as a team we are just getting better each year so we are excited to see what we can do.”

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