Ethan Persten, a Coral Springs resident and senior at Cypress Bay High School, finished fourth in the 100-yard freestyle at the 2026 FHSAA Class 4A State Swimming and Diving Championships on November 7. The meet was held at the Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training Center in Ocala.
Persten also swam on relay teams that finished second in the 400 freestyle relay and eighth in the 200 freestyle relay. He led off both relays, and his team placed second overall behind Jupiter High School.
His father, Brian Persten, said his son is determined and loves the sport. Ethan hopes to swim in college, the father said.
Other South Florida swimmers also placed. Coral Glades High School seniors Galen Tortorella and Benjamin Denevi finished 11th in the 200 individual medley and 11th in the 100 breaststroke, and 15th in the 100 butterfly, respectively. For J. P. Taravella High School, junior Cole Youngblood took second in the 100 freestyle for disabled students and first in the 50 freestyle, according to Brian Persten.
