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Jackson Hole High School senior Jessica Gill takes a breath during a 200-yard freestyle race at the Class 3A state finals Friday in Gillette. Gill won the consolation heat, while the team claimed its third consecutive state title. GILLETTE NEWS-RECORD PHOTO / ALTON STRUPP

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They saved their best performance for when it counted the most.

The Jackson Hole High School swimming and diving team, which had been dominating its competition all season, pieced together a sensational performance at the Class 3A state championships Thursday and Friday in Gillete to win its third consecutive state title. The Broncs scored 348 points, well ahead of Lander’s 238 points and Buffalo’s 149.

The performance was even more dominant than last year’s 319 to 244 margin over second-place Lander and was clearly Jackson’s best showing of the season.

“We’ve known all season that we were a strong team,” coach Jim Jenkins said. “However, we didn’t know that they were this strong. Our girls really did a nice job.”

For the third straight year, the Broncs celebrated with the team and coaches jumping into the pool together.

“As the season went on, this group of girls became closer and closer,” Jenkins said. “We ended up becoming a big family. That was what was most important this season – working together and having fun. We did just that. I am so proud of them.”

Jackson’s state title was a record-breaking show. The Broncs broke seven varsity records and also had four individuals and two relay teams post first-place finishes.

The team also cleaned up during the post-meet awards. Junior Maddy Wigg was named 3A Swimmer of the Year. Junior Emily Smith was Swimmer of the Meet. Jenkins was Coach of the Year, while diving coach Patricia Pistono was named Assistant Coach of the Year.

Among the first-place finishers was Smith, who won the 100-yard freestyle. Wigg won the 200 individual medley with a varsity record time of 2 minutes and 17.78 seconds. Wigg was also second in the 100 fly with a varsity record time of 1:01.19.

Another first-place finish came from junior Jaclyn Knori, who won the 500 freestyle.

The Broncs also took the top three spots and four of the top six in the diving competition. Senior Amanda Fay won the event with a varsity record 364.45 points. Juniors Maryelizabeth Pistono and Becky Griest were second and third, while freshman Juliane Kallas was sixth.

“As they have the whole season, the divers really came through for us today,” Jenkins said. “For one team to get four of the top six divers is an amazing feat. Those girls really pulled through.”

Jackson also took first in a pair of record-breaking relay performances. The 200-yard medley relay team of Smith, senior Allison Flickinger, junior Jesse Mayers and senior Madeline Thulin took first in a varsity record time of 1 minute and 56.08 seconds. The 200 freestyle team of Mayers, Thulin, Knori and Wigg set a varsity record with a time of 1:43.94.

Smith set a varsity record with a time of 1:02.69 in the 100 backstroke, while Mayers swam the 100 breast in a varsity record time of 1:10.74.

The Broncs got solid performances in all events Friday. Knori swam to a third-place finish in the 200 free finals and a sixth-place finish in the 100 backstroke finals. Junior Claire Bates was fifth in the 200 medley finals. Mayers was third in the 50 free finals. Freshman Becca Hamilton was sixth in the 100 butterfly finals. Senior Jessica Gill was third in the 500 freestyle finals.

Flickinger was fifth in the 100 breaststroke finals, while senior Breezy Mulligan was sixth.

The championship marked the second time this year a Broncs team has won three-straight state titles. The Broncs girls basketball team won its third-straight state championship in March.

So far this academic year, Jackson has won state titles in girls’ cross country and girls’ tennis.