TOP ATHLETE OF THE PAST 3O YEARS: KATE STEWARD (BARTLESVILLE)

By Mike Tupa

Sept. 24, 2025

BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT

During his nearly 30 years of covering area high school sports for either the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise or the Bartlesville Area Sports Report, Mike Tupa has enjoyed the opportunity to observe some incredible athletes.

This is an ongoing series highlighting each few days one of those athletes from the 1996-97 school year through the present. The list is not in chronological order. The athletes are presented in random sequence.

TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT

KATE STEWARD (Bartlesville)

Girls swimming (late 2010s)

Bartlesville has produced some of the top girls’ pool dynamos in state history.

Kate Steward more than belongs in that class — perhaps at the top of it.

Steward proved to be unbeatable in state meet competition.

As a senior (2017-18 season) she went 4-of-4 in winning gold medals — 200 individual medley (2:02.27, a new state record), 100 breaststroke (1:01.46), the girls 200 medley relay (along with Delaney Shipman, Greta Olsen and Sydney Perry) and the girls 400 freestyle relay (along with June Harris, Allison Biddinger and Erin Downey).

During the girls' swimming state championship during each of Steward’s four years on varsity (2014-18).

Steward came up golden every year.

As a freshman (2014-15) she ruled the state in the 100 breaststroke — and even set the state record (1:04.51). She also was part of two of Lady Bruins championship relay teams — the 200 medley relay (along with Shipman, Olsen and Haley Downey) and the 200 freestyle relay (along with Biddinger, Downey and Emily Giovannetti).

In her sophomore campaign (2015-16), she won the state title in 100 breast — with another state record (1:02.17) — was on two more first-place relay teams, the girls 200 medley (along with Shipman, Olsen and Downey) and the 400 freestyle relay (along with Biddinger, Shipman and Giovannetti).

Steward collected four more state titles as a junior (2016-17), winning the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke, and on the 400 freestyle relay (along with Biddinger, Giovannetti and Shipman) and on the 200 medley relay (Shipman, Olsen and Perry).

For those keeping track, Steward harvested 14 of a possible 16 state championship gold medals!

But her swimming career had some major heights yet to reach after high school.

For one thing, she qualified for the 2020 (actually 2021) U.S. Olympic Swim Trials, a highly coveted accomplishment.

Steward also turned in an All-America-quality career at the University of Kansas, despite having to battle through injury.

In addition to her achievements in the water, Steward collected numerous high-profile academic, citizenship and character-related awards and recognition.

Steward exemplified Bartlesville student-athletics at its ultimate expression.

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This series has featured the following athletes, listed in no particular order

-Jena’ Williams, Bartlesville

-Eric Rolfs, Bartlesville

-Chris Smith, Caney Valley

-Jill Bryan, Copan

-Barron Tanner Jr, Bartlesville

-Hailey Tucker, Bartlesville

-Jeremy Dunkle, Dewey

-Whitney Metcalf, Bartlesville

-Tim Hamilton, Bartlesville

-Danielle Koster, Bartlesville

-Carson LaRue, Dewey

-John Hamman, Wesleyan Christian

-Jamie Elam, Caney Valley

-Sam Mitchell, Bartlesville

-Karissa Jones, Dewey

-Noah Hartsock, Bartlesville

-Tiffany Paper, Copan

-AJ Parker, Bartlesville

-Tiffany Eden, Caney Valley

-Henry Williams, Bartlesville

-Markell Carter, Bartlesville

-Rebecca Schluter, Wesleyan Christian

-Adam Hibdon, Barnsdall

-Tishuana Hunter, Nowata

-Nate Alleman, Bartlesville

-Jessie Burch, Dewey

-Joey McNair, Caney Valley/Bartlesville

-Michael Thompson, Bartlesville

Kate Steward