sports spotlight: greta olsen

By Mike Tupa

Bartlesville Area Sports Report

GRETA OLSEN

For those who might ask who gathered the most individual and team championship medals during her athletic pursuits at Bartlesville High School, the name might well be Greta Olsen.

Olsen helped fuel a golden era in Lady Bruin athletics in the 2010s.

Quiet, unassuming and modest, Olsen strung together a sequence of achievements that created a symphony of success.

To put it simply, not many athletes can claim to have participated on seven state championship teams during their high school careers!

Yet that’s what Olsen did as a major force on three state title teams in girls cross country (2014-16) and on four state trophy winners in girls swimming (2015-18).

In addition, the 2017 girls cross country team, her senior year, finished as state runner-up. 

Rounding out her main feats: a four-time All-state cross country runner and winner of 11 individual/relay state gold medals in swimming.

Olsen no doubt would have collected more gold medals in track, but she chose to devote her spring sports time to the Bartlesville Splash Club.

With diploma in hand, Olsen proceeded to bolster the University of Kansas women’s swimming program as a top-notch competitor in the butterfly events. In her sophomore season (2019-20) she streaked to the fastest team time in the 200-yard butterfly (2:00.38) at the Big 12 Championship meet.

Olsen is part of the immense Droege family contribution to Bartlesville swimming.

It is her cross country success that elevates her to one-of-a-kind status in Bartlesville High girls athletic history.

Following is hopefully a complete list of Olsen’s major competitive achievements at Bartlesville.

CROSS COUNTRY STATE FINALS

2014-15 (freshman): Team state championship, finished as All-Stater (15th overall, 19:40.6, third fastest on team).

2015-16 (sophomore): Team state championship, finished as All-Stater (fifth overall, 19:32.7, third fastest on team).

2016-17 (junior): Team state championship, finished as All-Stater (eighth overall, 19:44.7, third fastest on team).

2017-18 (senior): Team state runner-up, finished as All-Stater (14th overall, 19:31.81, second fastest on team).

SWIMMING STATE FINALS

2014-15 (freshman): Team state championship. Gold medal: 200 medley relay.

2015-16 (sophomore): Team state championship. Gold medals: 100 butterfly, 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay.

2016-17 (junior): Team state championship. Gold medals: 100 butterfly, 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay

2017-18 (senior): Team state championship. Gold medals: 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay.