Girls swim competes at Conference

  • Anna Davis, sophomore, relaxes after her event last night at Conference prelims.

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  • Swimmers prepare for the first event, the 200-yard medley relay, at Conference prelims last night.

    Media by Sarah Wang
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  • Coach Joe Schoedel goes over with Anna Davis, sophomore, on her performance after swimming the 200-yard IM.

    Media by Sarah Wang
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  • Swimmers dive off their blocks for the 50-yard-freestyle.

    Media by Sarah Wang
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  • Media by Ellie Ludens, junior, races for the first spot in the 200-yard IM.
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Ellie Toler, Copy Editor
February 13, 2015

As swimmer Alyssa Lemon, sophomore, prepared for her events last night at Conference prelims, she slapped her arms and legs, the sound of AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ flowing through her headphones to help calm her nerves.

By the end of prelims, Lemon placed second in both the 200-meter and 400-meter relays, third in the 50-meter-freestyle and  fifth in the 100-meter-freestyle.

All but one MHS swimmer qualified for finals at seven p.m. tonight at Lafayette.

Lemon said it’s safe to say the team will place at least in the top five tonight but will hopefully bring home the win to continue their undefeated record, which currently stands at 10-0.

In the prelims, swimmers Megan McVey, sophomore, and Karli Basler, junior, made the cut to join Lemon, sophomores Anna Davis and  Katiana Porporis, junior Allison Tichenor and senior Raquel Porporis at State on Feb. 20 and 21. McVey will swim the 100-meter-breaststroke, and Basler will some the 100-meter-backstroke.

“So far, I’m really happy with what we’re doing with the team, and I’m happy what I’m doing as an individual too.” Lemon said.

It will be a very close meet between MHS, Lafayette and Parkway South, swim coach Joe Schoedel said. Many of the girls are extremely competitive. They count on every member of the team to do her job in order to be successful.

“They stepped up and put themselves in a spot to potentially win the whole thing,” Schoedel said.

A core of the team is eager to prove they haven’t lost step after last year’s success, Schoedel said. The goal from the very start of the season remains repeating, if not surpassing, the success they shared last year.

Just last year, the girls swim team took second at State, a victory they still cherish today. This year, with their 10-0 record, the girls are looking to bring home the State title.

Although the team lost some great swimmers last year, including captains Jessi Goring and Abby Watson, Class of 2014, this year swimmer Maddie Johnson, sophomore, said she is confident the team can come home with a State win.

“We lost a lot of good swimmers, but we’ve gone undefeated this year, which is really nice,” Johnson said. “It shows that we can pull it forward.”