Andy Kimball
Opinion Columnist
Women’s swim team started the season with a 2-2 record. The two wins were against Oakville and Ritenour with a 72-98 loss to Pattonville and an 84-86 loss to Holt.
The team has also placed fourth out of eight teams in the Nancy Brandt Invitational meet at Rockwood Summit and placed ninth out of 21 teams at the City of Roses Invitational.
In the Nancy Brandt Invitational Webster had nine swimmers, including two freshmen, who qualified for the finals.
About team expectations Coach Dan Broshears said, swimmers were “(trying) to improve throughout the year. Individually, if you do that, things will go well.”
Junior Mikayla Kempf, who qualified for State last year, said team goals were “to improve as a team, to work on sportsmanship, supporting each other and cheering on teammates”
Kempf added “It would be nice for everyone to drop time.”
Kempf said her individual goal was to finish in the top three in an event at the State championship.
She has already qualified for State this season with her winning times at the Nancy Brandt Invitational in the 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard Backstroke.
She swam in the 100-meter backstroke and 100-meter freestyle, finishing 14th and sixth in those events at State last year.
Kempf said the teams’ strengths were new swimmers that have been doing well this season
Kempf said, “Our relays have been doing well in dual meets” and added “it would be cool if (Webster) could bring a relay to State.”
The 400 yard freestyle relay finished sixth out of 25 teams. The relay included Kempf’s sister freshman Kathrine Kempf, Kempf, senior Maddie Bloemke and senior Jenny Johns.
There other relays were the 200-yard medley and 200-yard freestyle. Webster finished ninth and 13th out of 26 and 25 teams at the City of Roses Invitational.
Broshears said, “Our team’s strengths are work ethic, we work very hard and improve quickly team morale is good, (the team) gets along very well.”
The Stateswomen had The Cape Rock Invitational on Jan. 24, and dual meets at Parkway North and at Rockwood Summit on Jan. 27 and Feb. 3.
