Women’s swim prepares for state

Calum Shank
Video Editor

gregov swim — Senior Lili Gregov before swimming the 100 yard backstroke at Webster University versus Kirkwood on Nov. 30. Photo by Naia Kniker

Women’s swim and dive team recently placed second at the 2022 Suburban Red Swimming and Diving championship meet. They continue to prepare for the State meet on Feb. 18 and 19, in St. Peters.

“Since the Conference meet got moved almost an entire week, our State preparation has been moved back as well, but we planned on having a strong practice the day after the Conference, followed by a good taper during the last five days of practice before State,” assistant coach Evyn Spencer said.

The women’s swim team had previously won three consecutive Conference championships. The team led Clayton High School by 16 points going into the 400 freestyle relay (the final race). If the relay placed sixth or higher, Webster would have won the meet. The team was disqualified due to a false start that occurred during the third leg of the relay.

“State’s going to go crazy. I’m really proud of Clayton because they killed that and they are a really nice team. It hurts a little bit, but it’s okay. We could’ve had it without the call,” senior Lili Gregov said.

Gregov currently holds the school record in the 50 freestyle and placed sixth at the MSHSAA State championship meet in the previous year.

“Our leaders this season were our captains Ally Marshall and Libby Seitz, and they did a phenomenal job leading by example and providing a team environment that was positive and loving. Some other leaders that contributed to this are (Junior) Katie Downey, (Seinor) Chloe Hagemann, (Junior) Grace Allen, (Seinor) Ivy Clark, and (Junior) Audrey Guyot. These girls, and everyone on the team honestly, just make the pool such a positive place to be and the team a great group of people to be a part of,” Spencer added.

“While every girl hit a lifetime best at some point this season which is so amazing, some breakout swims we saw were Lauren Knapp and Sydney Harden having incredible strides in the water and progressing and improving well beyond their own expectations. It was really great to see them do so well and get better each day, but truly, every single girl on the team had at least one swim in a meet that was a lifetime best, and that is so incredible and something they should be so proud of. It doesn’t happen too often,” Spencer said.

“Leading up to the State meet we are going to have fun and brush off conference. Our goal as a team is to have fun and swim well. Personally I would like to drop time in the 100 fly,” junior Katie Downey said.

“This year it took a little bit to fall into a good groove with the team, but after winter break we came back strong. I am looking forward to an amazing season next year. We have a lot of underclassmen and current juniors that are very good swimmers so we will have a good team next year,” Downey added

The team began the season with a rough patch, starting the season with a dual meet record of 1-3. It then took a swing, winning the final five dual meets, ending the season with a record of 6-3.

The MSHSAA State championship meet will take place through Feb. 18 and 19 Diving will be on Friday night.