Prelims

The Boys Varsity Swim and Dive Team started off their competition at the MSHSAA championships on Friday, Nov. 7, in the preliminary rounds.

The Wildcats took their largest team to state in the history of the team, taking 19 swimmers and divers.

“It was awesome that we got to take a large group to state,” Brenden Harris, backstroke, said. “We could show a lot of underclassmen what it’s like swimming at state.”

The first event that the Wildcats had swimmers qualify for the finals was the 200-yard freestyle.

Both Justing King and Jake Haefner qualified for the finals with times of 1:45.65 and 1:48.95, respectively.

“I stayed focused on the race,” King said. “I made sure to stay in  front of the field of competition.”

King also qualified for the finals in the 100-yard freestyle.

Harris also qualified for the finals in his individual event (the 100-yard backstroke) with a time of 55.07

“I was ecstatic when I found out I made finals,” Harris said. “It was the first time I qualified in the top 16 at state, individually.”

The Aquacats once again qualified a relay for the finals in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:21.28.

Haefner, Hayden Seidel, Harris and King posted one of their best times of the season en route to the finals.

“All four of us gave our best effort throughout the season,” Seidel said. “We kept a positive attitude and had fun.”

The Wildcats swam for the championships the following day.

Finals

The Boys Varsity Swim and Dive Team took to the waters again this weekend in the MSHAA 2014 Boys Swimming and Diving State Championships.

The competition was held at St. Peters Rec Plex in St. Peters, Saturday, Nov. 8.

“I was exceptionally happy with our team’s performance,” Mrs. Sharon Wasson, head swim coach, said.

Justin King and Jake Haefner both placed on Saturday in their events.

With the two of them represented the team in the 200-yard freestyle event, King placed 7th and Haefner took 14th.

“For me the finals were really intense,” King said. “ I managed to just keep my cool and stay calm so I could perform well.”

Brenden Harris took 13th in the 100-yard backstroke Event.

The 400-yard freestyle relay team broke the school record by almost four seconds in their event, setting a new time of 3:20:29.

“We weren’t even ranked in the top 16 for the event,” Coach Wasson said. “We got to come back the second day in the top eight and placed in 11th overall, which was terrific.”

Diver Trent Esser pushed through injury and placed in the one meter diving event.

“Trent dove with a torn labrum,” Coach Wasson said. “He still placed 18th in the state.”

Congratulations Aquacats on a top 20 finish at state and a great season.