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sports 15 RP Friday, October 5, 2012 Eighth grader swims above the rest, makes varsity Hillary Donovan Staff Reporter On a team made up entirely of freshmen and high school students, Kate Glover, eighth grader, makes her own mark. Landing a spot on the HHS varsity swim team, Glover is the youngest to make the cut. Glover, who started her varsity swimming career in 7th grade, has placed at the top of the HHS swim team. “Kate earned a spot on our varsity team due to her times. As a seventh grader, she excels in the distance events and was our top 200 and 500 freestyle swimmer,” said Mr. Nate Kremer, swimming coach. “She also fits in well with our varsity group and trains at a very high level.” This year, Glover’s fastest is the 200 and 500 freestyle and the 200 IM. Typically, athletes don’t make a varsity sport until they are in high school, so being in eighth grade, the pressure can be overwhelming. On the varsity team there is one eighth grader, three freshmen, two sophomores, seven juniors, and four seniors, so the pressure of being the only eighth grader could present a challenge. “It’s definitely a good feeling being the youngest, but also a challenge because you know the older girls have a lot more experience than you,” Glover said. “I think the diversity of ages can be a very pos-
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itive thing, this allows girls who are older to assume leadership roles, and gives our younger girls a strong training and peer group to be around,” Kremer said. Glover quickly discovered that age doesn’t matter on the team. “A lot of the of the younger swimmers are really good so it doesn’t really make a difference what age they are,” said Sarah Hedberg, senior. “She’s
Kate Glover (second from left), eighth grade, preparing to do her 500 meter freestyle. She led the team last year in 200 and 500 freestyle.
The month in review vs. Quarterback JT Denhartog, senior, led Hopkins over 10th ranked Champlin Park 37-32, by throwing for 279 yards and 3 touchdowns (09/17/12).
vs. Hopkins won three straight sets to sweep Wayzata (16-25, 22-25, 16-25) in a dominating victory, moving HHS to 4th in the state, ahead of Wayzata.
vs. Hopkins records first victory of season, winning 3-1 against conference foe Minnetonka. Sami Pierau, senior leads the way with a hat trick (09/26/12).
Name: Margaret McDonnell Grade: 12 Sport: Tennis Athletic Idol: Maria Sharapova Favorite Memory: “Playing doubles with Shelby (Benkofske, junior) and beating Chanhassen.
really good and fast, so swimming at the varsity level isn’t a problem.” “She is approaching her best times from last year, and is training very well. We expect her to have a shot at qualifying for state this year,” Kremer said. If Glover does qualify for state, she will be one of the youngest girls at the competition, because no other seventh graders qualified last year. Not
The month to come vs. Hopkins takes on second ranked Eden Prairie (10/09/12) after losing 3 sets to 1 in their September matchup. Player to watch: Middle blocker Nora Reed, senior has provided good leadership and stellar play on the court.
vs. Hopkins takes on conference rival Minnetonka (10/17/12) in final home game of the season. Player to watch: Running back David Cliett, senior leads team with 509 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns, averaging 101.8 yards per game on the ground.
vs. The girls soccer team takes on Armstrong in their final game of the season at home (10/6/12). Player to watch: Goalie Gretchen Patterson, sophomore, has stepped up big this season after the graduation of longtime varsity goalie Jenny Grahek.
only will she be one of the youngest, she will be one of the only swimmers from HHS. Last year only three swimmers qualified to go to state from HHS, landing the team in 20th place in the state. Glover is working hard in training, trying to keep her motivation up. “Knowing you have to work hard because you have to earn your spot and you have to keep up keeps me going,” Glover said. “It is mostly just fun.”
Photo by Cydney Froehlich