Diving into the new year

Millard South Swimming competes in 9th annual Millard South Invitational

Jamison Hanway Staff Reporter

Qualifying for state and nearly breaking some school records were the highlight of the Millard South Invitational held last month. This meet was one of the larger ones, hosting nine schools including Millard North, Millard West and Lincoln Southeast and more.

Senior Nate Braun prepares to leap off the block at the Millard South invitational.

Photo by Jamison Hanway

“We swam some really great best times and we almost broke some school records like at Lincoln Southeast,” Coach Tara Goss said.

Many of the Swimmers in the Millard South Varsity team earned a spot on our state team this meet.

During the swim season, swimmers can achieve secondary and automatic times to qualify for our state’s team.

“They have been working hard all year, we are hoping to get a couple of other people qualified, maybe not with automatics but with the secondaries. Maybe get a couple more people up to our state team from our metro team. But overall they have been working very hard,” Goss said.

This meet was a very large success for Millard South, swimmers had set some personal records and even dropped some time in their races and relays.

“I think the meet went very well for a mid-season meet, coach Taylor Gilroy said. “The swimmers haven’t started tapering yet which is where we start to back off on our training but we had a lot of time drops or swimmers swam exactly where they should be swimming. So overall I think it went very well,” Gilroy said.

Some of the AquaPats had earned first place in their events, Parker Schmieding, Kindsey Joyce, Mia Augistine, and Addison Storms came in their relay and the Boys team consisting of Oscar Edwards, Mansion Zedina, Nikolas Keuser and Will Cameron came in third.

“I cleared my mind and dove off the blocks,” freshman Oscar Edwards said. “I really just went for it. I knew I was going to get it. I just had to go,” he said.

Many swimmers have qualified for secondary and automatic times. For our boys team, Nikolas Keuser, Mason Zadina, Oscar Edwards, and Will Cameron all have secondary or automatic times, they also have one for their relay team. Addison Storms, Mia Augustine, Parker Schmieding, and Kindsey Joyce all automatic times. There are many swimmers close to qualifying but with the help from their coaches and fellow teammates, they will succeed.

“The state team has been showing their leadership to the others very much,” Goss said, “which is very nice to see leadership come from them. Just hoping to break a few more school records.”

The members of the state team have helped out and really lead the other swimmers.

“I do a lot of leadership,” senior Nate Braun said, “like keeping the locker room down, and shutting up the of younger people. I also lead the chants form time to time, so it’s pretty cool,” he said.