Squad earns gold medals in the 100 Fly, 100 Back and 200 Medley Relay races

The Kearney High School girls swim and dive squad took second place in Blue/Red Varsity Conference Championship on Feb. 4-5 in Gladstone.

The Bulldogs faced tough competition with the team from Platte County High School and Winnetonka High School, according to Head Coach Alison Pick. KHS wasn’t able to earn any points in the 400 free relay due to a disqualification on Friday, Feb. 4.

“But the team came ready on Saturday to get the job done, and every single swimmer scored in all of their events for us to take silver in the Blue Division,” Coach Pick said. “The team stepped up and everyone contributed to a great outcome and season. We are extremely proud of this team!”

Tori Tarr took gold in the 100 fly, with a best of 1:00.76, which is a 3.11-second time-drop for the season. She also finished first in the 100 back, with a best of 1:02.92, which is a 3.28-second time-drop for the season.

The 200 Medley Relay team of Claire Woehrman, Macy James, Tori Tarr, & Ruby Dunn took gold with a season-best 2:00.38.

Other Conference Championship Highlights:

• Claire Woehrman finished third in the 200 free (with a best time 2:09.07 in prelims). She also finished second in the 100 free.
• Ruby Dunn finished fourth in the 200 free. She also finished fourth in the 500 free.
• Braylon Stegall finished ninth in the 200 free. She also finished 10th in the 100 back.
• Elizabeth Demers finished 10th in the 200 free. She also finished eighth in the 500 free.
• Mallory Jury finished fourth in the 200 IM. She also finished seventh in the 100 breast.
• Ameila Byers finished fifth in the 200 IM. She also finished 10th in the 100 free.
• Macy James finished sixth in the 200 IM. She also finished fifth in the 100 breast.
• Jillian Bonderer finished eighth in the 50 free. She also finished third in the 100 breast.
• Adelynn McCourt finished 11th in the 50 free. She also finished 12th in the 100 free.
• Brylee Stegall finished 13th in the 50 free. She also finished 12th in the 100 breast.
• Kendra Seeley finished 15th in the 50 free. She also finished 7th in the 100 back.
• Flannery Simmons finished 13th in the 100 free.
• The 200 Free Relay of Claire Woehrman, Jillian Bonderer, Ruby Dunn, and Tori Tarr placed second with a season best of 1:49.00. That is dropping 2.04 seconds from prelims to finals. It also greatly improved our time for moving up in the standing for the state meet.
• Hailey Thorpe finished 8th in the 100 back (with a best time of 1:21.83 in prelims) which is a 14.63sec time drop for the season.

The KHS divers who competed at the Conference Championships on Tuesday, Feb. 1 also scored major points for the team. Those highlights include:

• Flannery Simmons placed fifth with a score of 219.10
• Sam Singleton placed third with a score of 225.15
• Hailey Thorpe placed sixth with a score of 193.00

A group of six girls will head to the St. Peters Rec Plex for the MSHSAA Class 1 State Championships on Feb. 17-18. The team of Jillian Bonderer, Ameila Byers, Ruby Dunn, Macy James, Tori Tarr, and Claire Woehrman will be ready to represent the Bulldogs on the State Championship stage.

“We still have some training and preparations to do, but will be ready to race again for state!” Coach Pick said.