Girls Swim Team Kicks Off Season

Jessica Wylie, Co-Editor

The girls swim team will kick off on March 26 at the Manhattan KSU Natatorium. This year the team has 19 swimmers, with 17 coming from McPherson High School and two coming from Smokey Valley.

“This season will be an exciting one,” senior Katie Wurm said. “Not only because it’s my last season, but also because our team has gained many new girls. I look forward to getting to know all the new faces, and I am ready to see how we perform at meets.”

Last year five girls qualified for state. Those that qualified include seniors Katie Wurm and Lindsey Moore, junior Amanda Starkel, and sophomore Megan Cutting.

“I think a lot of us will qualify this year,” senior Monet Kunde said. “There’s a lot of new blood and we still have some great swimmers that are already working really hard. I have a feeling that this season will be great.”

There are seven seniors from MHS. Five of the seniors have been on the team since freshman year. Hannah Stecklein, Lindsey Moore, Katie Wurm, Monet Kunde, and Sarah Houston have competed for four years.

“I feel kind of sad about it being my last season of swim,” Stecklein said. “A lot of us have been swimming together for years with summer swim team and with the high school. It should be a fun season, but I’m going to miss it when it’s over.”

Seniors Olivia Hansen and Mandi Handlin joined later in their high school years. Hansen joined in her sophomore year and Handlin joined in her junior year.

“Swims been a rollercoaster these past three years, full of ups and downs,” Hansen said. “When you lose a race, your team mates are the first ones to lift you up. When you win, you win for the team. It’s an individual sport, but with a team as close ours, every small victory for one is a huge win for everyone.”

The girls season continues until May 21 at State.