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It was the varsity boys’ turn to take home the state championship. Their hard work and dedication paid off at the UIL 5A swimming and diving state championships in Austin, TX, Feb. 26-27, at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center. The Highlander boys finished 9 points ahead of the second place team Southlake Carroll High School.
Freshman swimmer Cannon Clifton placed second in the 200 yard freestyle and fourth in the 100 freestyle. Tripp Cooper set a school record in the 200 free relay. Chad Sorensen set a new school record for the 100 breaststroke. Luke Norris, Kyle Meyers, Sorensen and Clifton placed second in the 400 yard freestyle relay. Clifton, Knox Hitt, Sorensen and Cooper placed first in the 200 yard freestyle relay. Hitt, Sorensen, Cooper and Meyers placed second in the 200 yard Medley Relay. Wil Mayo placed fourth in diving with a score of 456.30.
The varsity girls brought home a successful sixth place victory. With six previous seniors leaving, they were proud of their accomplishment.
“The greatest part of this past weekend was seeing the boys win and being able to support them like they supported us,” junior and varsity swimmer Erin Foster said.
Foster placed fourth in the 200 yard freestyle and third in the 500 yard freestyle. Allie Sorensen, Jennifer Reese, Margaret Cooke and Foster placed third in the 200 yard freestyle relay.
Freshman diver Kassidy Cook broke a 17-year old record with a score of 549.6, 38.8 points ahead of the previous record set by Jenny Lingamfelter of Round Rock Westwood.
“I’ve never seen anything like it ever,” Foster said. “She stood out from everyone. Everybody knew she was going to win.”
Cook plans on getting a scholarship and diving in college where she will take the lessons she has learned.
“Diving has taught me to not get flustered after you make mistakes,” Cook said. “If you get mad about it, it makes it worse. I like the thrill and competition, and I do well under pressure.”
Without support, there wouldn’t be true champions.
“We had a lot of support from our whole team, even those that didn’t make state,” senior swimmer Kyle Meyer said.
Both swimming and diving coaches were pleased with the amount of support the boys and girls offered each other.
“My favorite part of this weekend was how everybody was supporting one another and urging people to do their best,” swimming Coach Kent Kirchner said. “If we hadn’t have had that, it wouldn’t have happened. They were so selfless and didn’t care just about themselves but the total picture.”
Diving Coach Daniel Sautural was also proud of how they worked as a team because swimming and diving is often looked at as an individual sport.
“They were trying to win as a team instead of individually,” Sautural said.
The swimmers and divers wouldn’t have been as successful if it weren’t for the two coaches. Kirchner was named swimming coach of the year at the meet.
“He is nice to everyone and doesn’t have favorites,” Foster said. “He loves all of us equally and he never lets us down. He is always there to support us no matter what. He always believes in us.”
Sautural was named diving coach of the year at the meet.
“He is enthusiastic and always gives compliments,” Cook said. “He always has something positive to say.”
Setting a winning tradition comes with experience and school pride.
“Most of the team has been swimming for years,” Sautural said. “Our biggest strength is our school pride and our heart. Our kids fought for it.”
Freshman swimmer Cannon Clifton placed second in the 200 yard freestyle and fourth in the 100 freestyle. Tripp Cooper set a school record in the 200 free relay. Chad Sorensen set a new school record for the 100 breaststroke. Luke Norris, Kyle Meyers, Sorensen and Clifton placed second in the 400 yard freestyle relay. Clifton, Knox Hitt, Sorensen and Cooper placed first in the 200 yard freestyle relay. Hitt, Sorensen, Cooper and Meyers placed second in the 200 yard Medley Relay. Wil Mayo placed fourth in diving with a score of 456.30.
The varsity girls brought home a successful sixth place victory. With six previous seniors leaving, they were proud of their accomplishment.
“The greatest part of this past weekend was seeing the boys win and being able to support them like they supported us,” junior and varsity swimmer Erin Foster said.
Foster placed fourth in the 200 yard freestyle and third in the 500 yard freestyle. Allie Sorensen, Jennifer Reese, Margaret Cooke and Foster placed third in the 200 yard freestyle relay.
Freshman diver Kassidy Cook broke a 17-year old record with a score of 549.6, 38.8 points ahead of the previous record set by Jenny Lingamfelter of Round Rock Westwood.
“I’ve never seen anything like it ever,” Foster said. “She stood out from everyone. Everybody knew she was going to win.”
Cook plans on getting a scholarship and diving in college where she will take the lessons she has learned.
“Diving has taught me to not get flustered after you make mistakes,” Cook said. “If you get mad about it, it makes it worse. I like the thrill and competition, and I do well under pressure.”
Without support, there wouldn’t be true champions.
“We had a lot of support from our whole team, even those that didn’t make state,” senior swimmer Kyle Meyer said.
Both swimming and diving coaches were pleased with the amount of support the boys and girls offered each other.
“My favorite part of this weekend was how everybody was supporting one another and urging people to do their best,” swimming Coach Kent Kirchner said. “If we hadn’t have had that, it wouldn’t have happened. They were so selfless and didn’t care just about themselves but the total picture.”
Diving Coach Daniel Sautural was also proud of how they worked as a team because swimming and diving is often looked at as an individual sport.
“They were trying to win as a team instead of individually,” Sautural said.
The swimmers and divers wouldn’t have been as successful if it weren’t for the two coaches. Kirchner was named swimming coach of the year at the meet.
“He is nice to everyone and doesn’t have favorites,” Foster said. “He loves all of us equally and he never lets us down. He is always there to support us no matter what. He always believes in us.”
Sautural was named diving coach of the year at the meet.
“He is enthusiastic and always gives compliments,” Cook said. “He always has something positive to say.”
Setting a winning tradition comes with experience and school pride.
“Most of the team has been swimming for years,” Sautural said. “Our biggest strength is our school pride and our heart. Our kids fought for it.”
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