TOPEKA, Kan. – The Manhattan High Girls Swim team took first with a total of 596 points at the Topeka High Invite last Wednesday.
Senior Talia Francois placed second in the 200 yard individual medley and third in the 100 yard butterfly and senior Sydney Hicks placed first in the 100 yard freestyle and second in the 50 yard freestyle. Sophomore Paige Chauncey placed first in the 200 yard freestyle and second in the 100 yard freestyle, sophomore Soledad Rodriguez placed third in the 200 yard individual medley and fourth in the 100 yard butterfly, sophomore Sophia Steffensmeier placed first in the 500 yard freestyle and second in the 100 yard butterfly and sophomore Avery Inman placed second in the 500 yard freestyle and second in the 100 yard breaststroke.
Freshman Ruth Perez placed first in the 200 yard individual medley and first in the 100 yard breaststroke and sophomore Audrey Conley placed first in the 100 yard backstroke and fourth in the 50 yard freestyle.
The team of Francois, Perez, Steffensmeier and Hicks placed first in the 200 yard medley relay, the team of Conley, Inman, Rodriguez, and [junior] Kylee Koerner placed second in the 200 yard medley relay, the team of Rodriguez, Inman, Chauncey, and junior Meredith Graves placed first in the 200 yard freestyle relay, the team of Steffensmeier, Hicks, Francois and Perez placed first in the 400 yard freestyle relay and the team of Chauncey, Conley, Koerner and junior Brooke Newcomer placed second in the 400 yard freestyle relay.
The swim season has started off strong, and the team is grateful to have a season this year.
“I’m really grateful to have a season and I’m excited to swim past everyone and world hard at practices,” Hicks said.
At the meet, many swimmers had time drops, or faster swim times, and placed well, as seen in scores above. In the previous meet, the team placed third overall and pushed harder to place first overall at this one.
“Everybody had really awesome time drops,” Steffensmeier said. “I think we all worked together as a team.”
Personal improvements for the swimmers include mentally preparing for meets to come.
“We had meets really close together and I think I didn’t mentally prepare as well as I could have,” Chauncey said
A main goal for the team is to get to State and League and to continue to get faster and drop times. Growing as a team, working well together, working hard at training are also things the team hopes to continue to do.
“I’m hoping to continue training with the team, and building relationships and getting faster,” Steffensmeier said.
