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By Anna Ricker

On Thursday, Jan. 24, the boys swim team competed in the Blue Valley South swim meet and placed 2nd overall. “I feel the team performed well last night, we all dropped time,” sophomore Nolan Collins said. “I feel like we’ve been preparing well and we all have been improving. I feel like we are ready to go and take on state.”

The boys swim team placed second at the Blue Valley West Invitational on Thursday, Jan. 24. Junior Colby Beggs placed 2nd in the 100 freestyle and sophomore Cole McClure placed fourth in the 500 free. A relay team consisting of junior Logan Myers, sophomore Cole McClure, sophomore Noah Collins and freshman Derek Long placed third in the 200 yard freestyle relay.

Swimming four events, senior Chris Sprenger placed second in both the 200 freestyle and the 500 freestyle. Sprenger believes the team did well despite the issues about scheduling through winter weather leading up to this past meet at BVW.

“I think the team has done really well considering our schedule, especially with all the time off we’ve had. We haven’t been able to practice as often as all the coaches would like, but everyone seems to be dropping time anyway” Sprenger said. “Our relays seem to be on track to surpass what we were able to swim last year at state.”

Even with the lack of practices, senior Ethan Forristal placed third in the 200 freestyle and fourth in the 100 fly. Forristal feels that the team has gradually climbed to the 6A level over the course of the season.

“I think we have become more competitive with the other teams as we have moved through the season,” Forristal said. “It started out kind of rough in our first few meets, but now we are starting to keep up and our relays are getting better.”

With only two scheduled meets left, Sprenger expects a chance to return to state this year.

“The EKL has a lot of really good teams and swimmers, and everyone will be rested, suited up and going for best times,” Sprenger said. “I think we have positioned ourselves to do about the same as last year in the relays as far as placing, which is really good, considering the jump up to 6A.”

The meet cancelled due to inclement weather on Tuesday, Jan. 22 against Blue Valley Southwest, will now occur on Monday, Jan. 28.