Swimmers Break School Records At State

By Marissa Hubbard

         Ending this season, the girls swim team had five swimmers make it to state and set seven new school records, 6 individual and one relay. The girls had two practices a day, one before school and one after school at the Gladstone Community Center. The team focused more on the details like perfecting their strokes as they’re entering conference and state season, according to coach Bob Barth.

“We’re getting the best out of our older swimmers and developing the younger ones,” said Barth. “It’s a very tough sport.”

The team won their fifth suburban conference championship on the weekend of Feb. 1and beat multiple school records at state. The seniors are leaving with high hopes that the underclassmen will continue their winning streak.

“Coach Bob is a great coach,” said senior Carly Shawver. “There are some underclassmen that I think will step up.”

One swimmer Barth was impressed with is freshman Hannah Palmeter who has beaten multiple school records, including the 500-freestyle, at both school and conference level. She started swimming at age 6 but didn’t set her goal at beating the state record until she was in middle school.

“Coach has definitely motivated me,” said Palmeter. “He has inspired me to keep working harder.”

State preliminary rounds were on Feb. 14 and the finals on Feb. 15 at the Rec-Plex in St. Peters. The 400-freestyle relay team, freshman Hannah Palmeter, sophomore Claire Bruscato, seniors Samantha Gach and Paige Anderson, placed 24th at state. This beat the school record along with Bruscato’s 200- and 500-freestyle and Palmeter’s 100 butterfly.

“There’s always room to improve, but we’ve been doing pretty well,” said sophomore Emalen Keeling. “I love my team. We’re all like one big family.”

In the 200 medley, Palmeter, Anderson, freshman Jordan Janiak, and Bruscato placed 30that state. The team went 5 and 2 for dual meets this year and showed impressive skills in leadership, according to Barth.

“It was a great experience and we all had a really good time,” said Palmeter.