Gallery|9 Photos

By Hunter Ristau

In the middle of the freestyle stroke, sophomore Cole McClure takes a breath of air and continues on with the 500 Yard Freestyle. McClure finished 2nd in his heat at the EKL Swim and Dive Championships on Saturday, Feb. 2.

The boys swim team travelled to Blue Valley Southwest High School to compete in their EKL meet on Friday and Saturday Feb. 1 and 2.

Sophomore Cole McClure felt the meet went very well.

“Everyone swam their hardest and was dropping time,” McClure said. “All the relays did really well and we placed fifth overall so we did really good as a team, considering how small we are.”

However, according to Junior Avery Lawson, the meet was different from others they competed in previously.

“It was a lot more competitive and the heats were set up different so it was kind of an adjustment,” Lawson said.

The meet helped the boys bond and increased anticipation state.

“We got our state team out of it so our team’s getting smaller and smaller,” McClure said. “It’s becoming more of a tight-knit group, which is helping us get closer together.”

Lawson has already set his own goals for state.

“I’m hoping to swim in the 200 free relay, although I don’t know if that’s going to happen,” Lawson said. “I also want to [set personal records] in all the events I swim.”

Overall, McClure thinks the meet has helped prepare him for what competition waits ahead at state.

“I’m ready for [state],” McClure said. “I was a little nervous before, but every meet that gets closer and closer, you just get more prepared.”