Trojans Swim & Dive team looks to constant improvement as key

After winning their conference the two previous years, it was dissatisfying for the Park Hill Girls Swim and Dive team to come up short by finishing second in last year’s conference meet. But that leaves all the motivation in the world for Karl Haley’s team coming into this year.

Haley tries to focus his team on the importance of two meets all season: conference and state, where they finished 24th last year.

“We point all of our training towards two meets,” Haley said. “All the other meets are tests that occur along the way.”

They want those meets to be their best performances. In fact, last year each member of the team accomplished not only their best individual showings of the season in those meets, but also in their careers. The Trojans strive for that kind of constant improvement in order to get the kind of results they want when they matter most.

“We expect the same this year,” Haley said of his team’s approach.

Like all competitors, Haley says it’s about who can work harder and smarter than their opponents. With another successful swim program not too far away in rival Park Hill South, it’s an easy motivator for members of the team. Battling a rival for that top spot year after year makes it mean just that much more.

Park Hill will return several proven members of their team from last season. Brynn Guardado and Kori Wagner were a part of the team to set the school record in the 200 medley relay last year. Both were named all-state honorable mention. Guardado in the 200 free, 500 free, 200 medley, and 400 free relay events. Wagner in the 200 medley relay event. Kaley Hensel was also honored as an all-state honorable mention for her performances in the 100 breaststroke, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay. On the diving side, Eleanor Parrott returns after being a state qualifier. Erin Flagler, Halle Musfeldt, Molly Pennington, Hannah Pennington, Hannah Rank, Hannah Reichert, and Erin Barry round out the rest of the team as returning lettermen.

The Trojans’ big meets of the year will be their own Park Hill Invitational in early January followed by the KC Classic later in the month.