Young Trojan swimmers aim to get experience

The Park Hill girls swim team comes into the 2011-2012 season with a mostly untested group of swimmers after a 24th place finish at the state tournament in 2010-2011. Leading them are five seniors, headlined by two-time all-state swimmer Brynn Guardado who finished fifth in the 500 freestyle and sixth in the 200 freestyle at state last year. Coach Karl Haley believes it will be another great season for Guardado and hopes it includes putting her name at the top of the wall lining the hall of swimming accomplishments at the Park Hill District Aquatic Center.

“She is looking to continue that along with setting a few new school records along the way,” Haley said.

Guardado will be joined by seniors Eleanor Parrott, Jordan Rowlett, Amanda Panich, and Lindsey Horstman. Junior Abigail Hill and sophomore Jasmine Jones also return after state qualifying seasons last year. Haley says the main thing for the Trojans this season is getting some of the more inexperienced swimmers exposed to the level of swimming they’ll face on the high school level.

“We have a fairly young team without a lot of experience in competition. So the key is getting them on board and teaching them how to compete,” Haley said.

Even with a young team, Park Hill still has their sights set on a conference title which they fell short of last year with a second place finish. In their way is a talented Lee’s Summit West program who hasn’t lost a suburban conference championship meet since the school opened in 2004.

“We would like to compete for a team conference championship. Lee’s Summit West has never lost a girls conference meet. They graduated a lot of talent last year, but they would still be the front runner,” Haley said.

Other swimmers looking to contribute this year include juniors Sarah Thompson and Madeline Hemphill along with sophomores Lynn Huynh, Braidey Howe, and Shannon Barry.