Swim Team Relays go to State Soccer and Lacrosse Practices are at Swope Park while field is under construction

SPORTS All Swim Relays Compete At State

After a full season of preparation, three relay teams qualified to compete at the state meet.

BY AUBREY MAKAR REPORTER

Racing across a lane without being able to breathe isn’t an easy task, especially under a time constraint and competing against some of the best swimmers in the state. Last year only two of the relay teams went to State and this year all three were able to compete. All three relay teams swam against some of the best teams at the St. Peter’s Rec Space in St. Louis, Missouri.

In the state finals the 200 Medley Relay placed 22, the 200 Free Relay placed 21, and the 400 Free Relay team placed 28.

“The girls worked really hard to get the state qualifying standards and we were happy to get all

200 Free Relay

Placed 21

Meghan Kearney Nathalie Barbeau Megan Sloan Clare McGannon

With construction on the new field underway, many athletes had concerns regarding where and when they would be practicing and playing games during their spring seasons. The track team was not affected by the demolition of the old field because they have previously been practicing at Barstow High School’s track. However, the soccer and lacrosse teams’ dynamics have both drastically changed.

Athletic Director Dennis Conaghan has been diligently working with the coaches to make a schedule that fits everyone’s needs. According to Conaghan, Sion has access to three fields. Sion has a field at the 122nd and Blue River Soccer complex from 3:30 until dusk. Soccer’s junior varsity team will typically be playing on the second available field, at Center Middle School, on 103rd street starting at 5:30 p.m.

The other fields available to the teams are at Swope Soccer Village. These fields were reserved for the first two weeks before Spring Break, Monday through Thursday, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Lacrosse and soccer players were released early from class in order to arrive at the fields on time. After this three of the relays to go,” Swim and Dive Coach Kelly Timson said.

Timson has worked with the swim team to improve on swimming fundamentals and fitness since the beginning of the season.

“[Coach Timson] has definitely helped us with our strokes and compete a lot in comparison to last year,” senior Meghan Kearney said.

This year was full of success and accomplishments from the swim team and the team hopes that next year will be as rewarding as this year.

“Compared to last year our coach this year is much more involved in practices and better workouts,” junior Nathalie Barbeau said.

For some of the swimmers, this was the first time participating in a state competition while others have competed all four years on the team at State. With each practice and meet, the girls gained new experiences and skills to better their

200 Medley Relay

Placed 22

Kat Qamar Ellie Magsamen Meghan Kearney Nathalie Barbeau two-week period, one field is reserved for either lacrosse or soccer to use for that week. The teams’ coaches are collaborating to see how each week fits to the teams’ schedules. Buses will also be provided to drive athletes to any practice at Swope. However, students are expected to drive or ride the vans, if necessary, to the other locations.

“We need everybody to be happy because it’s only one season,” Conaghan said.

The soccer team will host three home games at Rockhurst High School and one game at Swope. Lacrosse’s home games will be held at Center Middle School, but their dates are not set in stone yet, according to Conaghan.

“I don't want to drive to Swope everyday. We'll basically be driving longer than we'll be practicing and home games will be later because they're techniques throughout the swimming season to be highlighted at the state competition.

State is the final chance to bring out a win at the end of the season. This was exciting but also brought up the chance for some apprehension about making it to the finals for relays.

“I’m most excited to swim for our team and while also being an individual swimmer it is humbling that our relay team has made it, so I’m not swimming alone,” Kearney said.

Nerves can be a crippling ailment which seems to loom in the minds of the girls as they prepared to face some of the best relay teams in the state to compete in finals.

“I [was] nervous to swim at state because everyone is super fast and amazing,” Barbeau said.

The season was able to end on a high note by placing in the state finals and all three of the swim relays were able to battle it out in the water against the best in the state.

400 Free Relay

Placed 28

Meredith Oswald Ellie Magsamen Megan Sloan

Construction Causes Commotion

While constructing the new field, students struggle to find peace while dealing with preparation for their upcoming sport season.

BY LANEY ULOWETZ REPORTER

Clare McGannon

( Illustration by Aubrey Makar) ( Based on Olsson Associates rendering)

farther away, so I'll get less homework done,” sophomore Zoe Trouvé said.

Many students are upset about playing at an inconvenient location with a time-consuming schedule that will make it difficult to do homework and other extracurriculars.

“It's going to be slightly inconvenient this year. But it'll all be worth it next year when we have a nice brand new field," junior Alexis Cucchiara said.

Although the season may look long and grim now, the big picture proves that it will all be worth it in the end. Athletic Director Reynold Middleton is confident in the field’s progression and believes that if the weather continues to cooperate and there are no delays with products, the field should be done by July.