Winter sports have begun! That means that the Lewis Cass swimming and diving practices are in full swing. With a little over a week of practice, the team is preparing for its first meet on November 24.
This year’s swim seniors include Kennedy McLaughlin, Ally Berry, and Bianca Panmei. Our senior divers are Hannah Penn and Brailyn Adams. There are also two exchange students joining the team this year as seniors, Marina Borges Sampaio and Carla Riego Rossello. The returning senior divers were asked about their favorite swim memories from their diving careers. Hannah Penn said her favorite memory was “qualifying for regionals my sophomore year and going with Brailyn to get Chick-fil-a after.” Fellow diver, Brailyn Adams, said her favorite memory was, “all the fun activities we get to do on team bonding Tuesday, and when we shut off the lights and only have the pool lights on during practice.” As a senior swimmer myself, I am looking forward to my last swim season. I have been swimming for as long as I can remember, and it is hard to believe that in a few short months, it will be over. However, I am very excited to spend my last year with my swim lane and friends on the team. I have made some of my strongest friendships from the swim team. As for my personal goals, I hope to make finals again in the 500 and PR (personal record) in my individual events.
This year, Cass welcomes two new swim seniors, Ally Berry and Bianca Panmei. Ally is returning for her second year after taking a gap year. This year, Berry’s goals are, “to get back to my times and strength that I had sophomore year and maybe even set some new PRs.” Swimmer, Bianca Panmei, was asked what she was looking forward to this season. She replied, “I look forward to making friends and getting stronger physically this season. This is a new experience for me, so I hope to have fun while also challenging myself to do my best.”
Head coach Mandy Hall was asked what her goals were for this season, and she responded with, “I think our team goals for the season will be to repeat County Champs. Have multiple individual event PR’s and get as many swimmers and divers on the podiums at both conference & sectional.” The swim team has been the Cass County champs for the last several years and has a good chance at continuing that streak this year. Coach Hall was also asked who she thinks the standout swimmers will be. She stated, “I think this year we will have many girls that are going to stand out in their individual events; Kennedy McLaughlin in the 200 & 500 free, Madalyn Hillis in the 50 & 100 Free, Mia Hall in the 100 Free and 100 Breaststroke, Adalyn Brown 200 IM & 100 Backstroke, and Mayce Armstrong 100 Fly.” Lastly, Coach Hall had this to say about her TRC expectations, “I think this year at the TRC meet we will have another successful finish. Maconaquah is returning a lot of its top swimmers, so they will have really strong relays again. Last year we came in 2nd and I think we will finish in the same spot – but the goal will be to be closer in scores with Maconaquah.”
Go support your Lewis Cass swimming and diving team on November 24, as they open their season at Logansport High School. Go Kings! Swim fast!
