On Feb. 14 the Swim and Dive team set out for state with a new mindset: not focused on getting a particular place, but with the goal of competing at the highest level possible. They were determined to maintain a positive outlook through the entire competition.
“We didn’t really have a set goal, we just wanted to go fast,” junior Kristine Sullivan said.
The approach paid off when the team received second place, and divers Elizabeth Gianino, Megan Benson and Margaret Brandmeyer placed 13th, 14th and 27th respectively.
“There is no doubt in my mind this is the best performance of any Sion Swim and Dive team in any meet in the team’s history,” Head Coach Paul Winkeler said.
Sion fans weren’t the only people proud of the team’s achievements. Many of the girls recall a moment after results, when they were walking back to their bags, that was meaningful for all of them.
“We always sit by St. Teresa’s and when we were walking back after results they started chanting ‘We’re so proud of you!’” Sullivan said. “It really meant a lot.”
To many of the girls on the team, both the individual and team results came as a shock.
“I was not expecting the results that I got,” senior Laura Klover said. “I had no idea I was about to drop seven seconds in the 200 IM and go from dead last to 11th in the whole state. That race shocked me and my teammates and really motivated us all to perform with confidence.”
Sullivan was not expecting her results either and said placing third in the 200 IM was a nice surprise on top of an already fun competition.
It was the first year of state competition for the divers on this years’ team. For senior Elizabeth Gianino, it was nice to know that the points they had earned had contributed to the overall score of the team.
Since the girls had never competed at state before, they went into the competition with almost no expectations. Gianino said this ended up playing to their advantage, and that the key to success was staying consistent and focusing on each dive.
“My coach told us to have short term memory,” Gianino said. “Basically we had to forget what good or bad thing we did on a previous dive and only focus on the next one.”
Although Winkeler knew the team had done well, he was stunned when he heard how close the top scores were.
“I had a feeling we would be in the top four towards the end of the meet, but I was shocked when I heard that half a point separated three teams,” Winkeler said. “Knowing that, it simply shows that everyone is important and everyone must contribute.”
Although the pressure is high for everyone at the state competition, both Klover and Sullivan said this year was more relaxed for the entire team. They said that the relaxation and positive attitudes were key parts of being at state this year.
“We made ourselves believe that it was just another swim meet, similar to all the other invitationals we had competed in already,” Klover said. “We relaxed ourselves and went in with positive attitudes.”
Being a high school swimmer was always a goal for Klover. As she got older, she began to look forward to swimming for Sion. She said the girls on the team are the best part.
“As a young swimmer, I had always dreamt of performing in high school. The Sion team was just the perfect touch,” Klover said. “These girls mean the world to me and being able to bond with them for years is incredible.”
For Sullivan, the experience on the team has been a highlight of high school so far. She said she especially values her teammates and thinks of them as sisters.
“I’ve been able to meet so many amazing people that I wouldn’t have,” Sullivan said. “I wouldn’t trade being on the team for anything.”