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BOYS SWIMMING AND DIVING: Park Hill hopes to build on 2007 season
By Bill Knust
Last year, Park Hill High’s boys swimming and diving team grabbed its first conference championship in 10 years and parlayed that performance into a seventh-place finish at state.
This year, the Trojans want to improve that mark and contend for another conference title.
“We have a lot of returning talent from last year, but not a lot of experience in championship meets,” coach Karl Haley said. “A lot of our team is still maturing as competitors, and we really need them all to perform to reach our goals.”
Back for the Trojans are state qualifiers Sean Deegan, Tyler Crowe, Ben Svoboda, Bryce Kober and Walker Hemphill. Deegan was all-state in the 200-meter freestyle and all-state honorable mention in the 100 backstroke last year. Crowe was a state qualifier in the 200 freestyle, Svoboda in the 100 butterfly, Kober in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke, and Hemphill in the 100 breast.
The biggest loss for Park Hill will be Chris Svoboda to graduation. He was all-state in the 50 and 100 freestyle last year.
“We have a lot of individual battles going on for relay spots and positions on the varsity team,” Haley said. “Hopefully, this competition will bring out the best in our team.”
North Kansas City has young team
The Hornets will be armed with the task of replacing three state qualifiers from last year’s team.
Back for the Hornets though is state qualifier and all-conference diver Tyler Wade. Joining Wade on the springboard will be Jeff Mason and newcomer Carson Light.
Diving coach Mary Meyers has high hopes for the talented trio at Northtown.
In the pool, coach Kelly Rule wants to see continuous improvement from the young team.
“We are a growing team, fairly young but ambitious,” Rule said. “They have hearts of true leaders that will take them far during the season and after. We hope to qualify our divers and a relay for state this year.”
Sports writer Bill Knust can be reached at 389-6605 or billknust@npgco.com.
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This year, the Trojans want to improve that mark and contend for another conference title.
“We have a lot of returning talent from last year, but not a lot of experience in championship meets,” coach Karl Haley said. “A lot of our team is still maturing as competitors, and we really need them all to perform to reach our goals.”
Back for the Trojans are state qualifiers Sean Deegan, Tyler Crowe, Ben Svoboda, Bryce Kober and Walker Hemphill. Deegan was all-state in the 200-meter freestyle and all-state honorable mention in the 100 backstroke last year. Crowe was a state qualifier in the 200 freestyle, Svoboda in the 100 butterfly, Kober in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke, and Hemphill in the 100 breast.
The biggest loss for Park Hill will be Chris Svoboda to graduation. He was all-state in the 50 and 100 freestyle last year.
“We have a lot of individual battles going on for relay spots and positions on the varsity team,” Haley said. “Hopefully, this competition will bring out the best in our team.”
North Kansas City has young team
The Hornets will be armed with the task of replacing three state qualifiers from last year’s team.
Back for the Hornets though is state qualifier and all-conference diver Tyler Wade. Joining Wade on the springboard will be Jeff Mason and newcomer Carson Light.
Diving coach Mary Meyers has high hopes for the talented trio at Northtown.
In the pool, coach Kelly Rule wants to see continuous improvement from the young team.
“We are a growing team, fairly young but ambitious,” Rule said. “They have hearts of true leaders that will take them far during the season and after. We hope to qualify our divers and a relay for state this year.”
Sports writer Bill Knust can be reached at 389-6605 or billknust@npgco.com.