The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1432310
D-4 Winter Sports Preview Wednesday, November 24, 2021 The Press-Dispatch The 2021-2022 Pike Central Lady Charger swim team includes, front row (l to r): Kelsea Query, Lexi Oswalt, Taylor Oswalt and Ally Hardin; second row: Xavery Weis- mann, LJ Deffendoll, Addy Russell, Lexi Onyett, Ella Adams, Gabby Collins, Izzy Luker and Jackie Berry; back row: Karly Morson, team manager, Brylee Walker, team manager, Emily Krieg, Tessa Vinnedge, Morgan Salle, Sarah Fenwick ,Emma Mckinney, Maddi Riley, Jillian Bailey and Shelby Keeker. Not pictured are Kayleigh Byrd and Avery Hunt. Lady Charger swimmers have high expectations for a great year By Matthew Haycraft Pike Central's Lady Charger swim team has ventured into the new pool area and is ready to be- gin their season. Coach Jason McKinney said, "I am very excited about this year's swim season, we have great numbers this year for the girls' team. The construction on the pool area is done and we couldn't be happier about the way it turned out. It is beautiful and the kids love it." Last year's squad placed sev- enth in the PAC Finals. The 10 -team PAC championship last year included eight Lady Char- ger swimmers, with top 12 finals finishes, which included Maddy Riley, Shelby Keeker, Charlotte Dudenhoeffer, Jillian Bailey, Jen- na Meyer, Tessa Vinnedge, Tay- lor Oswalt and Addy Russell. This makes this year's team look even more promising, with Riley, Keeker, Bailey, Vinnedge, Oswalt and Russell being return swimmers this year. The girls' team will be return- ing 12 swimmers from last year's team and will have seven fresh- man that have been involved in the middle school swimming program, along with three new swimmers joining the team. Seniors on this year's squad are: Emma McKinney, who will swim breaststroke, IM and free style, Sarah Fenwick, swimming freestyle distance, Morgan Salle, swimming the free and IM dis- tance, Madi Riley, swimming backstroke and freestyle, and Avery Hunt. Hunt, unfortunate- ly, will not get to swim this year due to an injury she sustained in softball season and will be missed greatly, according to Coach McKinney. Senior Emma McKinney com- mented on the year, saying she is pretty confident since they have doubled their numbers this year, and she is setting a goal of cut- ting her time on the 100 breast- stroke, since she was pretty close to the record. "I'm hoping that everybody just does their personal best this year, and that we really just show the other teams what's up. Be- cause we do have more numbers to compete with in this year's season," she said. Maddy Riley stated, "We have a strong team. It's bigger than we've ever had so far in my high school career. I hope to cut down time on my backstroke. I was pretty close to being on the po- dium last year for sectionals, but I got quarantined." Echoing the other seniors, Morgan Salle said she feels su- per well about the season and she thinks that it is going to be a super strong one for the team. She went on to say she looks to swim the butterfly faster than she ever has and has high ex- pectations with the numbers the team has. Juniors on this year's team will be Emily Krieg and Tessa Vinnedge, who will be diving, and Shelby Keeker and Jillian Bailey swimming breaststroke and freestyle. Lady Charger sophomores this year are: Lexi Onyett, who will swim freestyle sprints, Tay- lor Oswalt, swimming freestyle and IM, Addy Russell, swim- ming freestyle, Ella Adams and Gabby Collins, swimming free- style distance, and Ally Hardin diving. According to Coach McKin- ney, this year's team has sev- eral outstanding freshmen and most of them can swim wherev- er they are put, so they will be a big part in the team. Fresh- man swimmers this year will be Jackie Berry, Alexis Oswalt, Izzy Luker, Kelsea Query, L.J. Def- fendoll, Xavery Weisman and Kayleigh Byrd. Coach McKinney stated, "I be- lieve this could be a great year for the girls' team due to the numbers and the talent that we have on the team. The girls have been working very hard and put- ting in a lot of yards at practice." I believe this could be a great year for the girls' team due to the numbers and the talent that we have on the team." – Coach Jason McKinney net edition pressdispatch.net/edition Web, Smartphone, Tablet Streamline the Headline! 812-354-8500 • 820 Poplar St., Petersburg, IN • ads@pressdispatch.net Lana R. Hel ms, DDS , MSD, PC Making and sharing SMILES! Be a Winner! Stay in school, study hard and prepare for a great future. Board-Certified in Orthodontics for children, adolescents and adults Appointments Monday-Friday 812-254-4500 2116 State St., Washington • 2848 Ford Rd., Vincennes www.lanahelms.com