By BRIAN FEESValley Sports Report
WEBSTER — The Waverly girls’ swim team is coming home from states with a little hardware as they are returning to Waverly with four state medals.
The Wolverines won state medals in both the 200 medley and 200 free relays, and Mira Kittle added medals in the 50 free and 100 backstroke.
In the 200 medley relay, the team of Megan Atanasoff, Olivia Cheresnkowsky, Kittle and Natalie Steck finished fifth in 1:48.58.
“It’s really exciting to be able to go so fast in the state meet as a freshman,” Atanasoff said. “It’s really nice to see how fast I can go at the beginning of the day. It really kind of shows me how fast I can go for the rest of the meet.”
Earning a state medal to start the day was special for the Wolverines.
“Really unforgettable,” Cheresnowsky said. “All of our hard work has paid off and we really got to showcase our talent at the state level.”
Two of the four swimmers on the relay are freshmen, the other two are seniors.
“I’m really happy we placed higher than last year, especially since it’s our seniors last year,” Steck said. “It’s really special and I’m really glad we did it.”
Cheresnowsky and Kittle are the two seniors on the relay.
“It’s super special having this to close my senior season,” Cheresnowsky said. “This relay will always hold a special spot in my heart. All of our hard work has paid off and it’s a real nice way to close it all.”
Kittle closed out the relay with a 22.93 split in the 50 free portion of the race.
“It’s my fastest split,” she said. “It’s just really great. I know I didn’t get a 22 in my open 50, but it helps set in what I can do.”
For Atanasoff, it’s back to work as they prepare to try and do the same thing next year.
“Very motivated, I’m very excited to train,” Atanasoff said.
“I’m really excited for next year and we are just going to work hard,” Steck said.
In the 200 free relay, Waverly finished seventh in 1:39.43. The relay had a team of Cheresnowsky, Atanasoff, Lauryn Welles and Audrey Kellogg.
“It’s very cool and very great,” Lauryn Welles said. “We came a long way since the beginning of the season, so it just means a lot.”
“It was really great to finally showcase our talent for a final time in this relay,” Cheresnowsky said.
Kellogg earned her first state medal in the race, learning from her teammates who had earned other state medals in their careers.
“It’s very exciting to be a state medalist, especially since we are all so young,” Kellogg said. “They (her teammates) really motivate you.”
Getting the state medal was special.
“It’s really exciting to be able to hold our placing and get a state medal,” Atanasoff said.
For Welles, there were two individual events prior to the relay, which warmed her up, but also wore her out some.
“I’d say so (it warmed her up),” Welles said. “It also made me very tired.”
The girls did a lot to make sure they were ready for the race late in the second day when everyone has swam a lot.
“We had to warm up a couple times, stretch, make sure we stayed hydrated and are eating,” Atanasoff said. “We had to stay mentally equipped. So, that’s an important part.”
And, to see what kind of times they were able to swim this year was special.
“it’s definitely reassuring to see how fast we can go,” Atanasoff said.
While Kittle has been a part of so many Waverly state medals over the past four years, this was one race where her teammates did it without her. That was special to both the girls on the relay, and Kittle.
“It was very special and I think it was great for her to see this,” Welles said. “She’s definitely a key part of the program here at Waverly.”
“It was really great getting to see them go out there and do what they re capable of by themselves,” Kittle said. “Being able to see that, they are becoming really great leaders. Seeing I don’t have to be like, ‘we are going to do great girls, we’ve got this.’ They can handle it. Those younger girls can handle it on their own, they can go and get it done.”
Welles and Kellogg are hoping to be back at states next year.
“Very badly (they want to be back),” Welles said. “It’s sad that Mira and Liv are going, but we hope to keep doing what they started for us.”
Kittle had her best ever individual finish, taking third in the 50 free in 23.35 and she was fifth in the 100 back in 57.30.
“I think I’m only the second person in school history to get top three in an individual event,” Kittle said. “So, tha’ts really special to me that I know I’m leaving something for these younger girls to look up to. Hopefully they can look up to it and just hopefully get better each day.”
Welles was 16th in the B final in the 50 free in 24.57 and Atanasoff was 23rd, in the C final, in 24.67. Welles was 17th in the 100 free.
Waverly dropped 4.24 seconds in the 400 free relay from the prelims, taking 18th in 3:46.26. The relay had a team of Atanasoff, Welles, Kellogg and Kittle.
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
