Suiting Up for State

Girls’ track and field

Girls’ track and field will compete at 6A Track and Field State on May 25 and 26 at Wichita State University.

To qualify for state, they will compete in regionals on May 18. The top four athletes in each event will move on.

The coaches are expecting for most girls to go to state. They have won regionals the past two years and are expected to win again, according to varsity track athlete senior Bella Stamati.

At last week’s team meeting, the coaches told them that attending every practice and staying to the end of all upcoming meets is important with state approaching, according to freshman Kelsey Christensen. Since it’s the end of the season, they want people to be more serious so they can improve in the last few meets.

Varsity athlete senior Katie MacAdam says as state nears, every meet is more competitive than the last.

“The practices get a lot more individualized and you work on specific parts of your race,” MacAdam said. “I personally think the workouts start to taper a bit near the end as you want to make sure you’re fully rested and none of your muscles are overworked before a big meet like state.”

Girls’ track and field got ninth place in state last year. They hope to place top ten once again this year, but their ultimate goal is to be in the top three, according to MacAdam.

Girls’ Swim

Girls’ swim state begins Friday, May 18 in Topeka. After placing second last year by 13 points and winning state the previous year, their goal is to take back the first place trophy.

“We have been training really hard, working on our skills and making sure we are taking care of our bodies to be ready for state,” Varsity swimmer senior Izzy Smith said.

Once state gets closer the girls will start “tapering,” meaning their practices will get easier to get the appropriate rest their bodies need. By the time they reach state, they cut the amount they swim at each practice in half.

Even though each swimmer can only compete in two races at state, the girls try to qualify for as many races as possible.

“People try to qualify in as many events as they can because only the four fastest girls on the team in each event can swim at state,” Smith said. “So if you aren’t the top three in one event you might be in another event.”

Some girls who are still trying to qualify have already started tapering. The last chances they have to qualify for state are the league competition and The Last Chance Meet, which are this week and next week.            

Boys’ Tennis

According to varsity player junior Jacob Tilton, six tennis players on the team are expected to qualify for state at regionals on Friday, which will be held at the College Boulevard Activities Complex.

The team is currently ranked number one in the state by the Kansas Tennis Coaches Association out of all 6A schools. According to varsity tennis player Hudson Mosher, the team is very close, which helps them all play well together.

They won the Sunflower League tournament and placed second in the Plaza Tennis Center tournament, which consists of the best teams in Kansas and Missouri, according to Tilton.

“We have been preparing since our tough loss at regionals last year. I think that it inspires us to train harder and get mentally ready,” Tilton said.

Their practices have also been more intense leading up to state and regionals. The coaches have been making the team work on playing points and matches to prepare instead of drilling and working on strokes, according to varsity player junior Hayden Leatherwood.

To qualify for state, each player must finish top six in regionals in the event they choose, either singles or doubles. No more than six players from East may play at regionals. There are seven other schools in each of the four regions competing to qualify for state. If they qualify for state, they are guaranteed to play four matches.

State is May 11 at the Kossover Tennis Facility in Topeka.