Senior night leads to victory
Swimmers boost morale to beat top competitors
October 8, 2015
The girls’ swim team claimed victory against long-time rival Benilde St. Margaret’s on Park’s senior night Oct. 1 with a score of 56-38.
According to freshman Grace Steffy, positive energy on senior night helped the team push itself to beat Benilde.
“I think because it was senior night, we boosted each other to beat one of our top competitors,” Steffy said. “We had a lot of close races where we touched out Benilde.”
According to coach Joe Yaeger, the team anticipated a close meet.
“They are always a big competitor, it’s usually pretty close, especially in our past conference. It would always switch off who won the meets,” Yaeger said.
For senior Paige Pinneke, she wanted to beat a personal record in the meet.
“I wanted to get my best time in at least one event, which I did get my best time in the 100 freestyle,” Pinneke said.
According to Steffy, the team was determined to go beyond expectations.
“Everyone was swimming really well and getting really good times,” Steffy said. “I wanted to go to 26 seconds for my 50 free relay and I did that.”
According to Pinneke, senior night was something she had looked forward to her past four years on the team.
“Many of my memories from high school are from swimming, and I got to spend these past years getting to know the team and making them a swimming family,” Pinneke said.
The team honored the seniors with long-standing traditions, according to Steffy.
“All the juniors collected money from all the athletes to buy senior gifts. They prepared their speeches and decorated the pool deck,” Steffy said. “We made senior shirts and signed posters for them. We wrote the seniors’ names on an orange kick board that we use everyday.”
Yaeger said having 11 seniors was a good number, although he will miss them next year.
“I will miss them in the water and out. They bring a lot of leadership and talent to the team that we will miss next year,” Yaeger said.
The team’s next meet takes place 6 p.m. Oct. 8 against Chanhassen at Chaska High School.
