Coach, girls hope to reclaim fourth place at State meet

After an upsetting loss at State last year, the synchro swimmers are starting off the season with the goal to reclaim their title.
Assistant coach Jessica Gust said she wants the team to place at State and gain synchro skills as well.
“I’m always focusing on skill improvement, which is important,” Gust said. “I also want to improve how we place in the season to prove we’re getting better, win sections as we have for the past 16 years, and qualify as many routines as possible at State.”
Senior captain Maria Knudsen said the team had a disappointing loss at the end of the last season, and hopes it will place better this season.
“Last year we lost to Edina and got fifth place at State,” Knudsen said. “That was a heavy loss for us. Fourth place is very impressive for a team of our size, and we’ve placed higher than Edina ever since synchro was introduced to Park.”
Gust said she has been encouraging the girls to work their hardest during initial practices by reinforcing the concept that “practice makes permanent” to remind the girls who practice will not always yield perfection. Gust places an emphasis on muscle memory from proper execution of the routines and neuropath formations from the practice.
“We want to try to form correct neuropaths right off the bat,” Gust said.  “They don’t need to get it right away, but the technique needs to be taught correctly.”
Knudsen said she thinks this motivation is necessary if the team wants to take fourth place this year.
“We need to make positive and permanent changes to improve our skill sets,” Knudsen said. “If we do that, we can take back what’s ours. We had a few devastating losses last year, and we need to redeem our fourth place spot at State.”
In order to provide a more optimistic mentality, the coaches and captains have hung motivational posters in the locker room.
Junior Karla Tapia said having encouraging motivation and outlook has helped the team stay focused on its goals.
“I think having positive words makes us want to practice and become greater than we were last year,” Tapia said. “We’ve become closer as a team and family.”
Gust said she believes a better outlook will help the girls prepare.
“If the girls are frustrated, it becomes a harder battle,” Gust said. “If you can keep the focus on achievements, that will create positive momentum.”
The synchro team’s first meet is March 21 at Wayzata High School.