Platte County expects a hard reset with a limited roster this fall. Only one of last year’s qualifiers for the Class 1 MSHSAA Swimming and Diving Championships returns, leaving junior Beau Jonkman in a very important role.
Jonkman swam at state each of the past two seasons and owns the the most significant experience for any of Platte County’s seven swimmers this fall. The Pirates understand the simple challenge.
“Constant improvement,” Platte County fourth-year coach Britton Johnson said. “We are very small and very young. We will focus on endurance and getting better throughout the season.”
In addition to Jonkman, Platte County looks to freshman Ethan Morton (sprint freestyle and individual medley) and Jacob Stone (butterfly and breaststroke) to make contributions. A year ago, the Pirates sent all three relays to state along with a pair of individuals.
However, Platte County lost Jack Hokanson, Finn Smith and Landon Steffel to graduation, while senior Nathan Guzman and standout sophomore Grisham Gutshall did not return to the roster.
Jonkman swam on all three of Platte County’s state relays last season with none advancing out of preliminaries — 200 medley (28th), 200 freestyle (20th), 400 freestyle (tied for 21st). He also posted a consideration cut in an individual event for the first time in his career but did not make the 32-swimmer field in the 100 backstroke.
Previously, Jonkman earned an honorable mention all-state honor in Class 1 as a freshman while swimming on the 400 freestyle relay.
In addition to Jonkman and the two freshmen, Platte County senior Silas Macumber, junior Dillyn Jacobson and sophomore Owen Rowles contributed to last season’s second-place finish in the Suburban Conference White Division Championships. Gavin Lister, another freshman, rounds out the roster.
Hokanson (100-meter butterfly and 200-meter IM) and Gutshall (100-meter butterfly) accounted for all 24 of Platte County’s state points in Class 1 last season. Hokanson posted honorable mention all-state finishes in individual events in both 2024 and 2025. The Pirates have scored at least one point at state for 10 consecutive seasons, including every one since the expansion to two classes.
