Platte County celebrated senior Silas Macumber at Monday’s final home meet at Platte County Community Center North and now turn attention to the Suburban Conference White Division Championships and hopes of producing a state qualifier. The Pirates have just nine on this year’s roster and have a difficult path ahead in the final weeks of the season.
Earlier this month, Platte County junior Beau Jonkman — the lone previous qualifier for the Class 1 MSHSAA Swimming and Diving Championships — posted a new state consideration cut in the 100 freestyle in a meet at Truman. His mark of 53.78 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle currently ranks No. 85.
On Monday, Jonkman won the 100 backstroke (1:04.16), while freshman Jacob Stone finished first out of two in the 500 freestyle (6:55.45).
That marked the final warmup for Platte County before next weekend’s conference meet in Lee’s Summit. The Pirates have not won the White Division title since 2022 and came in third a year ago with a deeper roster.
Platte County currently doesn’t have any individual or relay in position to earn a state berth. The top 32 in each event qualify for state, but swimmers can only enter a maximum of two individual events and four total.
Jonkman’s prior appearances at state were on relays, but he has posted state consideration cuts in the 100 backstroke each of the past two seasons and added the 50 and 100 freestyle this year. His best ranking this fall is the 100 backstroke — 54th, 1:02.28. The Pirates only have two relays with a current mark, but the 200 freestyle unit is 51st and the 200 medley sits 56th.
