Platte County senior Ella Chiddix swims the freestyle during a dual with Smithville last Tuesday at Platte County Community Center North.
During a short break from a rigorous end of season run, Platte County took time to honor eight seniors integral to a consistently successful program before a dual with Smithville last Tuesday at Platte County Community Center North.
Now, Lauren Beatty, Blair Bolling, Ella Chiddix, Drew DeLay, Charlotte Hammond, Madeline Judy, Ariana McDowell and Sam Teufel can turn attention to a run at another Suburban Conference championship — this time in the White Division — while maximizing qualifiers for the Class 1 Missouri State Swimming and Diving Championships. The Pirates will enter off a successful night with wins in nine of 11 events, including all three relays.
However, Platte County used the final small meet of the season as a chance to mix up the normal lineups and enjoy the moment.
Platte County senior Charlotte Hammond swims in the 100-yard butterfly during last Tuesday’s dual with Smithville at Platte County Community Center North.
DeLay even stepped outside of her focus events and posted a state consideration time while winning the 500 freestyle (5 minutes, 53.28 seconds). She has now hit qualifying marks in five individual events and will advance to state in two of them in addition to being a key cog and the most experienced swimmer for Platte County’s relays. She also finished second (27.46) to junior teammate Brooklynn Hays (27.00) in the 50 freestyle, where the Pirates took the top six spots.
Hays added a win in the 200 individual medley in 2:20.99, not far off her season-best time in the event.
DeLay, Hays and sophomores Madeleine Stone and Ireland Shank took first for Platte County in the 200 medley relay (2:02.31). The Pirates used DeLay, Hays, Judy and Beatty in the 400 freestyle (4:07.35) and the all-senior combination of Teufel, Bolling, Chiddix and Judy in the 200 freestyle (1:59.00) relays to add two other victories.
Other invidivudal winners for Platte County included freshman Erin Anderson (1:25.35, 100 backstroke), junior Jayden Benninghoff (1:06.34, 100 freestyle) and Stone (2:26.14, 200 freestyle).
Currently, Platte County has DeLay, Hays, Judy, Beatty Shank, Stone and freshman Ashleigh Cruce with qualifying consideration times for Class 1 state but will look to grow that number this weekend. The Pirates enter as favorites in the five-team White Division meet after capturing the last four Blue Division titles before moving up for 2022-23.
