While junior stars Deacon Gutshall and Palmer Keith continued to shine, improvements in an otherwise inexperienced roster remain apparent.
Platte County coaches and teammates cheer on junior Deacon Gutshall during the 500-yard freestyle race in the Pirate Invitational on Saturday in Belton.
In the first big meet test of the season, Platte County sophomore Jack Hokanson again shined in individual events, while junior Cobie Park dropped 4 seconds from his prior personal-best in the 100-yard butterfly in Saturday’s Pirate Invitational at Belton High School in Belton. The Pirates’ clear-cut top four also showed well in two relays, continuing the process of building toward the immediate and long-term future.
Platte County totaled 207 points and finished 11th out of 17 teams, which were divided into two divisions for the individual races. The Pirates were hurt when they lost out on all points in the 200 medley relay due to disqualification.
However, the quartet of Gutshall, Palmer, Hokanson and Parkin won the 200 freestyle relay in the Gold Division in 1 minute, 36.18 seconds, which currently ranks as the No. 4 consideration qualifying time for the Class 1 Missouri State Swimming and Diving Championships. This also marked the first time the group swam that event this season. They also combined to place fourth in the 400 freestyle relay in a season-best 3:43.60 to better their qualifying mark, as well.
Gutshall factored in three of Platte County’s five total first-place finishes after winning both of his individual events. In the 200 freestyle, he posted the current No. 4 time in Class 1 at 1:48.98 with an almost 6-second margin of victory over Carthage’s Kellen Frieling.
Platte County sophomore Jack Hokanson swims in the 100-yard breaststroke during the Pirate Invitational on Saturday in Belton.
After setting a meet record to win the 500 freestyle, Gutshall owns the No. 3 time for that event at 4:50.00, lowering his season-best by nearly 3 seconds and already pulling within 1 second of his school record set last year. He owns the program’s fastest time in both of the longest freestyle events.
Keith’s individual victory came in the 200 individual medley (2:01.90, fifth in Class 1), while he placed second in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.37, sixth in Class 1). Hokanson finished fourth behind Keith in the 200 IM and posted a state consideration time for a second straight week, this time at 2:15.00.
An emerging sophomore, Hokanson also placed second in the 100 butterfly and lowered his qualifying mark in that event by about a second.
Platte County has only three individuals plus all three relays with state times so far this season. Parkin dropped 4 seconds off his career-best in the 100 butterfly to 1:07.99 and now sits 6 seconds off joining the individual club.
Lee’s Summit North 820, Platte County 342, St. Pius X 242
While the Broncos overwhelmed the team totals in sheer numbers, Platte County captured victories in five of 11 events on the strength of Keith, Gutshall and Hokanson.
Platte County junior Palmer Keith takes off out of the blocks for a race in a home triangular Tuesday at Platte County Community Center North.
Keith swept his individual events, going 2:05.83 in the 200 IM and nearly setting a PR in the 100 freestyle. His time of 50.17 still currently ranks No. 9 in Class 1. Gutshall also continued to rack up individual qualifying times, winning the 100 butterfly and placing second in the 50 freestyle — not considered his main events. However, he now has consideration times in both, ranking No. 10 in Class 1 with a career-best by more than a second in the 100 butterfly (55.98) and No. 22 in the 50 freestyle with a career-best of 23.42.
Hokanson posted a career-best by nearly 8 full seconds to win the 200 freestyle in 2:01.47 — less than a second off of a consideration qualifying time. He also placed second in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.59) while shaving nearly 4 seconds off of his previous PR, now about 2 seconds off of hitting the state standard in that event. Either of those could add to the first consideration marks of his career posted in the 100 butterfly and 200 IM.
Platte County’s preferred combination of Keith, Gutshall, Hokanson and Parkin also won the 400 freestyle relay in 3:49.88, while placing second in the 200 medley relay at 1:47.80 — a season-best now ranking No. 13 in Class 1.
The fastest 32 individuals and relays qualify for state with swimmers permitted to enter and actually compete in a maximum of four events, no more than two of which may be individual events. The Pirates took all three relays last year, but Gutshall and Keith are the only ones to have actually competed. Parkin and Hokanson were alternates.
