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Southeast Missourian 2018 Girls Swimming State Qualifiers
Carly Pujol - Notre Dame girls swimming.
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
Carly Pujol, jr., Notre Dame
Previous state meet experience: None
State events this year: 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle
Favorite team tradition: Singing on the bus with Caroline Heckemeyer
Favorite athlete: Jane West and Gracie Kern
Favorite pre-meet meal: Peanut Power Plus, smoothie and fruit snacks
Favorite movie: Pitch Perfect
Favorite sport other than swimming: Pole vaulting, gymnastics
My favorite memory from the season is: Forming a band on Judy's bus ride
My coach is always on me about: Swimming faster
The person who inspired me to swim was: Allison McDonald
Swimming has taught me: That competition is fun and makes me better
When I'm on the deck before a race I am: Shaking out my arms and legs
Swimming is: Hard work
The thing I'm most looking forward to about the state tournament is: Having fun and hopefully improving my times
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
Hannah Stempkovski - Cape Central girls swimming.
Hannah Stempkovski - Cape Central girls swimming.
Hannah Stempkovski, soph., Cape Central
Previous state meet experience: None
State events this year: 200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke, 400 freestyle relay
Favorite team tradition: Cornrows
Favorite athlete: Katie Ledecky
Favorite pre-meet meal: Chicken alfredo with broccoli
Favorite movie: Wonder Woman
My favorite memory from the season is: When I witnessed a teammate pee in a urinal
My coach is always on me about: Complaining about the sets
The person who inspired me to swim was: My parents
Swimming has taught me: That you are able to eat anything and you won't get fat
When I'm on the deck before a race I am: Trying not to pass out from nervousness
Swimming is: A combination of love and hate
The thing I'm most looking forward to about the state tournament is: Racing my hardest and seeing how fast I can be
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
Riley Wyatt - Jackson girls swimming.
Riley Wyatt - Jackson girls swimming.
Riley Wyatt, jr., Jackson
Previous state meet experience: None
State events this year: Diving
Favorite athlete: Tom Daley
Favorite pre-meet meal: Burger King
My favorite memory from the season is: Qualifying
My coach is always on me about: Toes pointed
The person who inspired me to swim was: My mom
Diving has taught me: To persevere
When I'm on the deck before a dive I am: Nervous
Diving is: About overcoming fear
The thing I'm most looking forward to about the state tournament is: Competing with people I haven't competed with yet
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
Kendall McGarr - Notre Dame girls swimming.
Kendall McGarr - Notre Dame girls swimming.
Kendall McGarr, sr., Notre Dame
After-graduation plans: Attend SEMO
Previous state meet experience: None
State events this year: Diving
Favorite team tradition: Dancing at practices
Favorite athlete: Jayna Timpe
Favorite pre-meet meal: Soda and chips
Favorite movie: Taken
Favorite sport other than swimming: Track and Field
My favorite memory from the season is: Aggravating our coach, Mrs. Timpe
My coach is always on me about: Not throwing my dives at practice
The person who inspired me to dive was: My dad
Diving has taught me: To keep trying even when I'm scared
When I'm on the deck before a dive I am: Focusing on my form
Diving is: Gymnastics off a spring board
The thing I'm most looking forward to about the state tournament is: Spending time with my teammates
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
Allison McDonald - Cape Central girls swimming.
Allison McDonald - Cape Central girls swimming.
Allison McDonald, jr., Cape Central
Previous state meet experience: Two years
State events this year: 100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke, 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay
Favorite team tradition: Cornrows
Favorite athlete: Caeleb Dressel
Favorite pre-meet meal: Chocolate milk
Favorite movie: She's the Man
My favorite memory from the season is: The ride home from Springfield
My coach is always on me about: Getting in the pool on time
The person who inspired me to swim was: My parents
Swimming has taught me: How to be a team player
When I'm on the deck before a race I am: Talking to my teammates and getting pumped
Swimming is: Hard but worth it in the end
The thing I'm most looking forward to about the state tournament is: Seeing the accomplishments of my team
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
Ella Hahs - Cape Central girls swimming.
Ella Hahs - Cape Central girls swimming.
Ella Hahs, fresh., Cape Central
Previous state meet experience: None
State events this year: 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley
Favorite team tradition: Secret swimmer!
Favorite athlete: Katie Ledecky
Favorite pre-meet meal: Pasta
Favorite movie: Iron Man
Favorite sport other than swimming: Is sleeping a sport?
My favorite memory from the season is: Van ride home from Springfield
My coach is always on me about: Splashing around with my brothers
The person who inspired me to swim was: My brother (Sam Hahs)
Swimming has taught me: That half of the competition is in your mind
When I'm on the deck before a race I am: Listening to music and not talking to anyone
Swimming is: Living inside the pain box
The thing I'm most looking forward to about the state tournament is: Getting hyped up and finally being able to shave my legs
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
Faith Littleton - Jackson girls swimming.
Faith Littleton - Jackson girls swimming.
Faith Littleton, jr., Jackson
Previous state meet experience: Freshman and sophomore year (200 and 500 freestyle)
State events this year: 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 200 medley relay (butterfly), 400 freestyle relay
Favorite team tradition: Secret Swimdian Gift Exchange
Favorite athlete: Katie Ledecky
Favorite pre-meet meal: Pasta/any variety of carbs
Favorite movie: Too many to choose
Favorite sport other than swimming: Cross country
My favorite memory from the season is: When Hannah and I died laughing for two days straight about Coach M's advice -- "Access the wall"
My coach is always on me about: Getting in a good warm up before practice and getting enough sleep
The person who inspired me to swim was: Isabelle Singh
Swimming has taught me: To start out fast and come back faster
When I'm on the deck before a race I am: Usually found eating
Swimming is: My excuse to eat mass quantities of food
The thing I'm most looking forward to about the state tournament is: Swimming alongside my friends for their first time swimming at state
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
Lauren Jauch - Cape Central girls swimming.
Lauren Jauch - Cape Central girls swimming.
Lauren Jauch, fresh., Cape Central
Previous state meet experience: None
State events this year: 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay, 100 butterfly, 50 freestyle
Favorite team tradition: Cornrows before state
Favorite athlete: Nathan Adrian
Favorite pre-meet meal: Eggs
Favorite movie: Star Wars
Favorite sport other than swimming: Nothing, all I do is swim
My favorite memory from the season is: Going to Springfield
My coach is always on me about: Focusing better on my races
The person who inspired me to swim was: Olympic swimmers/my parents
When I'm on the deck before a race I am: Jamming out to music
Swimming is: My life
The thing I'm most looking forward to about the state tournament is: Getting to swim with the best girls in the state
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
Jayna Timpe - Notre Dame girls swimming.
Jayna Timpe - Notre Dame girls swimming.
Jayna Timpe, sr., Notre Dame
After-graduation plans: Attending Arkansas State
Previous state meet experience: None, first year diving
State events this year: 1-meter diving
Favorite team tradition: Dancing at practice
Favorite athlete: Kendall McGarr
Favorite pre-meet meal: McDonald's
Favorite movie: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
My favorite memory from the season is: Overnight meet
My coach is always on me about: Point your toes
The person who inspired me to swim was: My mom
Diving has taught me: Get back up even when you flop
When I'm on the deck before a dive I am: Having fun with teammates
Diving is: The hardest and most rewarding sport I've ever done
The thing I'm most looking forward to about the state tournament is: Spending time with my teammates
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
Kailey Bell - Jackson girls swimming.
Kailey Bell - Jackson girls swimming.
Kailey Bell, soph., Jackson
Previous state meet experience: None
State events this year: 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay
Favorite team tradition: Secret Swimdian Gift Exchange
Favorite athlete: Maya DiRado
Favorite pre-meet meal: My mom's chicken alfredo
Favorite movie: The Shack
Favorite sport other than swimming: Volleyball
My favorite memory from the season is: Lambert's after the Poplar Bluff meet
My coach is always on me about: Tempo and fast flip-turns
The person who inspired me to swim was: My mom, who always is hard-working and motivates me to do my best
Swimming has taught me: To work hard at something I'm not naturally good at
When I'm on the deck before a race I am: Praying, stretching, and focusing on my race
Swimming is: Hard work, discipline and commitment
The thing I'm most looking forward to about the state tournament is: Representing my school and making memories
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
Grace Sanders - Cape Central girls swimming.
Grace Sanders - Cape Central girls swimming.
Grace Sanders, fresh., Cape Central
Previous state meet experience: None
State events this year: 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay
Favorite team tradition: Getting yelled at by Sierman
Favorite athlete: Katie Ledecky
Favorite pre-meet meal: Mac and cheese
My favorite memory from the season is: The dance battle at Kirkwood
My coach is always on me about: Inhaling oxygen that I need to live
The person who inspired me to swim was: Brogan Davis
Swimming has taught me: What hard work is and the self-discipline it takes to do it
When I'm on the deck before a race I am: Freaking out and dancing
Swimming is: Something you have to learn to love
The thing I'm most looking forward to about the state tournament is: Spending time with my teammates and seeing if I can drop time
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
Cami Brazel - Jackson girls swimming.
Cami Brazel - Jackson girls swimming.
Cami Brazel, soph., Jackson
Previous state meet experience: None
State events this year: 200 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay
Favorite team tradition: Secret Swimdian Gift Exchange
Favorite athlete: Katie Ledecky
Favorite pre-meet meal: Pasta, strawberry refresher from Starbucks
Favorite movie: Finding Nemo
Favorite sport other than swimming: Football
My favorite memory from the season is: Going to Lambert's after the bus rides
My coach is always on me about: Fast turns, underwaters
The person who inspired me to swim was: My parents, who always were there to watch and take me to super early practices
Swimming has taught me: Discipline and how to keep trying even if I don't succeed the first time
When I'm on the deck before a race I am: Thinking about the race and listening to music/stretching
Swimming is: Discipline, time management, commitment and hard work
The thing I'm most looking forward to about the state tournament is: Swimming fast and spending time with the other girls who qualify and making memories
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
Megan Stempkovski - Cape Central girls swimming.
Megan Stempkovski - Cape Central girls swimming.
Megan Stempkovski, fresh., Cape Central
Previous state meet experience: None
State events this year: 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay, 100 breaststroke, 200 freestyle
Favorite athlete: Caeleb Dressel
Favorite pre-meet meal: Lasagna
Favorite movie: White Chicks
Favorite sport other than swimming: None
My favorite memory from the season is: Hitting my head on a locker door and seeing all the blood
My coach is always on me about: Being clumsy
The person who inspired me to swim was: The cheerleading team because I didn't want to be a cheerleader
Swimming has taught me: Responsibility, commitment and sometimes you should be the bad example so others will be good
When I'm on the deck before a race I am: Talking and HYDRATING
Swimming is: Something only for the strong and hydrated
The thing I'm most looking forward to about the state tournament is: The food
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
Hannah Summers - Jackson girls swimming.
Hannah Summers - Jackson girls swimming.
Hannah Summers, sr., Jackson
After-graduation plans: Music major at SEMO
Previous state meet experience: None
State events this year: 200 medley relay, 100 breaststroke, 400 freestyle relay
Favorite team tradition: Secret Swimdian Gift Exchange
Favorite athlete: Katie Ledecky
Favorite pre-meet meal: Pasta
Favorite movie: Hidden Figures
Favorite sport other than swimming: Competitive cheerleading
My favorite memory from the season is: "Access the wall" --Advice from coach Montz
My coach is always on me about: Not getting hurt or sick
The person who inspired me to swim was: My family
Swimming has taught me: How to keep pushing and never give up
When I'm on the deck before a race I am: Focused but getting pumped up
Swimming is: Something I will always remember
The thing I'm most looking forward to about the state tournament is: Swimming one last meet and making lots of good memories
KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com
Ava Duncan - Cape Central girls swimming.
Ava Duncan - Cape Central girls swimming.
Ava Duncan, fresh., Cape Central
Previous state meet experience: None
State events this year: 100 backstroke, 200 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay, 200 freestyle relay
Favorite team tradition: Conference pasta dinner!
Favorite pre-meet meal: A slice of bread
Favorite sport other than swimming: When eating with my teammates I get pretty competitive
My favorite memory from the season is: Getting our first relay cut
My coach is always on me about: Going too far underwater/DQing
The person who inspired me to swim was: My dad
Swimming has taught me: Discipline
When I'm on the deck before a race I am: Focused
Swimming is: Not dry
The thing I'm most looking forward to about the state tournament is: Bonding with my teammates
Gallery photos
