Juniors Deacon Gutshall and Palmer Keith helped the Platte County boys’ swimming team come home with its best ever finish at state a year ago and are hoping to repeat history.
Platte County junior Deacon Gutshall was one of the swimmers on the Class 1 State Consolation Final 400-yard freestyle relay that led the Pirates to best finish in program history.
Gutshall and Keith made up half of the 400-yard freestyle relay that broke the program record with a time of 3:22.17 to place second in the consolation finals at the Class 1 State Swim Championship. That led the Pirates to tie for 13th place with 63 points – 14 of which came from that event – which entered into the school’s record books.
“We will be strong in any event Deacon and Palmer swim,” Platte County first-year head swimming coach Britton Johnson said. “We should have strength in the 200 freestyle, 200 IM (Individual Medley), 500 freestyle and our 100 (butter)fly should also be a decent event for us. We also have some depth in the 100 breaststroke and are developing some 100 backstrokers.”
As individuals, Gutshall will be in the distance freestyles and Keith will be in the 100-yard IM and 100-yard breaststroke. Jack Hokanson will compete in the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard IM, while Cobie Parkin will do the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard freestyle.
“The team is adjusting to a new coach and a new style of training. They’re doing what is asked and working hard. I’m asking for a lot that they’re not used to, but they’re putting in a great effort each day, including our dryland time and our mental health time,” Johnson said.
Zach Linville and Sonney Marquis will both be swimming the 100-yard backstroke. Collin Bralley will be a freestyle swimmer.
“Success comes in many forms; we have already seen a lot of improvement from our less experienced swimmers. If our athletes can have significant improvement in times, as well as enjoy the sport, this is a successful season. I would like to see our top-end swimmers perform at high levels in big meets. I’m not concerned about places as much as I am about improving times,” Johnson said.