The Park Hill South girls’ swimming team poses for a picture after claiming second place at the Class 2 State Championships last season.
PARKVILLE – Since 2014, the Park Hill South girls’ swimming team has finished top-3 at state five times, which includes a program best second-place finish in 2023.
Park Hill South returns 10 state qualifiers from last year’s squad – three seniors, five juniors and two sophomores. The Lady Panthers were 32 points behind Class 2 State Champion Parkway South.
“We return almost all of our state team from last year and they’re ready to vie for a state title,” Park Hill South girls’ swimming coach Tim Busenhart said.
Alyssa Gordon highlights the senior returners, having qualified in three state events in her junior campaign. As an individual, she competed in the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard breaststroke.
The Park Hill South fifth-place 200-yard freestyle relay brings back all four swimmers: Molly Henry, Lizzie Landuyt, Hannah Peterson and Gordon. Charlotte Sander and Natalie Dunaway were also state qualifiers on the relays.
“All three relays are going to be solid along with diving and freestyle events. This team has put in a lot of hard work during the off-season so they can compete for a state title. Probably one of the most talented and focused teams I have had in my 24 years of coaching,” Busenhart said.
Megan Wells was the state champion in diving. Brooke Nichols, McKelvey McDaniel, Zella Berberich and Bella Knittig are the remaining returners who made it to state last season.
Although they didn’t qualify for state, incoming seniors Molly Toohig and Isabella Mountjoy – along with junior Aniya Clemons – were solid divers. That trio will look to make the jump to the next level this winter.
“They need to remain focused and keep working hard in practice and they can make a run at state,” Busenhart said.
Park Hill South has never won a state title in swimming in the history of the program, which includes a boys’ team in the fall season. The boys have competed as a team eight times and just wrapped up a third-place finish as the girls will look to build off the success of the fall this winter.