The Park Hill South girls’ swimming team has a surplus of seniors – 11 in total – but only five of them have varsity experience ahead of this season, yet the Lady Panthers bring back seven state swimmers and four state divers.
The Lady Panthers’ varsity returning seniors are Ruby Livingston, Gracie Moran and Avery Roach in swimming and Brooke Robbins and Madi Stephens in diving. Junior Alyssa Gordon is the only other returning upperclassmen as there are some sophomores who bring back experience.
“My top individual swimmers are Alyssa (Gordon), Molly Henry, Charlotte Sander, Natalie Dunaway and Brooke (Robbins),” Park Hill South head girls’ swimming coach Tim Busenhart said. “Senior Madi Stephens and juniors Megan Wells and Molly Toohig bring back experience in diving.”
Last year, Park Hill South finished in third place as a team at the Class 2 State Championships but lost some talented seniors. Busenhart told the Platte County Citizen that he thinks all three relays can be top-8 at state this year, as well as Robbins, Wells and Stephens in diving.
“Our conference has become much harder with the move in of Liberty, Lee’s Summit North and Park Hill, so our first goal is to win another conference championship. My goal every year is that the girls swim their best times in their final meets no matter what place they end up,” Busenhart said.