The girls swim and dive team here at LHS has done it again at the GAC Finals on Feb. 12 at the Rec-Plex, winning first place in convincing fashion with 495 points making them five-time conference champions. The Eagles outdistanced second-place Fort Zumwalt East by 160 points.

They gave an impressive show of what they are capable of by qualifying for state for all three of the relay events: in the 200 medley, 400 and 200 free relays.

For the 200 medley and 400 free relay, the swimmers were Caroline Myers, Laura Bonds, Brooke Suftko, and Aubrey McCain. For the 200 free relays, the swimmers were Dessa Outman, Livi Guffey, Evan Worobec, and Hallie Anderson.

Along with the amazing success of the relays, four swimmers are headed to state in their respective events. Junior Caroline Myers took first place in the 100 back and medaled in the 200 IM for 36 individual points. She medaled for all four of her events. Laura Bonds, a freshman, set a new school record for her 100 breast with a time of 1.13.19, and also qualified in the 200 IM. She medaled in all of her events earning her 32 individual points.

“I did not expect to make it this far, so I am super excited for state,” Bonds said. The next state qualifier is junior Aubrey McCain in the 100 breast and she earned medals for all four of her events with 33 individual points in all. Maggie Merz also became a state qualifier in diving.

Coach Althage was blown away with the performance of the swimmers last Wednesday.

“The girls performed extremely well,” Althage said. “A handful of girls just returned to practice the day before GACS after being out for several days with the flu. Most of them hit a new season PR which is always a huge accomplishment, especially with all of the sickness going around. Not only did we go home with a ton of medals (top four places) but we earned a ton of points having so many girls place 5th-16th. We have a lot of depth. The girls were cheering each other on at the blocks and sides of the pool from start to finish. It was an incredible day all around.”

Now the girls are off to the state championships at the Rec. Plex on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with their heads raised high and their hopes even higher. With this being her senior year, Dessa Outman leaves a message for the future swimmers of Liberty High School stating, “Your team is your family, so swim hard for them.”