Taking four girls to the state meet, the swim team heads to Austin today. This year’s state team is a 180 degree difference from years past which featured mostly boys.

“I think it’s really exciting to take this group of girls and it’s awesome that they get a chance to swim again at state,” swim coach Chesley Kilgore said. “I’m bummed that we weren’t able to take any boys this year but unfortunately with this district and this region its really fast and competitive. So sometimes it comes down to the tenth or the one hundredth of a second and that determines whether or not you move on.”

At regionals, sophomore Mallory Showalter placed 3rd in both the girls 50 and 100 freestyle and qualified for state, the first girl in eight years to reach state.

“It was one of my goals in high school to make it in an individual,” Showalter said. “I’m really happy that I accomplished that goal and i’m excited to swim some individuals at state.”

Setting a school record for the second time this season in the girls 50 freestyle, Showalter looks to do it again at state.

“I was really excited and I couldn’t stop smiling because I think it’s cool to be remembered for something that you love,” Showalter said.

Showalter will also bring her sister with her to state for the first time as the girls 200 freestyle relay which consists of showalter, her sister Abby, Hannah Nguyen, and Rachel Easton qualified as well.

“I was really excited when I found out that I had qualified for state it felt really rewarding to see that all of my hard work had paid off and i’m really excited to get to swim with Mallory,” senior Abby Showalter said. “Mallory has achieved a lot this year and i’m really proud of her for breaking the school record which is pretty awesome and for qualifying for state in an individual event which hasn’t been done in eight years by a girl which is pretty awesome.”

Being only less than half a second off of the school record, the girls relay looks to drop time at state.

“I think it would be really cool if we could break the record, especially at state but if not i think another goal for us would be to drop our time more and make it into finals.”

State begins with prelims on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas swimming center in Austin with the finals beginning Sat. at 3:30 p.m.