A pair of returning state qualifiers, including the program’s first-ever state medalist, will lead the way for the Carthage High School girls swim team this winter.
Senior Madison Riley and junior Aubree Santillan return to the pool for Braden McBride’s Tigers.
Riley placed fourth in the 100-yard butterfly (58.86) at last year’s Class 1 state meet. Coach McBride said Riley is the first state medalist in program history.
Riley and Santillan were part of two relays that advanced to the state finals. The team’s 200 freestyle relay placed 11th and the 200 medley relay was 12th.
Riley also won two individual events at last year’s COC Meet.
Riley was the conference champion in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:01 and also touched the wall first in the 100 butterfly in 1:00.94. Both are meet records.
Santillan finished fourth in two events at last year’s conference meet, the 200 IM and the 100 backstroke.
Rounding out this year’s roster are seniors Joey Hettinger and Victoria Martinez, junior Alexis Fosdick, sophomores Charity Fultz, Anne Kennedy, Madelyn Kennedy and Reese Lee.
“We’re going to have a lot of underclassmen,” McBride said. “They’re excited to come out and to be a part of the team. They are all very excited. We are a very young team, with many of the girls new to the sport.”
The Tigers lost three key performers to graduation—Cassidy Smith, Hope Fultz and Elena Wright.
McBride said the main goal for the 2022-23 season is a simple one—improve each and every day.
The Tigers will host the Carthage Relays on Dec. 1 at the Fair Acres Family YMCA.
