The Carl Junction girls swim team returns nearly all of its top performers from last year’s squad that captured a second straight Central Ozark Conference championship and finished sixth at the Class 1 state meet.
With that, it’s safe to say the Bulldogs have the expectations set high for the 2021-22 campaign.
Seniors Alanza Montez and Carsyn Smith, junior Skyler Sundy and sophomores Chloe Miller and Abigail Wilson all return after playing key roles a season ago.
“The strength of my team is in the consistent effort I am given from each girl all season,” Carl Junction coach Stephanie Miller said. “After one week of practice it’s hard to tell who will be swimming what strokes, let alone how successful we can be this year. Our No. 1 goal is to have fun. I expect my girls to trust the process. I expect my girls to be good teammates. I expect them to have good communication with their coaches and each other. I expect them to attend all practices and meets and be on time. If they do all of this, I can also have the expectation that the team as a whole will be successful.”
Sundy and Chloe Miller were on CJ’s 200-yard medley relay team that finished second at last year’s Class 1 state meet.
Carl Junction’s 200 freestyle relay was third at state last year, with Montez, Sundy and Miller competing. The same three were also part of CJ’s 400 free relay team that placed ninth.
Miller placed fifth in the 50-yard freestyle at the state meet, while Sundy was ninth in the 100 backstroke. Smith was also a state qualifier, finishing 19th in the backstroke.
Miller was the COC champ in the 200 freestyle, while Sundy claimed a conference title in the 100 backstroke. The Bulldogs won all three relays at the COC Meet.
Carl Junction went 21-0 in duels last season.
Other seniors on the roster are Madeline Vigil, Makayla Thompson and Madison Lewis. Other juniors are Madeleine Garoutte, Abigail Holcomb, Kennedy Johnson, Tea Kosmajac and Alexandria Offutt.
Coach Miller noted freshmen Elyanna Dogotch and Sophia Holcomb could contribute at the varsity level.
Miller said trusting the process throughout a long season is the key to a successful campaign.
“My team practices at 5:30 a.m. and we know from past years that hard work pays off,” Miller said. “We know that as the season progresses they will have a steady improvement. The end result is dependent on what the girls believe they can do. My girls will succeed because they will believe they can succeed.”
Carl Junction is scheduled to begin the season on Nov. 30 at Webb City.
