SWIMMING PREVIEW: Carthage features returning state medalists in ’23

The Carthage High School boys swim team will be led by a group of returning state medalists this fall.

Senior Kellen Frieling, junior Braxton McBride and sophomore Will Wright all return to the pool after bringing home medals from last year’s MSHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving Championships. 

Frieling finished 15th in the 100-yard backstroke at the state meet. 

The Tigers earned all-state recognition in two relays last year, as the 200-yard medley relay team of Frieling, McBride, Wright and Eli Cox finished 15th and the same foursome took 16th in the 400 free relay. Cox was the lone senior of the relays.

Also key performers back for the Tigers are seniors Noah Blackford, Daryl Martin and Ben Rogers.

Juniors Angel Guzman, Wyatt Hole, Emerson Ixcol, Aydan Nye and Ryan Steinbach, along with sophomores Maveric Allphin, Camden Campbell and Carter Yost are other returning athletes with prior varsity experience.

Newcomers to the team include junior Caleb Bonilla-Pastor, sophomores Satchel Eckerson, Drystan Hibdon, Austin Huskey and Hayden Wilkinson and freshmen Dylan Evans and Bennett Ragsdale.

The 2022 season was one to remember for the Tigers, as Carthage captured its first-ever Central Ozark Conference championship before a solid showing at the state meet.

The Tigers won three events at the COC Meet, the 400 free relay, the 200 medley relay and the 50 freestyle (Braxton McBride). 

With last year’s success, and with a solid group returning, Carthage coach Braden McBride noted the team is very excited to get the season underway.

“We are optimistic about our upcoming season,” Coach McBride said. “We have a good number of experienced swimmers who balance those who are new to the sport.”

As far as team strengths, Coach McBride noted the Tigers have great team chemistry.

“We have a very tight-knit group of young men,” he said. “We focus on team success before individual success. These components will help us achieve our goals.”

The Tigers must overcome the loss of four seniors, Trey Nye, Will Wallace, Landon White and Cox, who played big roles on last year’s squad. 

With that, the Tigers will have some varsity newcomers in key roles.

“We have a large number of swimmers who are new to the sport,” McBride said. “We’ll go through growing pains at the beginning of the season. Our goal is that they will start contributing to team success by the end of the season.”

As far as a key to success this fall, McBride mentioned putting the team over the individual, along with continued hard work in practice. 

“We have a motto “The We is greater than Me.”  We will have success when the athletes on the team put each other first.”

Carthage is scheduled to begin the ’23 season on Aug. 26 at the West Plains outdoor meet.