The Lady Zizzer Swim Team completed their historical season this past weekend at the MSHSAA State Swimming and Diving Championships in St. Peters, MO. There are 90 teams in Class 1 and 48 that qualified to compete at the State Championships. The Lady Zizzers have never finished higher than 31st. They have never qualified a relay into finals (Top 16). They have never had more than 2 individual swims in finals at a single State Championships. This year all of that changed.
During preliminaries, anyone who finished 9th-16th place, were in position to earn All-State Honorable Mention during the Consolation Final on Saturday. Those who finished Top 8 were in position to earn All-State and a medal in the Championship Final.
The 200 Medley Relay started Friday’s preliminary session off with a best time for the foursome of Addie Peugh (31.57), Penelope Autry (35.93), Audrey Land (30.92), and Abbie Peugh (26.18). They finished 27th Place in 2:04.60.
The 200 Freestyle featured Freshman Roz Fiorino and Junior Paige Sheridan. Fiorino qualified for the Consolation Final by finishing 14th in a time of 2:03.50. Sheridan qualified for the Championship Final by finishing 4th in a best time of 1:57.00 and setting a new school record time.
The 100 Freestyle featured Fiorino and Junior Evie Niesen. Niesen barely missed making finals, finishing 17th in a best time of 56.21. Fiorino qualified for her 2nd Consolation Final on the day, finishing 10th in a time of 55.15.
The 500 Freestyle featured returning All-Stater Sheridan and Junior Addie Peugh. Peugh swam to a best time and a 24th place finish going 5:43.54. Sheridan, once again, qualified for the Championship Final, finishing 5th place and breaking her own school record going 5:09.74.
The 200 Freestyle Relay became the first Lady Zizzer relay to ever make a final. Fiorino (25.61), Niesen (26.00), Ad. Peugh (26.09), and Sheridan (25.21) qualified for the Championship Final by finishing 5th in a new school record of 1:42.91.
Evie Niesen competed in the 100 Breaststroke. She finished 26th in a time of 1:15.90.
The 400 Freestyle Relay added themselves to history by qualifying for the Championship Final. Sheridan (55.00), Ad. Peugh (57.81), Fiorino (55.74), and Niesen (57.99) placed 6th in a time of 3:46.54.
By the end of the preliminary session, the Lady Zizzers had qualified 6 events into finals with 4 of those being the Championship Final with a chance at a medal.
Finals on Saturday started with Fiorino in the Consolation Final of the 200 Free. She swam to a 13th place finish with a time of 2:03.52. Sheridan followed in the next heat, the Championship Final, equaling her place from the previous day of 4th and going 1:57.90. With just those 2 swims, the Lady Zizzers had already surpassed their point total from the previous year.
Fiorino was up next for the Zizzers in the Consolation Final of the 100 Free. She finished 16th in a time of 56.71 to secure her 2nd All-State Honorable Mention finish.
Sheridan fought in the 500 Free to improve her standing from the previous day to finish 4th place and earning her 2nd All-State finish on the day and 3rd in her career (most by any Zizzer). She finished in a time of 5:10.46.
The relays then brought home the history. Beginning with the 200 Freestyle Relay, the Lady Zizzer team of Fiorino (25.63), Niesen (25.60), Ad. Peugh (26.41), and Sheridan (25.05) earned the team’s first ever relay medal and All-State finish by placing 5th in a time of 1:42.69, once again breaking the school record.
The 400 Freestyle Relay, with the same foursome of Sheridan (55.12), Ad. Peugh (57.87), Fiorino (55.65), and Niesen (57.01), created more history by becoming the first team in Zizzer history (boys or girls) to earn 2 All-State Relay honors finishing 6th place and breaking the school record with a time of 3:45.65.
“This entire season has been just one great swim after another and one great meet after another,” said an excited Head Coach, Ryan Smith. “I knew this season was going to be good, but I could have never dreamt it would be this amazing!”
The team finished with 89 total points and 9th place team finish. “To go from 31st to 9th in one year is incredible,” continued Smith. “It is a testament to these ladies and their work ethic during the season but even more in the off-season. It is also a testament to our local club team, the West Plains Waves.”
The Lady Zizzers will be losing no swimmers to graduation this year, so the goals and hopes for next year will be greater to hopefully have another historical season.
The Lady Zizzers would like to thank their sponsors: West Plains Greenhouse, Ozark Healthcare, Sheridan & Sheridan, Southern Bank, The Squires Family, West Plains Dental Group, Browns Furniture and Appliance, State Farm – Justin Shelby, Holiday Inn Express, Teckton, Stewart-Morrison Redi Mix, Squires & Squires Investments, CSC Law, Hirsch Feed & Farm Supply, BÜRO, Edward Jones – Heather Foster, Ozark Kids Dentistry, Cawvey’s Electric, El Charro, McFarland Spine & Sport, Fitmiss Fitness, Hart Family Eyecare, Mr. Dent, RP Lumber, Wiles Title, West Plains Bank, and Ozark Wellness Chiropractic.
- Paige Sheridan earned a 4th place All-State finish in both the 200 and 500 Freestyle breaking her own school records.
- Roz Fiorino earned 2 All-State Honorable Mention finishes in the 100 and 200 Freestyle.
- The 200 Freestyle Relay (L-R: Niesen, Sheridan, Fiorino, Ad. Peugh) earned a 5th Place All-State finish breaking the school record.
- The 400 Freestyle Relay (L-R: Niesen, Fiorino, Ad. Peugh, Sheridan) earned a 6th Place All-State finish breaking the school record.
- The Lady Zizzers after finishing 9th as a team. (Front Row L-R: Lily York, Lilliahna Wake, Aubrey Gross. Second Row L-R: Trinity Wake, Audrey Land, Evie Niesen, Paige Sheridan, Addie Peugh, Roz Fiorino, Abbie Peugh, Penelope Autry.)
