The West Plains High School Zizzer Swim Team is excited to kick off their season at The Frist Annual Zizzer Invitational Saturday, Aug 27 at 11 a.m. at the West Plains Aquatic Center’s Outdoor Pool. The Zizzers will host 8 teams from across Southern Missouri.
Now in its 9th season, the roster includes 6 returning swimmers and 3 new members. Seniors James Allchin, Isaac Kammerer, and Ethan Squires, Juniors Elias Curtis and Dawson Fiorino, and Sophomore Avery Miller, are joined this season by Senior Landen Johnson, Junior Toby Keith, and Freshman Bryson Kittrell.
With their sights set on returning to the Missouri Class 1 State Championship after a strong showing in 2021, this team currently holds 6 of the 12 WPHS School Records and 5 State-level swimmers. In 2021, the team swam over 2,000 miles, ultimately earning 2nd place Conference and 3rd place Southwest Missouri Area (SWMO) titles as well as state-level honors which included 24 individual and 3 relay state-qualifying times with several swimmers receiving All-State Honorable Mention.
Curtis returns from an impressive Sophomore season having earned the school record in the 200 IM, State-level swims in the 100-yd Fly and 200 IM, and a 4th place finish in the 100 Fly at SWMO.
Kammerer continued to hold his school records in the 200-yd and 500-yd Freestyle in 2021 with season boasts including 9th place at the State Championship and 2nd place at SWMO in the 500-yd Freestyle and 4th place at SWMO and State Championship showing in the 200-yd Freestyle.
Miller’s freshman season finished remarkably with 200-yd IM and 100-yd Backstroke State Championship Meet swims, a 5th place finish in the 100-yd Freestyle at SWMO, and the school record in the 100-yd Freestyle.
Squires and Fiorino return this season after solid representation in 2021, bringing all 3 Team Relays to the State Championship and earning podium finishes at the Conference meet.
Coach Ryan Smith, now in his 6th season of leading the team, remarked, “I am excited to start this 2022 season! We have several returning swimmers who will contribute at the conference, area, and state level for the Zizzers. We have our sights set on bigger results this year and hope to reach goals Zizzer Swimming has never reached. It’s going to be a great year!!” He invites the community to come out to cheer the team on this Saturday at 11 am.
