This is the ninth season for girls swimming at West Plains High School and the sixth season for Head Coach Ryan Smith to lead the team. There are no seniors on this season’s team, so the Lady Zizzers look to use this strong season to build upon. The team is headed by 5 returning swimmers: Paige Sheridan (Junior Co-Captain), Addie Peugh (Junior Co-Captain), Trinity Wake (Junior), Evie Niesen (Sophomore), and Audrey Land (Sophomore).
Sheridan is coming off an impressive Sophomore season earning All-State honors where she finished 5th in the state in the 500 Freestyle, which was the highest finish by any Zizzer in the history of the program. She also scored another All-State Honorable Mention finish in the 200 Individual Medley. She is poised to improve upon these finishes and lead the team to their highest finish at the Ozark Conference Championships, Southwest Missouri Championships, and State Championships.
Niesen also returns after a successful Freshman season where she competed at the State Championships in the 100 Freestyle and 100 Breaststroke. Along with her continuing to improve those events, she hopes to help lead the Lady Zizzer relays to higher finishes after last year’s impressive finishes at the State Championships.
These five returning swimmers welcome six newcomers: Abbie Peugh (Junior), Penelope Autry (Freshman), Roslyn Fiorino (Freshman), Aubrey Gross (Freshman), Lilliahna Wake (Freshman), and Lily York (Freshman). All of these swimmers have experience with the West Plains Waves and look to make great impacts for the Lady Zizzers this season.
“I am excited about this year’s team! Returning all but one of our swimmers that helped the Lady Zizzers qualify all three relays to State last year is encouraging,” says Coach Smith. “There is great potential for top finishes at Ozark Conference Championships, Southwest Missouri Championships, and hopefully many qualifiers and top finishes at the MSHSAA State Championships.”
The Lady Zizzers got their competitive season off to a great start at the All-Relays meet in Springfield December 1. The 200 Backstroke Relay (Ad. Peugh, Autry, L. Wake, Sheridan), 200 Breaststroke Relay (Sheridan, Gross, Autry, Fiorino), and the 500 Freestyle Relay (Ad. Peugh, L. Wake, Land, York, Fiorino, Gross, Niesen, Autry, Ab. Peugh, Sheridan) all swam to wins over their competition.
Other finishes include: 3rd Place – 200 Backstroke Relay (Fiorino, Niesen, York, T. Wake); 6th Place – 200 Medley Relay (Ab. Peugh, Niesen, Land, T. Wake); and 6th Place – 400 Freestyle Relay (Ad. Peugh, Ab. Peugh, T. Wake, Land).
For the first time in the history of Lady Zizzer Swimming, they are getting to host two home meets. The first is Tuesday, December 6 at 4:30 pm. The second is the Lady Zizzer Invitational on Saturday, January 14 at 1:00 pm. We welcome all to come out, cheer, and support these fantastic swimmers for the first time in nine seasons!
Pictured:
Back Row (left to right:) Roslyn Fiorino, Abbie Peugh, Paige Sheridan, Audrey Land, Addie Peugh, Trinity Wake
Front Row (left to right): Aubrey Gross, Penelope Autry, Evie Niesen, Lily York, Lilliahna Wake
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