Laramie Wins Conference Swimming Championships

Thanks to three event victories the Laramie Lady Plainsmen swimming and diving team won the 4A East Conference Championship last Thursday and Friday.

Competing in their own pool, Laramie scored 291 points and beat runner-up Sheridan by 17 points. Cheyenne Central finished in third place with 231 points.

The win even took head coach Tom Hudson by surprise.

“Just because we’re not a conference team. We don’t set up that way without wearing caps and being tired and everything. This is a really deep team, and a conference meet with only seven teams there favors that.”

Hudson mentioned a good preliminary round Thursday set them up their team finish Friday.

Sophomore Olivia McPherson won the 50 freestyle in 24.38 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 53.41 seconds.

Hudson added, “What I saw out of Olivia, especially in the 100 free, was just a competitive spirit. She was neck and neck with Piper Carroll from Sheridan into the third turn, and then on the last 25 (meters), she just refused to lose.”

Junior Catie Weathermon added a second place in the 50 freestyle. That was one of four runner-up finishes for LHS.

The third event win by Laramie came from junior Teryn White in diving. She topped the field with 415.95 points. Senior Kylie Campbell placed second with 373.25 points.

Hudson said, “I expected that with Teryn and Kylie. They’ve been doing that all year long, and they just looked great.”

The Lady Plainsmen also came in second place in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

Now their attention turns towards preparing for the state championships in Gillette Nov. 3 and 4.

Laramie has 22 state qualifiers with one meet left before state.

Hudson also said, “The biggest thing that we’re focusing on now is Last Chance meet (Friday). We do have a shot for probably one or maybe even two more state qualifiers at that. Then, as we taper, that’s (state) the meet we gear up for.”