The Pirates swimming team unfortunately saw the end of their season in the NIAA 3A Southern Regional Tournament on May 9.

“It was really exciting watching these girls learn, improve and grow this year,” head coach Kristal Beckstrand said.

In order to make the state meet, the Pirate swimmers had to place in the top four to qualify. The girls came close, with several fifth-place results during the week of May 5-9.

Freshman Robin Washburn took fifth place in the 100 Butterfly with a time of 1:17.96. Washburn was part of the fifth-placed 200 Freestyle Relay team, which included juniors Maycee Andrus, Nicole Patterson and Sadie Schulthies. They came in with a time of 2:09.65. The 400 Freestyle Relay team also placed fifth with a time of 4:56.21, only 3.88 seconds behind the fourth placed team. This team was made up of Washburn, Junior Savanah Neel, Patterson and Schulthies.

“We were so close to making state in that race,” Beckstrand said.

Neel took 11th in the Individual 200 Freestyle (3:01.65). Schulthies took eighth in the Individual 200 IM (2:55.03) and fifth in the 100 Breaststroke. Andrus took 15th place in the 50 Freestyle with a time of 37.71. Patterson ran a time of 1:20.77 for 15th place in the 100 Freestyle.

“It was a great season, and the team improved so well that they would PR almost every swim meet we had,” Beckstrand said. “I look forward to seeing what our team can do next year.”

The team is predicted to have all of its roster returning for next season.