Schools
Early Season Preparation Led To State Swim Meet
Kinya Gilbert, Sarah Pospisil and Courtney Miller took home valuable lessons from this weekend's Class A state meet. Miller also finished 8th and earned All-State honors.
girls coach Marc Hamren noticed sophomore Kinya Gilbert’s determination to succeed even before this season began. Gilbert, among others, asked if they could initiate captains practices in August to get a head start on the upcoming year.
Fast forward to November, and that hard work is paying off. Gilbert, along with senior and junior Courtney Miller competed at this weekend’s in Minneapolis.
“It was very refreshing and very satisfying,” Hamren said. “They came in, they were dedicated to the idea of doing everything they could to potentially get to the state meet.”
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Miller finished eighth overall in the diving at the state meet, finishing with 315.80 points. The finish earned her All-State honors for the first time. Pospisil finished the 200 IM in 13th place with a 2:14.61 finish. Gilbert finished 18th in the 50 freestyle preliminary round on Friday and did not advance to Saturday.
The Spartans finished with 15 total team points, good for 30th overall. Sartell-St. Stephen won the meet with 238 points.
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Miller and Pospisil have been to state before, and they know what it takes to compete in an environment filled with Minnesota’s best. Pospisil spent the last week helping acclimate Gilbert to the atmosphere.
Her advice?
“Bring it,” Pospisil said. “Go big or go home.”
All three Spartans won their respective events at the Section 4A meet last weekend, setting the state for this weekend. Pospisil, who finished in the top 8 a year ago, is seeded ninth in the 200 IM heading into the weekend. Gilbert is seeded 15th in the 50 freestyle, and Miller, who finished 12th the past two years at state, hopes to move into the top 8 this time around.
Heading into state, Miller said each state experience has taught her the importance of dedication to her craft.
That in itself is what makes state the exciting and nerve-wracking event it is.
“I learned that hard work and determination really help to succeed at state,” Miller said. “I’m just trying to get better and to place higher.”
Class A State Swimming
200 IM: 13. Sarah Pospisil (2:15.47); Diving: 8. Courtney Miller (315.80); 50 freestyle: 18. Kinya Gilbert (25.44).
