Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
The Lady Warriors swim team pose together during the 3A State meet in Laramie. Pictured are back row, l-r, Kylie Warren, Ella Stanek, assistant coach Danielle Warren, head coach Mike Blissett, Kelli Frimml and Macy Trombley; front row, l-r, Kyra Klinghagen, Kaci Bentley and Juli Warren.
WORLAND - The Worland Lady Warriors swimming season wrapped last weekend in Laramie during the 3A State girls swimming meet. Taking only seven athletes to state, Worland was still able to finish fifth overall, scoring 137 points and had two All-State selections in Juli Warren (first in 200-yard individual medley, second in the 100-yard breaststroke and named 3A athlete of the year) and Kyra Klinghagen (second in diving).
"I can't stop talking about these girls," said WHS girls swimming coach Mike Blissett. "When the girls on the team are surprising the coaches on other teams and even the coaches on our own team, you know they're doing something pretty special. I had us figured for taking fifth behind Lander, Powell, Lyman, and Buffalo and that did happen, but what nobody on any team expected was that we were in third place in the team standings going into the last race of the meet. The way the final relays finished, Lyman and Buffalo finally overtook us and we ended up in fifth but what a performance by our girls. It was an incredible final statement on a season full of surprises from our Lady Warriors."
At state, the Lady Warriors were led by their three seniors Kaci Bentley, Klinghagen and Warren. Obviously, and rightfully so, Klinghagen and Warren garnered the most attention with their performances. But Bentley also performed very well in the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle races, placing ninth and sixth, respectively.
"Senior Kaci Bentley placed ninth in the 200 free and sixth in the 500 free, in a field of swimmers that was ridiculously stacked with powerhouse girls. I'm really happy for Kaci with how she finished because she has worked as hard as anyone in practice to accomplish that feat, and her heart and determination made it happen," said Blissett.
Along with Klinghagen and Warren racking up the awards and accolades, WHS assistant coach Danielle Warren was named 3A's assistant coach of the year. "Coach Danielle Warren was named 3A Assistant Coach of the Year. I am so glad she received that honor. She runs our morning practices, starts our afternoon practices, coaches our divers, and does so many other things that I am so grateful for. She is really the glue that keeps our team together, and she deserves it," said Blissett.
Klinghagen's selection to the All-State team was a first for her and considering she set another personal record, she ended her Lady Warrior diving career on a very high note.
"Kyra's diving this season was nothing short of incredible, and she finished her career with yet another magical performance. Throughout her 11 dives, she was either in the lead or just behind the leader, and ultimately finished in second with a new [personal record] and naming her an All-State athlete for the first time.
"We are going to miss everything about Kyra next season, from her leadership to her talent to her personality, she is a huge part of our team. I was thrilled to watch her have the best meet of her career be her last," said Blissett.
Juli Warren finished her WHS swimming career by earning her third All-State selection, successfully defending her 200-yard IM title and was named the 3A athlete of the year for the second consecutive season.
"Defending her 200 IM title and taking second in the 100 breast makes her a three-time All-State athlete in swimming plus she was also last year's 3A athlete of the meet in addition to this year's 3A athlete of the year.
"She hasn't just been a huge part of our team, she's been a huge part of 3A swimming in the State of Wyoming. She has been a role model, mentor, leader, inspiration, motivator, cheerleader, rock, and friend to everyone on our team, and in fact our entire conference and state for the past four years, and a captain on our team for the past two years," said Blissett.
In one meet Warren earned what most would happy with during an entire four-year career. And while she leaves the pool as a three-time state champion, three-time All-State selectee and two-time 3A athlete of the year – just to name a few of the many awards and honor she's won – what Blissett found most impressive about her legacy was her ambition and willingness to be a positive leader to her teammates.
"With all of that going on, it's amazing that she still was able to find enough drive to be the best in the water in virtually every event, to work the hardest in practice all season long, to make it to every single practice in the mornings and afternoons, to find ways to motivate her teammates to put forth the same effort in practice, and to remain focused on her own goals and ambitions throughout it all.
"What makes her so good? In short, Juli does. The truth is, there's definitely something to be said for natural talent, which she clearly has. But that's not enough," said Blissett. "It takes lots of hard work, motivation, and dedication over several years to develop into an athlete like Juli in this sport. It takes constantly refining technique, having a body awareness during practice at all times to learn how to swim more efficiently. It takes an internal desire to be better than you were the day before, and a drive and determination to carry that forward every day throughout the season."
Added Blissett, "Maybe most of all, it takes the understanding that nothing in this sport is just handed to you. If you want something, you're going to have to work hard to get it. Juli understood that, and you see the results. This season I saw a lot of her work ethic beginning to rub off on a few of our younger veterans, so I'm hoping that next season those girls will step up and fill the hole that Juli will leave behind in that respect. I can think of no better way for the girls to honor Juli's legacy than to have each of them take a few pieces of what makes her so great to heart, and apply them to their own swimming careers."
Saying goodbye to seniors Bentley, Meg DeBolt, Klinghagen and Warren stings, but the program still has plenty of talent returning for the 2019 season. Freshman Kelli Frimml and sophomores Ella Stanek, Macy Trombley and Kylie Warren were the Lady Warriors four underclassmen to make it to state. Making things even better is that all four placed in their respective events, but having no juniors this year means those four will likely be the team's leaders for next season.
Being active during the winter and spring sports seasons is what Blissett wants most for his returning swimmers and divers. Keeping that competitive fire going is important, and when summer hits, they'll be able to focus on preparing on the '19 campaign and adding to the program's lore.
"As long as the girls stay active, I'm happy," said Blissett. "I hope they go out for winter and spring sports, and during the summer stay physically active. The sophomores on the team this season will be the leaders on our team next season whether they're ready for that challenge or not. They're going to have to step into the leadership role this summer, and not only motivate themselves to get in the water or in the weight room, but also motivate the other girls to do the same if we want to maintain our status as a fearsome team in 3A."
