Lady Dogies dive in
Photo by KateLynn Slaamot/NLJ The Lady Dogies are hard at work getting ready for their 2024 season to get under way. Head swim coach Doug Scribner has goals for his 10-person crew this season, which involve an improved conference finish and getting some state qualifications as well.
Sonja Karp
NLJ Sports Editor
The Lady Dogie swim team is getting ready to make a splash in their 2024 season. Head coach Doug Scribner is suiting up a team of 10 swimmers with a nice distribution representing freshmen through seniors.
“I’m excited for this season because we are pretty much starting the season where we left off last year,” Scribner said. “We have a couple of great senior leaders and a couple of strong freshmen and sophomores who will push other swimmers and will give us some depth as well.”
As the lone individual state qualifier from 2023, senior Hailey Beastrom returns to try to get back to state and earn a spot on the podium in her final season of competition.
Last year, she qualified in both the 50 and 100 Freestyle races, and made it to the finals to take 12th place in the shorter race. Scribner noted that she is looking good in both the freestyle and the backstroke early this season.
“Hailey started last year really focusing on the backstroke,” Scribner said. “She swam with the club in the spring where she spent a lot of time working on freestyle with a focus on sprinting so I think that is where she will be strong this year.”
Also returning to the pool this year are Ruth Rose, Veronica Ayers and Jaydenn Nelson. New to the team are Kathryn Huber, Addie Bergstrom, Madalyn Francis, Kaylee Liggett, Allie Lunstra and Shelby Smith.
“Madie, Kaylee, Allie and Shelby all have experience swimming through the Stingrays Club team,” Scribner said. “Kathryn has had lessons and so has Addie so they also have a background in swimming as well.”
Though still a small team in comparison to other teams around the conference, having 10 swimmers who can cover all four strokes should bode well for the squad to finish stronger as a team overall this year.
“We have swimmers who are strong in at least one of the four strokes and we pretty much have them all covered,” Scribner said. “My goal for these ladies is to get as many qualified for state as we can and for all of them to place at the conference meet.”
The Lady Dogies will start off with just one meet this weekend as they travel to Gillette for the Gillette Relays on Friday.
“The relays are fun for the girls, and they will have a couple of opportunities to qualify for state if they swim the lead-off leg of the 50 Free or 100 Free relay,” Scribner said.