Glendale tops area teams for SWMO victory

Glendale may have swept the annual Southwest Missouri Swim Meet at John H. Foster Natatorium on Saturday, but the meet that lies ahead is all any swimmer in the area is preparing for.

Next week, girls from across the state will head to St. Peters in the hopes of earning a state title.

Glendale’s Macie Beairsto, who placed first in both the 200 IM and 100 fly on Saturday, is out to defend two state titles in her final year as a Lady Falcon.

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The Florida State commit said, “I’m really nervous. I’m going to try my hardest to eat healthy all week, which is going to be really hard. I’m going to try and stay hydrated and not get myself down, because sometimes I get really nervous and I feel like it affects my swimming. I’m going to try and not let that happen this time.”

Also on her team’s agenda is to earn first-place overall again.

Glendale was the first area team in history to win the state championship in 2013, and they did it again in 2014.

Last year they fell short to powerhouse team Columbia Rock Bridge.

But with their convincing victory on Saturday, the Lady Falcons are ready for what’s to come.

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In addition to Beairsto’s accomplishments, Glendale also saw Maddie Duncan, Kaylee Sisson and Cali Hackworth each win a first-place medal.

And its 200 yard medley relay team, which consisted of Beairsto, Duncan, Sisson and freshman Ashley Baldwin, also topped opponents.

Beairsto said, “Everybody really had a good meet today and really showed Steve (Boyce) how fast they are for state next week.”

But the Class 1 Summit Prep/NCA girls, who placed seventh at state last year, are also fast.

In third-place overall prior to the 400 yard freestyle relay, Molly Moore, Claire Workman and Katie and Claire McCune knocked a total of 10 seconds off their time to beat Glendale.

“I’ve got to compose myself,” the stunned head coach Alex Miller said. “They knew the stakes going into the race and they really stepped up to it.”

Moore, a sophomore, earned two first-place wins on Saturday in both the 100 backstroke and 50 free to help Summit Prep/NCA to the second-place win.

Finishing third overall was Kickapoo with a total of 147 points. Junior Krystal Caylor topped the 100 breaststroke and placed second in the 200 IM.

FINAL TEAM SCORES