Boys Swim Preview

​by Michael Smith

​     The Grain Valley boys swimming program has come a long way since 2018.
     That was the year it started under head coach Kara Liddle, who will have seven swimmers and three divers competing during the 2021 season.
     “It’s night and day,” Liddle said. “I am so excited for this year because with this being the fourth year, these seniors have been with us from the get go. It’s really neat to see the transition from their high school years to how they are now.”
     While the Eagles may have a small team when compared to other teams, Liddle noted her squad has a lot of talent.
     “This is a small team so we get to bond a little more,” Grain Valley senior Thomas Fligg said. “We have a lot of heart during the season.”
     They will be led by Seniors Isaac Burd, Fligg, Riley Fangman, and diver Ashton Barker.
     Burd will be swimming the 50-meter freestyle and the 100 free and his main goal is to make it to the  Class 1 State Boys Swimming and Diving Championships
     “I have been trying to lengthen my stroke and move my arms as fast as I can,” Burd said.
    Fligg plans on competing in the 50 free and the 100 breaststroke.
     “The key for my breaststroke will be to make my turns as fast as possible,” Fligg said. “When you turn, you start to slow down a little bit. It’s a key part of the swim.”
     Fangman said he want to build up his endurance so he can help the team out in the 500 free.
     “I already have pretty good endurance, but I need the strength to carry through.” Fangman said.
     Like Burd, Barker’s goal is to make it to state, but for him, it will be in the 1-meter diving competition.
     “I have been diving since my freshman year,’ Barker said. “I like twisting. That’s one of my favorite categories. I just want to get better each time I dive.”
     Fligg, Burd, Fangman and junior Evan Reich will likely make up two of the team’s three relay teams. Last season, the foursome were just tenths of seconds away from making the state cut in the 200 free relay and 200 medley relay.
     “They were really close to making it to state,” Liddle said. “They got the consideration cut, but were just a few hundredths of a second away from making the final cut.
     “Isaac won (the Suburban White Conference) last year in the 100 free. I think he finished second in the conference meet. We all did pretty well in the conference. All of those guys improved. We really want to get a relay to state.”
     Last season, diver Elizeck Hendricks was the lone Grain Valley representative in the state meet. The Eagles hope to have more qualifiers this time around.
     “If we push ourselves hard enough, all (four seniors) can make it to state,” Fligg said.
     Grain Valley will swim in its first meet against Blue Springs South on Aug. 31 at Blue Springs South High School.