Good News: Eagles’ Wright, Keim are favorites to win diving event at State

by Michael Smith
 

This could be the year that the Grain Valley swimming and diving team is put on the map.

Four members of the squad qualified in five different events for the Class 1 Missouri State High School Boys Swimming and Diving Championship, which begins Nov. 15 at the St. Peters Rec-Plex.

Not only did four out of the eight members of the team qualify, but there is a good chance the Eagles could have their first state champion in the history of the program as junior Gage Wright and senior Asa Keim will come into the state meet ranked as the No. 1 and 2 divers, respectively.

Both were the only Class 1 divers in the state to exceed 400 points in the 11-dive, 1-meter diving competitions at districts. In District 4, Wright had a top score of 466.15. Keim was second with a score of 437.85.

Wright and Keim finished third and 10th at the state competition, respectively last season, and both have a clear pathway to an all-state finish once again.

“That was the plan coming into (the season),” Wright said of he and Keim being the top two Class 1 divers. “We are happy to be here.”

Grain Valley swimming and diving head coach Julie Reilly said Wright and Keim have put in the work in the offseason to put themselves in a position to be the favorites to finish No. 1 and No. 2 at state.

“They have been training all year long,” Reilly said. “(Wright) comes (to the Blue Springs South swimming complex) and practices diving. He’s trying to dive for Air Force Academy. Asa is a naturally gifted athlete and he’s a pole vaulter. He has improved so much.”

Wright said the front 2 ½ pike has been his best dive this season and he’s been getting a lot of high scores off of it. He said he plans on adding some harder, college-level dives next season as he aims to be on the Air Force swimming and diving team when he graduates.

Keim joined the team last season and was a diver for the first time. He said he enjoyed doing flips on a trampoline and was good at it, so he thought he was a natural fit a diver. He has made huge strides in 2024 as he’s added an inward 2 ½ and a front 2 ½ dive to his arsenal, which has helped him achieve some high scores.

“It’s pretty amazing, especially since it’s just my second year,” Keim said. “I didn’t really expect this to go that well.

“I have been changing from full somersaults to full-on dives because judges like those better.”

Keim and Wright are also a part of the 200 free relay team along with junior Haden Harshman and junior Connor Osburn that qualified for state. That squad is currently ranked No. 27 in Class 1 with a season-best time of 1:36.46.

“We have to drop some serious time to get all-state in the 200 free relay,” Harshman said. “Anything is always possible. I think we could go down there and place.”

Harshman has had a breakout season in individual events, as well. He is ranked No. 17 in the 200 free with a time of 1:52.79. He is on the bubble for cracking the top 16. Those to place 16th or better are named to the all-state team.

He also qualified for the 100 free for the first time in his career. He is ranked 21st in that event with a time of 50.57 seconds.

In the 200 free, my time hasn’t improved that much,” Harshman said. “Qualifying in the 100 free was a big surprise. Last year, I had a time of 52 seconds in the 100 free. This year, at the last chance meet, I dropped my time by 1.5 seconds. I was really surprised that I was able to do that.”

​“I am super close to being able to go to Day 2 (in the 200 free). That is my big goal.”

From left, junior Hayden Harshman, junior Gage Wright, and senior Asa Keim will compete at the Missouri State High School Boys Swimming and Diving Championships this weekend at the St. Peters Rec-Plex. Harshman qualified for the 100- and 200-free events, Wright and Keim will both be competing in the 1-meter diving event and all three will be a part of the 200 free relay team. Photo credit: Michael Smith