Panthers’ state medals very rewarding

PLYMOUTH – “Everyone swam real well. We were all really motivated,” said Plymouth junior Sarah Ebbott about her 200-yard freestyle relay team that earned a state medal.

The relay team finished fifth in Friday’s Division 2 girls state swimming and diving meet at UWMadison with a school-record time of 1 minute, 39.85 seconds.

“We were really pumped up. It was great to see all of the parents, students and former teammates cheering us on. That meant a lot to us,” Ebbott said.

“We were really happy with the results. It really meant a lot to me [winning a medal]. The last three years paid off. It was really exciting standing on the podium.”

The other relay members were sophomores Lauren Halle, Kate Criter and Sarah Coley. Each swimmer had career-best splits. Criter brought home the Panthers’ other state medal with a third in the 100 breaststroke.

It meant more to Criter to be a part of the medal-winning relay than to medal in the breaststroke.

“I was really excited. It’s more fun to share an experience with others instead of for yourself,” Criter said.

“The fans really got us going. It was so exciting.”

The state medals were the first for Ebbott, Halle and Coley. Each of the relay members swam at state last year and Ebbott thought that experience helped.

“We really wanted to medal and do better than sixth. It’s an intimidating environment and it helped that we have swam there before. We weren’t intimidated this year,” Ebbott noted.

The relay was ranked sixth coming into the state meet. Ebbott said the keys for the relay team to doing well at state were being healthy, experienced and motivated.

“Everyone on the team did really well at state. It’s so nice being down there. It means a lot to us to have each of us cheering for each other,” she said.

“It meant a lot to us to set the school record.”

Criter wasn’t disappointed that she didn’t successfully defend her state title in the breaststroke.

“I was really happy to medal at state again. It’s one thing to go to state but an honor to get on the medal stand,” she said.

Criter had a season-best 1:04.97 in the state breaststroke. She finished only .40 seconds behind winner Emily McClellan of Delavan-Darien.

“I was really happy with it [breaststroke performance]. That’s all you can ask for is to swim your best time. They [first- and second-place finishers] swam better,” Criter said.

“Winning isn’t everything. I did my best. Being on the medal stand was quite an honor.”

The Panthers’ strong showing at state capped off another outstanding season. PHS, which had six events at state, won its 11th straight Eastern Wisconsin Conference crown and two invitationals, and finished 12-1 overall in dual meets.

Ebbott and Criter credited the support within the team as being a key factor in the Panthers’ successful season.

“Everyone performed really well. We did really great. I’m very proud of the team and very proud to be a member of the team,” Ebbott said.

“It’s amazing that we were undefeated in the conference again [6-0 in EWC duals] and that we won almost all of our meets,” Criter said.

“I’m really proud of our team. Our team is so tight. The chemistry really helps. Without the bond that we had as a team, we wouldn’t have done as well.

“There’s nothing greater than to look across the pool and to see all of the fans’ and the team’s support,” Criter observed.