Falcons prove best at NKC Invitational
Over the past two seasons, the Staley High School boys’ swimming program has produced a pair of top-10 state-meet finishes. The ongoing progress for a relatively new school has led the Falcons to establish a goal for the 2015 season that would qualify as a school record.
Win a state trophy.
(We have been) “so close to bringing home some hardware,” said Staley coach Ian Johnston, who serves as the head swim coach for all of the North Kansas City School District programs. “That is the goal for this year — top-four finish at state.”
If Saturday was any indication, the Falcons could certainly be in the mix.
Staley won the North Kansas City Invitational, compiling 297.5 points at the two-day meet completed Saturday at the Gladstone Community Center. The competition featured 17 teams.
In likening his team to the one he had in 2013, which placed sixth at the Missouri state meet, Johnston said the Falcons have a deep squad. In other words, it’s not just one swimmer racking up all the points.
On Saturday, Staley won a pair of relay races. The Falcons captured gold in the 200-yard medley relay, using a team of Jason Schlaud, Collin Duffy, Alex Gach and Mitchell Zarse. They also won the 200 freestyle relay with a four-man team of Duffy, Jared Vawter, Kyle Kimmel and Zarse. Staley’s Alex Banning took home finished first in the one-meter diving competition; and Schlaud added a victory in the 100 backstroke, an event in which he placed 12th last season at the Missouri State High School Activities Association championships.
“I am thrilled with how our boys are swimming,” Johnston said. “There is always room to improve, and that is the goal every day (and) every practice — get better. We focus a lot on the little things.”
Liberty North placed second in the team standings, compiling 274.5 points. The Eagles garnered an individual win from Max Meyer, who won the 200 freestyle. Meyer qualified for the state meet in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle last season, and he placed 12th in the 100.
Kearney placed fourth on Saturday, and Austin Wolfe won the 500 freestyle for the Bulldogs. Kearney also won the 400 freestyle relay, with Grant Sloan, Evan Holt, Spencer Steward and Wolfe making up the relay squad.
Liberty was fifth. Blue Jays swimmer Noah Witzki won the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle; and Joe Saitta won the 100 butterfly, an event in which he competed at the state meet last fall.
Oak Park’s Elliott Eisele-Miller put together one of the day’s best performances to win the 100 breaststroke. He finished the race in 1 minute, 0.02 seconds — the second fastest time recorded in the state this season.
St. Pius X placed ninth in the team standings, with Oak Park in 10th and Platte County 11th. North Kansas City was 13th, and Winnetonka placed 17th.
Staley, Oak Park, North Kansas City, Winnetonka, Liberty, Park Hill South and Liberty North will travel to Columbia on Saturday to compete at the prestigious COMO Invitational, which will take place at the Mizzou Aquatic Center.
Park Hill, which placed second to Rockhurst at the state championships last fall, will host Kickapoo and Nixa in a meet at the Park Hill Aquatic Center on Saturday.
This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 11:22 AM with the headline "Falcons prove best at NKC Invitational."