just keep
Swimming
BY MACKENZI COX
Sophomore Elle Lemmert makes history as she places at the UIL Swimming and Diving State Championships .
Ellie and her mother , Kesley Lemmert , pose after Ellie completed her day of swimming . a
Special THANKS
“ I would just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this experience . I am extremely grateful for all the encouragement and love I ’ ve been shown . Special thanks to my mom for always being right beside me as my biggest fan . She always makes an effort to come and cheer me on and I couldn ’ t have done it without her .”
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A five year old girl paddles in an Olympic sized swimming pool , goggles fogged up , dipping under lane dividers while holding her nose shut with her thumb and index finger . All around her she sees teenage swimmers zipping across the water , their movements swift and effortless . Dazzled and stuck staring at the smooth ripples of the water , she decides that , someday , she will be just like them .
After competing at the regional swimming and diving meet in late January , junior Ellie Lemmert qualified and placed at the UIL State competition in Austin .
“ Ever since I started swimming I dreamed of going to big meets like nationals or the Olympics ,” Lemmert said . “ Qualifying for state is such a big achievement for me because besides that fact that I ’ m one of the fastest swimmers in the whole state , I ’ m also getting more experience along the way .”
At State , Lemmert swam in two finals .
“ I ’ m hoping that in these next 2 years I ’ ll continue to make it to the state and hopefully swim faster and faster every year ,” Lemmert said . “ Who knows , I might even place in the top 3 .”
This was Lemmert ’ s state debut , last year she competed at the regional level , missing the state qualification by only a few points .
“ At regionals last year I got my best time and it took me almost a full year to beat it ,” Lemmert said . It was a big learning experience for me because I ’ ve never had such a big gap in improvement before , but I just kept practicing hard and I ’ m so proud of where it ’ s taken me .
“ With all the effort I put into getting to state , it felt amazing ,” Lemmert said . “ After
Lemmert , seen third from the camera , dives into the water as she begins the 100m competition .