The West Plains Zizzer Swim and Dive Team has begun the first month of their 10th season strong. Their dual record stands at 10-4. They finished runner-up at the Zizzer Invitational, 3rd at the Monett Invitational, and 7th at the Ozarks Invitational. The addition of diving has added a new and needed component to the great swimming the West Plains Zizzer Swim Program has built over the past nine seasons.
Senior Captain Elias Curtis has been a strong leader in and out of the pool. He has scored the most points at our meets this season. He currently has seven individual state qualifying cuts in 50, 100, 200, and 500 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly, 100 Backstroke, and 200 Individual Medley. He returns after 2 straight years of competing at the State Championships in the 100 Butterfly and 200 Individual Medley.
Senior Co-Captain Dawson Fiorino has also led the team in a mighty way. He has started the season with some great early-season swims in the 50 and 100 Freestyle and the 100 Butterfly. All three of which he has state qualifying cuts along with the 100 Backstroke and 200 Individual Medley. He has competed on multiple state relays in the past 3 seasons and is looking to capture his first opportunity to swim individually at the State Championships.
Senior Toby Keith, in his 2nd season as a Zizzer swimmer, has also added diving to his repertoire. The speed at which he has picked up this new sport is astounding. He is scoring well in each competition and is on the verge of qualifying for MSHSAA Districts. As a swimmer, he is showing steady improvement in his two main events: the 100 Backstroke and 200 Individual Medley.
Junior Avery Miller has opened his 3rd season as a Zizzer swimmer by achieving all eight individual swimming state qualifying cuts within the first month of the season. He returns this season after his All-State Honorable Mention performance in the 100 Freestyle. He looks to improve upon his success last year at the State Championships.
Sophomore Bryson Kittrell is the final returning Zizzer swimmer from 2022. He has seen massive time drops this season already. He is showing some great potential in the 200 and 500 Freestyle as he begins this season. He looks to see good finishes at the Ozark Conference Championships and Southwest Missouri Championships.
Newcomers Stewart Call (Senior), Caleb Kentner (Sophomore), Rhys Kerley (Freshman), Tanner Land (Freshman), and Alec Morrison (Freshman) have added depth to Zizzer Swimming for 2023. Kentner has joined Keith on the diving board and is learning the ropes and is showing great improvement. Call, Kerley, Land, and Morrison are working hard and are seeing time drops in each meet.
The Zizzers have wins in dual meets against Camdenton, Marshfield, and Monett multiple times, along with wins over Poplar Bluff, Lebanon, and Waynesville. Losses have come to Carthage, Blue Springs, Webb City, and Joplin. Head Coach Ryan Smith is excited for the rest of the season and seeing these new swimmers and divers along with the returners continue to compete and fight for every race and every finish
- Dawson Fiorino swims the Breaststroke part of the 200 Individual Medley at the Carthage Meet on September 5.
- Elias Curtis and Avery Miller prepare to compete against each other in the 100 Freestyle at the West Plains Meet on September 14.
- Toby Keith is completing the Reverse Dive at the Webb City Meet on September 19.
