MICDS’ Goessling excited about last state girls swimming meet

By: Warren Mayes

Posted 02/15/12 1:26 pm / no comments

Goessling

MICDS’ Annie Goessling is the defending 200 IM champion heading into this state swimming meet.

The senior has a time of 2 minutes, 08.74 seconds heading into the annual state meet, which is Friday (Feb. 17) and Saturday at the Rec-Plex in St. Peters.

MICDS coach Kristen Kaiser naturally believes her senior swimmer will do well again at state.

“She won the 200 IM last year, and by quite a bit,” Kaiser said. “Her backstroke has made huge strides this year and her breastroke is her strong stroke. And again, she wants it.”

Kaiser vividly remembers Goessling winning at state.

“It was great. She put together a hell of a race,” Goessling said. “It was really fun to watch and nothing beats that smile after it’s over.”

This year, Goessling is just behind Parkway North junior Heather Lundstrom in the 200 IM times heading into the state meet.

“Right now, Annie is seeded second. She has not been rested even a little bit,” Kaiser said. “She is hungry. She is already signed (with a college), so state this year is all about racing. She wants to win, for her and for our team.

“So, I am excited to see how fast she can go. She has been solid all season. I’ve broken her down farther than ever. She’s tired. Really tired. But, at state it should pay off in a big way.”

Goessling won last year with a time of 2:05.13.

“State is the best meet. I really look forward to it,” Goessling said. “It was unreal last year when I won the 200 IM. I just couldn’t believe it. It was really cool. I want to try and do it one more time.”

She has been working to try and make that happen.

“I’ve been training really hard,” Goessling said. “There’s a lot of great swimmers in the event and it will be a great state meet. There are some of them back from last year so they’ll be swimming hard and there are some new ones I’ve heard will be in it, too, so it’ll be a good event. The times will be good, I think.

“Everyone has an equal chance. It just depends on who puts in the most work and who swims the hardest at state.”

Goessling has qualified in the 200 IM, 100 free, 100 back, 100 breast, and 100 fly, Kaiser said.

Besides the 200 IM, Goessling also will swim in the 100 breast at state. Her top time this season has been 1:10.45, which ranks seventh in the region.

Kaiser believes the 100 breast is a big race for Goessling.

“She has been second in the 100 breast for two years,” Kaiser said. “She wants that title her senior year.”

A swimmer can compete in two individual events and two relays at state. Goessling will also swim in the relays competition.

“I’ll be in two relays but I’m not sure which ones yet,” Goessling said.

She swims in the offseason for Clayton Shaw Park and works at her sport. She swims in the mornings and afternoons six days a week.

“I swim year round,” said Goessling, who began swimming when she was 7 years old. “I love it. I do dry land work a lot, too. I work to get better.”

That work has paid off with a college scholarship. During the recent college letter of intent signing day, Goessling signed to go to North Carolina.

“I’ve always wanted to go into the south and I’m going to go to North Carolina,” Goessling said. “I really liked the weather there and they have a great swimming program and they have a great business school. I liked the campus. I just liked everything about it.”

Kaiser said she is happy Goessling is going where she is. Kaiser has a connection there that will help Goessling.

“I am so excited for Annie to be going to UNC,” Kaiser said. “I swam at the University of Utah, and my college coach is now at UNC and will coach Annie. I know she will love the team, atmosphere, coaches, and she will be very successful as a student athlete there.”

The transition to Division I swimming will be tough but Kaiser said she believes Goessling will make it.

“Annie is the most coachable kid around, so anything they ask her to do, she will do with a smile,” Kaiser said. “She knows how to take advice and what to do with it. She wants to be the best, and Division 1 swimming is about being coachable and wanting it.”

Goessling’s other options were Princeton, Brown, University of Pennsylvania and Indiana.

“It was a hard decision but North Carolina was where I wanted to go,” Goessling said.

But first there is the state meet. It doesn’t seem possible, she said, that the biggest meet is here already.

“Oh my gosh, my senior year has gone by so quickly,” Goessling said. “I can’t believe it. It’s been great. I loved every year of high school here. It’s like family. I’m going to miss it.”

Kaiser will miss her as well.

“She is a phenomenal kid. She gets great grades, head of athletic council, and is a friend to all,” Kaiser said. “She is known for her infectious laugh and being able to cheer anyone up, including me. I can’t say enough about Annie.

“She is a one-of-a-kind kid. One that I have been blessed to know and coach. She will go on to do amazing things.”