Three of a kind: Austin’s state qualifiers are driven and accomplished – Austin Daily Herald

A trio of Packers have their sights set on the podium as seniors Alayna Kennedy and Reese Norton, and sophomore Gracie Greenman are preparing to finish on a high note at the Minnesota Class A State Swimming and Diving Meet at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center at the University of Minnesota this week.

Divers Alayna Kennedy, who has committed to Division I University of Boston in Boston, Massachusetts, and Reese Norton, who has committed to Division II PennWest Clarion University in Clarion, Pennsylvania, will make their final dives for the Packers after competing in the last three state meets. Kennedy won the Class A title in diving last year with a score of 432.5 and Norton took sixth.

“I love, love, love big meets,” Kennedy said. “Just seeing the talent that’s across the state is super exciting to me.”

Norton is hoping to leave her best mark in her last dive for the Packers this weekend.

“I’m excited to see what this last year brings for me. I’m hoping to do better than I did last year,” Norton said.

While they are different ages and compete in separate events, Greenman, Norton, and Kennedy have forged a strong bond ever since they all went to state together for the first time three years ago.

Norton and Kennedy were a little skeptical about hanging out with a middle schooler at the time, but they soon saw Greenman’s potential and they immediately became two of her biggest supporters.

“I remember watching her and knowing she was going to state and she was going to do really big things,” Kennedy said of Greenman.

Greenman still leans on Kennedy and Norton when she’s looking for encouragement or a piece of advice. While swimming is very different from diving, Greenman has learned the nature of having a competitive drive and she’s also seen how to handle adversity from her older teammates.

“They’re two of my biggest role models,” Greenman said of Kennedy and Norton. “When I joined this team I was a seventh-grader who was beating a bunch of seniors, who showed that they didn’t like me being there and beating them. In my eighth-grade year, these two took me under their wing and made me feel like I belonged on this team. They’re going to be missed.”

Greenman will be competing in her third state meet as she is seeded third in the 100-yard backstroke with an AHS record time of 57.93 seconds. Greenman is also seeded 16th out of 24 swimmers in the 200-yard individual medley with an AHS record time of 2:14.29. Greenman set the 200-IM record at the Section 1A meet and she also reset her 100-backstroke record at sections.

“My mom had been asking me all year when I was going to break the (100-IM) record and I said I’ll do it when I do it,” Greenman said. “Then we were sitting in the garage before the (Section 1A meet) and I said I’ll do it this week.”

Last year, Greenman took sixth in the 100-yard backstroke at state.

The Class A diving preliminaries will take place at noon Thursday, the swimming preliminaries will take place at noon Friday, and the finals will take place at noon Saturday.

No matter how they finish on Saturday, Norton and Kennedy take some comfort in knowing that they will still be able to continue diving as Packers.

“(At PennWest Clarion), the school is great and it’s everything I was looking for. Being able to compete at the Division II level is exciting for me,” Norton said. “There is a lot less stress that I have now that I’ve made my verbal commitment. Now I just get to focus on the boring stuff of college, like housing, finances, and finding a roommate instead of wondering if this coach wants me to come. But I will say that it’s a little sad, even though it’s not the last dive or the last meet. But it’s the last of my high school career and I won’t have these teammates anymore.”

Kennedy said she’s enjoyed a stress-free season that saw her set Austin’s two diving records after she made her college commitment in the summer.

FAQs about Austin’s State Qualifiers

1. What events will Alayna Kennedy and Reese Norton compete in at the State Swimming and Diving Meet?

Alayna Kennedy and Reese Norton will be competing in diving events at the State Swimming and Diving Meet.

2. How many times have Alayna Kennedy and Reese Norton competed in the state meets?

Alayna Kennedy and Reese Norton have competed in the last three state meets.

3. What records has Gracie Greenman set for Austin High School?

Gracie Greenman has set records in the 100-yard backstroke and the 200-yard individual medley for Austin High School.

4. What are the seeding positions of Gracie Greenman in the upcoming state meet?

Gracie Greenman is seeded third in the 100-yard backstroke and 16th in the 200-yard individual medley.

5. Where will the Class A diving and swimming preliminaries and finals take place?

The Class A diving preliminaries will take place at noon Thursday, the swimming preliminaries will take place at noon Friday, and the finals will take place at noon Saturday.