Meet the Commercial Appeal all-metro girls swimming team
Meet the semifinalists for The Commercial Appeal's girls' swimmer of the year.
The winner will be announced the inaugural Commercial Appeal Sports Awards at the Opheum on June 9.
The semifinalists and their two guests are invited to attend the ESPY-type awards show for free. Tickets are on sale for the event are also available for $31.50 at sportsawards.commercialappeal.com.
More than 100 Memphis-area athletes and coaches will be honored at the event, which will also feature guest speaker Archie Manning.
FEMALE SWIMMER OF THE YEAR SEMIFINALISTS
Meredith Geyer, Germantown, senior: A three-time all-metro performer, Geyer was a double-winner at the Shelby County meet, winning the 200 freestyle (1:53.69) and the 500 freestyle (5.05.47). At state, she finished eighth in the 200 and ninth in the 500 to cap an excellent career.
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Alyssa Hale, Harding, senior: Hale, who is a multi-time all-metro honoree, wrapped up her high school career with a good showing at state. She finished seventh in the 100 butterfly and eighth in the 100 breastroke.
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Abbie Kilpatrick, DeSoto Central, freshman: Kilpatrick placed third in the 200-individual medley (2:17.40) and fifth in the 100 breastroke (1:12.22) while helping the Jaguars’ 400 relay team to a fifth place finish at the Mississippi Class 2 state meet.
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Lauren Mabie, St. Mary’s, junior: Mabie captured two championships at the Shelby County meet, winning the 100 breastroke and the 200 individual medley. She was also excellent at the state meet in Knoxville, finishing runner-up in both of those races.
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Audrey McKinnon, White Station, sophomore: McKinnon landed a spot on the all-metro team as a freshman and followed that up with a strong performance in 2017. She earned a pair of fourth-places at state, finishing the 100 breastoke in 1:04.10 and the 200 individual medley in 2:05.90.
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Erin Milligan, Collierville, freshman: Milligan was very impressive at the state meet in Knoxville, claiming third in the 100-freestyle (51.26) and sixth in the 200-individual medley (2:06.29).
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Kiara Norris, St. Mary’s, junior: The talented Norris doubled at the Shelby County meet, winning the 100 butterfly and the 100 individual medley. She then went on to grab a runner-up state finish in the 100 butterfly and help the Turkeys’ 200 IM relay team claim third.
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Sarah Thompson, St. George’s, senior: Thompson, last year’s Commercial Appeal swimmer of the year, was the lone girl from Shelby County to win a state championship in 2017. She won the 50 freestyle for the second straight season, finishing in a school-record time of 23.01, and also earned a second-place in the 100 backstroke.
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ALL-METRO TEAM
Abbey Autrey, St. Mary's; Gabby Acker, St. George's; Abby Bowers, Collierville; Mariah Clemons, St. Benedict; Mason Davis, St. Mary's; Claire Epperson, St. George's; Julia Fogel, St. George's; Mary Hannah Gaushell, MHEA; Meredith Geyer, Germantown; Mary Miller Goldberg, St. George's; Alyssa Hale, Harding; Megan Horning, Lausanne; Eva Kerr, Houston; Abbie Kilpatrick, DeSoto Central; Rachel Kriger, ECS; Lauren Mabie, St. Mary's; Audrey McKinnon, White Station; Erin Milligan, Collierville; Kiara Norris, St. Mary's; Lucy Patterson, White Station; Maggie Stevens, Tipton-Rosemark; Sarah Thompson, St. George's; Rachel Winningham, DeSoto Central; Madison Wolfanger, St. Benedict
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COACH OF THE YEAR
Kim MacQueen, St. Mary’s: MacQueen is honored for the second year in a row after coaching five winners at the Shelby County meet before guiding the Turkeys to a fourth-place finish at state.
Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.