Below are profiles of the Panthers six state qualifiers.
Age: 17
Grade: Senior
Qualified in: 100-yard freestyle (58.03), 50-yard freestyle (25.88), 200-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard freestyle relay.
Race Preparation: “I smack my arms and legs and jump up and down. It makes my nerves run down and then I’m ready to blast.”
How long have you been swimming: Since I was 6 years old
Favorite musician: Kenny Chesney
Favorite book: The Host
Favorite movie: The Shining
Favorite TV show: Lost
Favorite athlete: Amanda Beard
Dream job: “I want to be a whale trainer at Sea World”
Influential people: My mom
Favorite spots: The Rec Center and my house.
Samantha Bagge
Age: 16
Grade: Sophomore
What did you qualify in: 50-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay.
Race preparation: “I hang out with my friends and they help me out.”
How long have you been swimming: Since I was 7 years old
Favorite musician: The Script
Favorite book: Maze Runner
Favorite movie: Sixteen Candles
Favorite TV show: Criminal Minds
Favorite team: Phoenix Coyotes (hockey)
Favorite athlete: Rebecca Soni
Dream job: Medical research
Influential people: My family
Favorite spots: Scuba diving in the ocean.
Kayla Hageman
Age: 16
Grade: Junior
What did you qualify in: 200-yard freestyle relay (1:49.71)
Race Preparation: “I eat goldfish crackers.”
How long have you been swimming: Since my freshman year.
Favorite musician: Taylor Swift
Favorite book: Island of the Blue Dolphins
Favorite movie: Pearl Harbor
Favorite TV show: Pretty Little Liars
Favorite team: The Patriots
Favorite athlete: Tom Brady
Dream job: Sports therapist
Influential people: My parents and my brother
Historical dining partner: Jesus
Favorite spots: The lake
Bailey Duran
Age: 16
Grade: Sophomore
What did you qualify in: 200 freestyle relay (1:49.71)
Race preparation: “I get pumped up by stretching and listening to music. I always write Philippians 4:13 on my arm to remind myself that I can do all things through Christ, and I pray that I swim to the best of my ability and that I’ll glorify God through it all.”
Favorite musician: Daughtry
Favorite book: The Hunger Games
Favorite movie: Heartland
Favorite team: Patriots
Favorite athlete: Rebecca Soni and Katie Ledecky
Dream job: Labor and delivery nurse
Influential people: First and foremost, my Lord and Savior, my dad and mom, my sisters, Coach Ian, Alisha Liska and Teegan HIte.
Historical dining partner: Florence Nightingale, because she paved the way for nursing.
Favorite spots: Telluride, because we always go there as a family and have a blast together. And probably our living room because that’s where I read and relax and we have a lot of fun family time there.
Caisey Duran
Age: 15
Grade: Freshman
What did you qualify in: 400-yard freestyle relay (4:03.80) and 100-yard backstroke (1:06.17)
Race preparation: “I always visualize my swims, listen to pump-up music, and try to get my muscles loose. Right before every race I always pray that I’ll have strength through the race and swim to the best of my ability.”
How long have you been swimming: Three years.
Favorite musician: Keith Urban
Favorite book: The Hunger Games
Favorite movie: The Ultimate Gift
Favorite TV show: Heartland
Favorite team: The Patriots
Favorite athlete: Missy Franklin
Dream job: Dental hygienist
Influential people: “God definitely first of all, my parents, coach Ian, Monica Patrick, and my sister Bailey, she got me into swimming and pushes me every day.”
Historical dining partner: Nathan Hale
Favorite spots: I absolutely love Telluride and “Sunset Point” in my family’s canyon.
Elana Cope
Age: 17
Grade: Senior
What did you Qualify In: 400-yard freestyle relay (4:03.80)
Race Preparation: “I usually just try to get good sleep and eat well and think about my race and practice hard.”
How Long Have you been swimming: Since I was 6 years old
Favorite Musician: The Cat Empire
Favorite Book: The Old Man and the Sea
Favorite Movie: Amélie
Favorite TV Show: South Park
Favorite Team: Seahawks
Favorite Athlete: Missy Franklin
Dream Job: A scientist or an artist
Influential people: My friends, family, coaches and teachers.
Historical Dining Partner: Leonardo da Vinci
Favorite Spots: Hesperus Mountain and Point Lookout
