Kaylee Larson, a senior at Hickman High School in Missouri, has verbally committed to swim for the Missouri State University Bears.
“I have really enjoyed getting to know Coach Dave Collins over the past few months, and I’m confident that he will help me reach my goals and get me to the next level in my swimming career,” Larson said of her future coach at Missouri State. “After meeting the team, I felt that it was a great fit for me, and I’m looking forward to being a part of a developing program and being a contributor to the future success of an already great team.”
Currently, Larson swims for the Columbia Swim Club in Columbia, Missouri. She began swimming competitively when she was nine years old, and growing up, was a part of a swimming family, with most of her five siblings also involved in the sport. Larson is now looking forward to joining her new swimming family, the Missouri State team, which includes one of Larson’s club teammates and close friends, freshman Hanna Flanagan.
Larson specializes in the breaststroke events. As a freshman, she was a 1:06 in the 100 breaststroke, and has dropped more than a second each year since to reach her current time of 1:03.56. As a high school junior, she placed second in the 100 breaststroke and fourth in the 200 breaststroke at the Central Section Region 8 Championships, and her current times will now be competitive right away when she joins the Bears.
Some of Larson’s best yards times include:
100 Breaststroke – 1:03.56
200 Breaststroke – 2:20.73
100 Butterfly – 58.81
200 IM – 2:09.84
Last season, Missouri State standout Renata Sander achieved the team’s fastest 100 breaststroke time of 1:01.45, winning the event at the MVC Championships. The second and third fastest times belonged to Lauren Pavel (1:03.58) and Anna Bump (1:03.97), respectively. Sander claimed the top time in the 200 breaststroke as well, with a 2:15.01. Sander’s teammates were not far behind with Pavel in 2:18.38 and senior Alyssa Powers in 2:18.79.
However, Sander graduated at the end of last year and has left some big shoes to fill in the breaststroke events. This season, sophomores Bump and Pavel will likely battle it out for the team’s fastest times in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. Next year, Larson will join this mix and probably contend for coveted breaststroke relay spots right away.
Great job Dave!