LIBERTY – At the helm of the Liberty girls swim team for his 21st season, coach Christopher Murphy is looking to build on the Blue Jays’ third-place conference standings from last year.

SMITHVILLE — With a larger team of newcomers after losing five seniors to graduation last season, Smithville girls swim coach Kyle Martin is looking to his team’s youth as the Warriors begin the winter 2021-22 season against Platte County Tuesday, Nov. 30.

Editor’s Note: The Courier-Tribune’s Boys and Girls Athletes of the Year for Liberty, Liberty North, Kearney and Smithville were selected by sports writer Mac Moore based on his opinions from covering the teams and using insights provided by area coaches when available.

Athlete of the Year:

KEARNEY — Kearney senior Andi Kreiling became the second Bulldog to win a state championship in girls swimming with her first-place finish in 100-yard freestyle on Saturday, Feb. 20 at City of St. Peters Rec-Plex.

LIBERTY — Liberty North girls swimming and diving team finished in the top 10 at state for the third consecutive season.

KEARNEY — Kearney girls swimming finished in second place at the Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference Blue Division meet Tuesday, Feb. 9, at Gladstone Community Center in Gladstone.

LIBERTY — Both Liberty North and Liberty girls swim teams have already made waves during their first year in the biggest enrollment division of the Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference.

LIBERTY — Liberty North girls swimming finished up its regular-season schedule by taking first in a meet Wednesday, Jan. 27 at Henley Aquatic Center in Independence.

KEARNEY — The Kearney girls swim team finished off its regular season meet schedule with a first-place finish at the Pirate Invitational Saturday, Jan. 23 at Belton High School.

LIBERTY — Liberty North junior Ainsley Dillon and her relay teammates led the Eagles girls swimming team to a second-place finish at the KC Classic on Saturday, Jan. 16 at Gladstone Community Center.

KEARNEY — The Kearney girls swimming team won six events and landed in the top three of four more during the Ray-Pec Tri-meet Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Raymore-Peculiar High School. The Bulldogs finished second with 550 points, landing behind the host team’s 765 points and ahead of Smithville’s 159.

LIBERTY — Liberty North girls swimming defeated Liberty in a dual Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Liberty Community Center.

COLUMBIA — Senior Kate Huyser remembers being so close last year to achieving her dream of winning a medal at the state swimming tournament.

LIBERTY — The difference between winning and losing in competitive swimming is measured by fractions of a second.

Kearney and Smithville swimming and diving teams sent 12 competitors to the Missouri State High School Activities Association State Championships in St. Peters on Friday, Feb. 21 to Saturday, Feb. 22.

Kearney girls swimming and diving team finished in second place at the Suburban Blue Conference Championship for the second straight season.