Poplar Bluff swim team wins big in SEMO Conference

The Poplar Bluff Mules boys swim team has spent the entire season breaking records, and at their latest swim meet, the outcome was no different.

The Mules dove into the pool at Southeast Missouri State University and walked away with the ultimate prize once again as they were crowned the 2023 SEMO Conference Boys Swimming champions.

While three-peating as SEMO Conference champs, the Mules continued their dominance by breaking four new school records in the pool. Earlier this season, swim and dive coach Kyler Sowell said that most of the team focused on having better times than they did last year.

“This is our third straight win, and each swimmer did a fantastic job,” Sowell said. “Going into the meet, we didn’t know how it would play out against Notre Dame, but each of the boys knew exactly what they needed to do going into the meet, and they got the job done.”

The Mules set their first school record in the 200-medley relay with Carson Todd, Owen McDaniel, Henry Duncan and Cyrus Sagharichi, while Duncan broke the 100-butterfly. Sagharichi broke the 200-freestyle, and Todd, Issac Cato, Duncan and Sagharichi broke the 200-freestyle relay.

Sowell said seniors Todd and Cato did great in their meets. He said Todd kept his times and splits consistent, which they needed, and he knew what he needed to place, and that’s what he did.

“We worked Cato pretty hard today by loading him up at the end of the meet in the 100 backstroke, 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay,” Sowell said. “He did fantastic at all those events by placing where he needed. Going into this season, we didn’t expect Isaac to be as big of a key player as he turned into, but he has superseded all expectations.

“All in all, the boys knew what they needed to do to win, and they did. They worked hard all season and came to win. That’s what they did, and I’m very proud of how we all competed today.”