![Swim coach Robert Peglar talks with Will Plassmeyer (12) after his race at the Ladue Invitational. The boys swim and dive team placed second at the Ladue Invite Sept. 13. “[We had a] really good regular season and a good blend of upper and lower classmen on the team,” Peglar said.](https://laduetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Ladue-Invite-1200x835.jpg)
Q: Can you give an overview about the swim team’s performance in the regular season?
A: We had a very good regular season. We are in the Suburban Red League, and it turns out that we won that league. We were second at the Ladue Invitational, and then we won our conference meet, which was wonderful.
Q: How is the swim team ranked in the postseason?
A: Postseason is a little different because you qualify for the state meet based on your time in a given event, and then the state will look at the list of swimmers. We’re positioned pretty well. We have all three relays [qualified for] state. Two others are in the top eight, at least for right now. We also have nine individuals entered in various events, seven swimming and two diving.
Q: How is this swim team training and preparing for state?
A: For state in particular, we go through a process known as tapering. I have an eight day taper plan, and I’ve used it for several years now. It works pretty well. They start out [with] lots of yards, pretty intense practices, and then slowly over the eight days, the yardage decreases. By the end, they’re swimming very few yards, but at race quality. This is what prepares them for racing at state.
Q: What are your goals for the state team this year?
A: We would love to be in the top 10. We were down last year [and] scored 12 points. I am hopeful we can score 80 points this year, maybe as many as 100. You never know with the state meet. Things happen. Relays get disqualified. So the points can vary pretty wildly, but we have the potential to score at least 80. I’m pretty optimistic that we can do quite well at state this year.
Q: Is there any specific event that you’re looking forward to at state?
A: I would say a specific event is our two relays: the 200 medley relay and then the 400 freestyle relay. The medley is the very first event of the meet and the free relay is the very last event of the meet. I think we can place in the top eight in both of those, which is great. That shows our team depth and relays count for double points.
![Sophomore Kevin Wu prepares for a backstroke start. The boys swim and dive team competed against Parkway Central and De Smet Oct. 14. “My favorite stroke is backstroke,” Wu said. “My favorite event is 100 back because it's different [than the other events]. It's the only event on your back and you get to breathe anytime you want.”](https://laduetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Boys-swim.jpg)
