Gysegem ends with no regrets

February 26, 2011 at 12:09a.m.

canton

Yesterday, Lakeview senior Emilee Gysegem was a 14-year-old freshman competing in her first state swimming meet.

Or, at least, it felt like yesterday.

“I’m trying not to cry,” Gysegem said at Friday’s Division II state meet at C.T. Branin Natatorium. “It’s weird that this is over. I’ll probably never swim in this pool again.”

Gysegem finished fifth in the 200-yard individual medley and seventh in the 100 backstroke, making the medal stand for the seventh and eighth times of her career.

She and McDonald senior Katie Joseph have finished in the top eight in their two events — earning first team All-Ohio — all four years. Maplewood senior Jordan Moxley finished in the top eight in two events each of the past three years after swimming in the consolation finals in two events as a freshman.

The three trained together throughout high school — Gysegem has trained with Moxley since she was 6 — with Joseph (100 free) and Moxley (50 free) capping their careers with state titles.

“I couldn’t be prouder of them than I am right now,” Gysegem said. “Honestly, I’m more happy for them than they probably are for themselves.

“It’s cool to say your two best friends are state champions.”

Their coach, Frank Supancic, called them a “special group.”

“You don’t get a run like that with one girl, let alone three,” he said. “They’ll always be a part of this memory.”

Gysegem never finished first or second at the state meet, but she also never finished eighth.

“I’ll take it,” she said. “I’m happy with that.”