Dirkzwager loses senior season, but leaves Wichita East as school鈥檚 best-ever girls swimmer聽
WICHITA, Kan. (BVM) 鈥� Astrid Dirkzwager was already the most accomplished girls swimmer in the history of Wichita East, but that doesn鈥檛 mean the Georgia Tech-bound All-American was ready to be finished with her decorated high school career.聽
Dirkzwager lost her senior season and the opportunity to achieve even more, both individually, and with her teammates when the Kansas State High School Activities Association canceled spring sports for 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.聽
鈥淲e had big plans and big goals for this season,鈥� Dirkzwager said, 鈥渟o it was kind of disappointing not being able to have that chance to prove ourselves.鈥澛�
Considering her accolades and large collection of gold medals, it wouldn鈥檛 seem Dirkzwager had much more to prove at the high school level. She鈥檚 a five-time individual state champion who鈥檚 claimed first place in the 100-yard backstroke the past three years and also earned titles in the 200 freestyle as a freshman and the 100 freestyle as a junior. She鈥檚 twice raced to All-American times in the backstroke and owns the school-record time in that event as well as the 200 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 500 freestyle and 50 freestyle.
She鈥檚 also been a part of five gold-medal winning relays, including the 200 freestyle relay team which owns the state record. And for Dirkzwager, the most satisfying achievements have come when her teammates are involved.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 better celebrating as a team than individually,鈥� Dirkzwager said. 鈥淚 get more excited for my teammates and my sister (sophomore Ariana Dirkzwager) and their races and seeing them cut time more than I do my own sometimes.鈥澛�
The Blue Aces claimed the Class 6A team state title in Dirkzwager鈥檚 freshmen and sophomore seasons and were determined to make a strong run at a third championship after taking third place at state a year ago. The team was also hoping to break their own 200 relay record and earn All-American status in the event. It would鈥檝e been the first relay team to do so in the 22-year tenure of head coach Joe Hutchinson.聽
鈥淲e were really excited about that,鈥� Hutchinson said, 鈥渁nd Astrid being the leader of that foursome was just extremely pumped about that relay.鈥澛�
Dirkzwager has been a leader ever since her freshman year, which is something Hutchinson believes 鈥� along with her remarkable talent 鈥� has set her apart from many of her peers. Once she made a name for herself, she became the focal point of East鈥檚 team yet she took the pressure in stride.聽
鈥淭hat鈥檚 something that athletes who are in tune with their surroundings can feel and I know she felt that,鈥� Hutchinson said. 鈥淪he was able to handle that pressure with such grace and such calm. When you watch her in a meet, it looks like she鈥檚 having fun, but you know deep down she鈥檚 putting so much pressure on herself and she鈥檚 carrying the weight of her team.鈥澛�
More impressive to Hutchinson, Dirkzwager was carrying that weight and dominating her opponents in the pool while also excelling in the classroom as part of a rigorous International Baccalaureate program.聽
鈥淭hat really says a lot about her dedication that she was able to balance everything so well to do as well in both the academic and athletic realm,鈥� Hutchinson said.聽
Dirkzwager plans to do the same at Georgia Tech. She鈥檒l study industrial engineering and hopes to compete at a high level on the Division I stage for the Yellow Jackets.聽
鈥淚 want to make an NCAA qualifying time and I鈥檓 just hoping in college I鈥檓 able to improve a lot,鈥� she said.聽
Despite the fact that Dirkzwager lost her final season of high school, her coach believes she鈥檒l be even better for it when it鈥檚 time to dive back in the pool and face college competition.聽
鈥淚 think of anything she鈥檚 going to be even more hungry to succeed because this opportunity was missed,鈥� Hutchinson said. 鈥淪he was on the upswing because she was feeling so much better in the water, her training was really resonating with her and she was more positive and so when she鈥檚 able to get back in the water, I think she鈥檚 going to be a ball of fire. … I really think she鈥檚 going to be extremely successful in college.鈥澛�
