Metzger ends career with another state medal

Karissa Metzger finished fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke at the state swim championships in St. Peters, the best-ever finish for a Republic swimmer in state competition. She also finished ninth in the 200-yard individual medley. In both events, she swam a personal-best time and broke school records.

“I’m proud but also a little disappointed,” Metzger said. “I’m happy with my swims. My [individual medley] was really good and I got a new school record, and I’m proud of that. In the breaststroke, I was just so focused on it being my last high school swim, I think it threw off my stroke.”

Metzger had been eyeing a gold medal in that event. She was seeded fifth when the meet began, and her performance in the preliminary heat bumped her up to the third seed in the finals. But her time in the finals was a little slower, dropping her to fourth overall. It’s still the highest finish in any event for a Republic swimmer.

In the IM, Metzger was seeded 13th, but finished ninth. Her time in the finals was actually the seventh-best of the weekend, but because she had not finished in the top eight in the prelims, a ninth-place finish was the best she could do, despite the faster time.

Metzger finishes her career as the most successful swimmer in Republic’s brief program history. She has two state medals and competed in four individual events at state over the past two seasons, both program-best marks. But she hopes her legacy for the swim the program is more about her contributions out of the water.

“I just think I left a very positive and encouraging atmosphere,” Metzger said. “The girls all came up to me at the banquet and were thanking me for adopting them into my family. I kept encouraging them to try their best, even when they were tired or they didn’t feel good. I think it made the season better for them.”