Olathe East returns strong core after 2nd straight runner-up finish at state

David Youker does not want his team to fixate on the singular goal of winning a state championship.

"I try to downplay it," Youker said. "Ultimately, we really can't control what other teams have, what they have coming in or going out."

As the head coach for Olathe East swimming and diving, it will not be easy to keep his swimmers' mindss off the dream of winning state.

The Hawks have finished runner-up in the Class 6A boys swimming state championship each of the last two seasons. Both years the Hawks landed one spot behind Blue Valley West, which has won three straight state titles.

Olathe East couldn't have had a more dramatic finish than in 2020 when it finished a single point behind the Jaguars for the top spot. Last year, West widened the margin to 79 points, but the Hawks hope a strong crew of returners will allow them to challenge the defending champs once again.

The team returns three state champions in Charlie Matthews, Micah Leslie and Keaton Kristoff.

Leslie and Kristoff took gold as individuals and in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Leslie won the 100-yard butterfly while also taking runner-up in the 50-yard freestyle. Keaton won the 500-yard freestyle and added a third-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle.

Youker said he did not want to single out any particular swimmer, but noted that Leslie is a teammate who is very aware of how his teammates are handling things in and out of the pool. He sees Kristoff, who is an Eagle Scout, as another high character student-athlete that has been a leader for this team.

Matthews rounds out the individual state champs for the Hawks, winning the 1-meter diving event last year with a 446.55 score, five higher than runner-up Spencer Eyen of Blue Valley North. Olathe East senior Carson Kinsch took third in that event with 438.40.

Youker said Matthews and Kinsch pushed each other in practice last season, often taking turns on being the victor and drawing an even split between the two competitors. He hopes that their friendly rivalry will continue to help both athletes bring the best out of each other this season.

Even with those guys and a bunch of other swimmers with state experience returning this season, Youker knows that Blue Valley West remains the benchmark until somebody can actually knock the Jaguars off. He also knows his team will not have an easy time staying ahead of teams like Shawnee Mission East, Wichita East, Blue Valley North and a slew of other contenders.

"I'll tell you, I have no idea what those guys picked up over the offseason," Youker said. "So we'll just kind of wait and see how things unfold."

Youker said it might take awhile to see his team at full strength. Olathe East will compete in three meets during the month of December, but expect to have multiple swimmers miss at least one meet for other commitments such as debate or an upcoming school play.

The Hawks will have to wait until January to really see where they measure up against the top competition, but Youker looks forward to the opportunities his swimmers will have before then.

"It gives me a reason to try different lineups," Youker said. "It also kind of rewards those kids that maybe will get to swim on a fast relay or two, but probably or may not be on those relays at the end of the year."

Youker thinks it would be a nice validation if his team could bring home that top trophy for the first time since capturing the 2009 state title when all classes competed together in one state meet. But at the same time, he wants to continue shaping this team with goals that remain separate from winning a state title.

"I want them to become a team that appreciates working hard, appreciates one another as teammates and are willing to try and be a part of something larger than themselves," Youker said.

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