Blue Springs South Female Athlete of the Year - Erin Casper

Heading into her senior year, Erin Casper had two major goals.
Make the state finals in the 100-yard butterfly, and swim the event in less than a minute.
Done and done.
Casper broke one minute in the prelims at the state meet, qualifying herself for the finals – making her the first all-state girls swimmer at Blue Springs South since former state champion Angela Goodson, who still holds the state record in the 100 butterfly.
“That was the best feeling,” Casper said. “It was just an extreme state of accomplishment. I had been close and I finally reached my ultimate goal and was able to swim in the finals.”
Casper said it means a lot to be mentioned with Goodson.
“I swam with Angela on my year-round team,” she said. “It was a thrill to be able to know her. And it’s an honor to say I’ve accomplished (similar kinds) of things in the pool.”
With it being her senior year, and knowing she wasn’t planning on swimming in college, Casper said she knew it was now or never.
“This year especially I put pressure on myself,” she said. “I did all four years, but I finally broke a minute. I really put a lot of pressure on myself this year.
“When I looked up at the clock and saw 59.52 (seconds in prelims) – something I’ve always wanted – it was just such a feeling of accomplishment. Everything came together. It was a great experience.”
Casper is heading to the University of Missouri to study nursing.