Diving in Head First: D’Iberville Girls Swim Team Makes Long Awaited Return to State

A total of 45 teams are competing in tomorrow’s MHSAA State Swimming Championship at the Tupelo Aquatic Center. Among them is D’Iberville High School, competing in the Class II sector.
For the first time in six years, the D’Iberville swim team is being represented by the ladies.
Lindsey Kuykendall went to South State last year as just a seventh grader. Meanwhile, Madison Whitten is the team’s lone senior, but the former volleyball player is actually the least experienced swimmer in the water. “Like this was literally, I almost didn’t make tryouts and here I am at State now,” said Whitten.
It seems almost fitting then that their assistant coach Bryan Estep was high and dry on the starting block when he took over about five years ago. “All I did was read books and study video and learn everything I possibly could to help these kids in everything to get better because I didn’t know anything. They needed a coach. Nobody volunteered and I said we need a coach, I’ll do it.”
That pretty much embodies the dive-in and swim mentality of the five Lady Warriors, looking to not only make an unlikely splash in the 200 medley and freestyle relays, but also on a program where the girls once again rule the pool.
“To see these girls come together and work as hard as they’ve worked and to make State when we have not this entire time had a girls team that made State. It is an awesome experience. They are so proud. I mean, they’re so proud to represent their school and to know we did it. It took a while, but we did it,” said Estep.