Holly Ratcliff Heads to State
Kristina Johnson
Hudson High School’s very own, senior Holly Ratcliff, will be headed to state on February 19 and 20th after placing 1st in both the 200-meter freestyle and the 100-meter backstroke in the Region IV-AAAAA competition. The Regional meet was held February 4-6th in Lewisville. Ratcliff swam the 200-meter freestyle in 1:56:39 and the 100-meter backstroke in 59:47. She was also a participant in the 200-meter medley, which placed second, and the 400-meter freestyle, which placed fourth.
Ratcliff has been to state every year since the creation of the swim team in 2014. “In previous years,” Ratcliff says, “I have gotten some personal bests, raced well, and made a lot of friends.” This year, she says, “My goals for state are to race the fastest I ever have setting new personal records, to have fun at my last high school meet with my friends from my team and other teams, and to be top eight and possibly medal.”
To prepare for her final showing, Ratcliff has spent many hours rigorously training and conditioning, along with maintaining a healthy diet. Ratcliff says, “[The team has] been preparing for state all season; we practice hard all year long and this is when it finally pays off!” She also adds, “The State meet is really intense; the other swimmers there and I put in many hours a week for this sport we love, and the times and competition there shows that.”
Although Ratcliff will be the only Hudson swimmer competing at the State meet, she attributes much of her success to the help of her teammates and Coach Rigby. “I just have an amazing team and an incredible coach, and I have been so blessed to get to spend the past few years with them,” Racliff says.
The State meet will be held in Austin at the University of Texas Natatorium. Come support Holly Ratcliff as she gives it her all and strives to meet her goals! Good luck, Holly!!
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