Drew plays lead role in Myrtle Beach swim team’s historic season

Kennedy Drew wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of practice.

Even if it meant being committed to two swimming practices a day starting at 6 a.m.

“She’s very consistent in her attendance. I don’t know that she’s missed any,” said Myrtle Beach assistant coach Kirk Gallion, who has worked closely with the sophomore. “… The big thing is just day in and day out coming to work. It’s not flashy. It’s not exciting. It’s not pretty.”

Indeed, Drew practiced before and after school nearly every day, and it paid off with three podium finishes at the Class AAA state meet, including a pair of gold medals as part of the Seahawks’ 200-yard medley and 200-yard freestyle relay teams en route to being named Toast of the Coast Girls Swimmer of the Year.

“Our goal throughout the season was to win 200 freestyle relay and we did,” said Drew, who also placed third individually in the 100-yard freestyle and sixth in the 50-yard freestyle. “We were shooting for the medley relay, too, and we won both this year. It was also the first time I’d been on the podium by myself, so that was really cool, too.”

As a team, the Seahawks finished sixth, their best performance in program history. Drew, Gallion said, played a key role in the team’s overall success.

“We’re very blessed to have a bunch of good people on our team. We have high-character people and she certainly fits in with that,” he said. “… She’s there day in and day out leading by example. Those are things you’ve got to have if you’re going to be successful.”

Drew never shied away from the pressure of being a leader.

“I’ve always kind of been one to step up, but this year I was definitely more into it,” said Drew, who competes for Coastal Aquatic Club year round. “In other years we had older swimmers who had that role and I kind of took over that this year.”

While swimming can often be viewed as an individual sport, Drew is quick to talk about it in terms of team.

“My teammates are always right behind me,” she said. “Olivia [McGonigal], Danielle [Flaherty] and Catherine Miller – that was my relay team. They’re wonderful and they all work very hard. They were the best team I could ask for.”

Said Gallion: “We’re trying to win championships and she’s bought into that.”

Drew said her plans for next year include helping her quartet repeat as state champs in both relays and reaching the podium four times.

And then there is that one individual goal.

“I want to place first in something before I graduate high school,” Drew said.

Gallion wouldn’t be surprised to see that happen.

“When it’s time to deliver, she’s proved she can do that,” he said. “And not everyone can do that.”

This story was originally published January 18, 2016 at 5:20 PM with the headline "Drew plays lead role in Myrtle Beach swim team’s historic season."