In the pool

Morgan Fraser, seen here practicing her breaststroke, has become one of the best swimmers in the area. Fraser's top events are the short distance sprints of freestyle, breaststroke and intermediate medley. (David Jenkins, Staff)

SIKESTON-- Sikeston resident Morgan Fraser has been making waves for some time now, literally.

Fraser, 16, has been swimming competitively almost all of her life and has become one of the most highly-touted swimmers in southeast Missouri in recent years.

Fraser has been competing with the Gator Swim Team of Cape Girardeau for the last seven years, as well as on-and-off stints with the Sikeston Sharks for the last nine years.

Gator Swimming is affiliated with USA Swimming and is known throughout the region as the highest level of junior swimming. It is comprised of 70-plus young athletes who look to compete in national and international events, while vying to be noticed by college recruiters.

"Our program is geared toward preparing kids for the Junior Olympics, College, Senior Nationals, and Olympic Trials," Gator's head coach Steve Franklin said. "We gear toward the high end."

The Gators travel all over the middle part of the country throughout the year, competing against those area's best.

For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.