By Ken Hansard

Most coaches tend to dote on their players a bit – especially the players who are not only good athletes, but good people, too.  Liberal High basketball coach BJ Goodell absolutely gushes about our Southwest Missouri VYPE girls’ poll winner, senior shooting guard Taylor Swarnes.  “Taylor is a great kid, athlete, and student. She’s a well-rounded athlete who has lettered in all five sports here during each year she has played. Taylor is a competitor in everything she does – including the classroom, where she is top two in her class.  And she is also a great teammate and leader. Our younger kids love playing with her because she makes them better and encourages them.  She and her teammate, Jordan, push each other and push the others – but in a positive, quiet way.”  

Last season, Swarnes averaged 15.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.9 steals, and 1.5 blocks for a Liberal team that finished 25-7, placing fourth at state.  Swarnes was named to the All-Area team, was the WEMO Conference Player of the Year, the District Player of the Year, and was named to the state tournament All-Tournament team.  She was also named Missouri Class 1 All-State. “I am most proud of being recognized as All-State because I put in a ton of work to get to the Final Four, and even though we didn’t take home the championship, I tried my best and left it all on the court, knowing that was my last game with a lot of my best friends.”

When asked about what she is most looking forward to in her final season with the Bulldogs, Swarnes responded, “I look forward to the competition and bettering myself. I love the focus, adrenaline, and the high level of energy that games embody. When our student sections are full, fans are engaged, and coaches are screaming, the energy is amazing, and I love being out there playing in that atmosphere.” 

When asked about her individual goals, Swarnes, like any great athlete, had some personal goals laid out, but kept it more about her team, “Personally, it would be awesome to hit 1500 points and 1000 rebounds to round out my high school career. It would be an honor to be named All-State again this year, and getting back to Final Four again would be a dream come true. My primary goal is to get better every day and give it my very best. Hopefully that means winning games and having fun with my friends – my teammates.”

However, Swarnes’ top goal was the kind that any coach would love to hear.  The type of goal that helps build programs and legacies: “I know I have younger teammates and younger kids in the community who are watching me. I decided years ago, rather than claim ‘seniority’ when I get that chance, I’d rather change that script.  So I did.  The thing I want to establish is that ‘seniority’ means being the first to serve, to encourage others, to lead by example, and to treat others the way we all want to be treated. I want us to win games, but I also want us to build one another up and have each other’s backs.” 

That kind of mentality is why Coach Goodell also had this to say about Swarnes, “What she has accomplished here has been incredible. She was super excited about this opportunity! I think the love she got from family, friends, and our community with their voting made her feel pretty good, but she is also incredibly humble and doesn’t like to talk about herself. I’m just super proud to be her coach!”

Besides the accolades she has racked up in basketball, Taylor has been honored as All-Conference, All-Region, All-State, and Academic All-State in cross country, making the state meet in each of her four seasons.  In volleyball, she has been recognized as All-District and Academic All-State.  In track last spring, she and her teammates won state championships in both the 4×400 and 4×800.  She also placed eighth at state in the 400 and 4×100. And in softball, she has been named All-District, All-Region, and Academic All-State.

Taylor is also a star in the classroom.  She carries an incredible 4.3 G.P.A.  She has been her class Vice President all four years.  She is a member of the prestigious National Honors Society.  All of that, and she still finds time to act as a volunteer coach for a Liberal recreational league 

After high school, Taylor would love to play basketball collegiately.  She is currently considering a sports-related field like sports management, athletic training, or physical therapy.