Kelli McCarthy of Edina is the Star Tribune Metro Girls' Swimmer of the Year

Kelli McCarthy's countless hours in a pool revolve around one word: progression.

The Edina senior capped an illustrious career with three gold medals, giving her eight over the past three seasons, in the Class 2A girls' swimming state meet in November at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. Her accomplishments have earned McCarthy the Star Tribune Metro Girls' Swimmer of the Year.

"I'm happy with the way I, as well as our team, has improved every year," said McCarthy, a future Gopher who has been instrumental in helping the Hornets to back-to-back team championships.

McCarthy won her first individual state title — the 500-yard freestyle — as a sophomore swimming in the outside lane. It marked only the second time in Class 2A that a swimmer was victorious from the outside lane.

"Nobody was watching me,'' McCarthy said. "It turned out to be a pretty big deal."

Two more titles followed in that event. McCarthy won the 200 freestyle in her final state meet last month. She was the runner-up the previous two years.

"That first race is always nerve-racking," McCarthy said. "I had to really focus."

"All the girls shift in a way that leaves Kelli in a lane all by herself," Mace said. "We do this so that Kelli can have the opportunity to practice at a much faster interval than the rest of the team. Nobody else can do the intervals that I give her during the 'Kelli Shift' so she has to swim alone."