Parkway West girls will have stern test defending conference swim crown

Parkway West is out to defend its Suburban South Conference swimming championship.

The finals of the meet will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 9) at Summit.

“Summit has a great pool and we have swam well there in the past,” Parkway West coach Allison Zeller said. “It is a very nice facility that will accommodate the big crowd.”

Parkway West used the meet last year as a springboard to the state meet, which the Longhorns won in Zeller’s first year as the head coach.

Retaining the conference championship is important, Zeller said.

“It would be amazing to be able to defend the crown,” Zeller said. “It is going to be a tough meet though there is a lot of good competition.”

With a senior-laden squad, Zeller said the conference meet takes on another meaning for most of the Longhorns.

“This will be the last meet for many of the girls on the team,” Zeller said. “They have been working all season for the opportunity to taper and swim fast in their championship meet.”

Zeller said she has not emphasized the meet to the girls. They know what is at stake.

“I am not a huge motivational speaker,” Zeller said. “They are prepared to swim well and will show that Thursday.”

The conference meet is wide open, Zeller said. There are several squads that will have a chance to topple the Longhorns from there perch on top of the field.

“This year, we are not the top team going into it,” Zeller said. “The girls will have to work hard but I have faith that they will swim their best and do really well.”

Zeller said she believes “Parkway North will be a tough team to beat.  They have some really great swimmers and their coaches will have them prepared to swim fast.”

Sophomore diver Francesca Giganti is looking to do well at the conference meet. However, Zeller said she will have to be at her best because the competition in diving is keen.

“She will have some tough competition with Natalie Gray at North,” Zeller said about the defending conference champion who finished second in state last year.

Senior Kate Gately, the defending 100 free state champ, also figures to be in a tussle to retain her championship. Parkway North’s Heather Lundstrom will provide a quality opponent for Gately.

“Kate will have great competition as well but always performs well,” Zeller said.

Junior Ashley Robinson competes in the 100 back but Parkway North’s Taylor Voelker is among the area’s leaders in the event.

“Ashley should also have a great meet,” Zeller said.

Regardless of the outcome, Zeller wants her to girls to enjoy the conference meet and swim to the best of their ability. What’s next is what really is important – defending the state championship.

The state meet is set for Feb. 17-18 at the Rec-Plex in St. Peters.

Zeller is hoping some more Longhorns will qualify for state at the conference meet.

“The girls who have made state just started tapering but will be rested and prepared to swim fast at conference,” Zeller said. “I am hopeful that we will have a few more state qualifiers during the conference meet.”