Parkway South dethrones Lafayette as Suburban West Conference swim champs

All things come to an end and so did Lafayette’s 27-year winning streak in the Suburban West Conference girls swimming meet.

Parkway South won the annual meet at Lindbergh with 527 points. The other team scores were: Lafayette (446.5), Marquette (421.5), Eureka (218), Lindbergh (213), Oakville (139), and Mehlville 72.

Lafayette Lancers coach Todd Gabel was philosophical about the outcome. He went into the meet knowing Parkway South was not only talented but deep across the events.

“It wasn’t meant to be,” Gabel said. “South was just too deep for us. I thought we swam really well. We added more girls going to state and that’s what it’s all about.

“The girls were disappointed about not winning and the streak ending but at the same time, we’re looking forward to swimming well at state.”

Parkway South Patriots coach Sara Gerth had “great expectations” going into the conference meet. She knew what her girls were capable of doing in the water.

“We’ve had a great season and I knew we could win conference. But I also knew Lafayette was not going to let us take it easily, and that Marquette was also hoping to make a run at it,” Gerth said. “We did know about their (Lancers) long tradition of winning. It is an honor and huge accomplishment to break Lafayette’s streak.

“After beating them at the Marquette Relays, in the dual meet and at the Parkway South Invitational, we knew we had a shot. They outswam us in Springfield, and they are just a tough team. The girls felt confident they could beat them but knew it wouldn’t be easy.”

Samm Crocker won the 50 freestyle in 24.56 seconds. She also won the 100 free in 53.80. The Patriots also captured the 200 free relay in 1:41.95 and the 400 free relay in 3:41.33.

Crocker’s time in the 50 free is close to the school record time of 24.24 that is held by Carina Pautz. Crocker also set a personal best in the 100.

“Samm’s 100 time was awesome. She totally dominated the event and was her best time by quite a bit,” Gerth said. “The school record is a 50 seconds held by Liz Smith. So she’s not too close yet, but I’m confident she’ll get closer each year.”

Girls on the winning 200 free relay were junior Hannah Schulte, freshman Lauren Hetzler, senior Alissa Welker and Crocker. Girls on the 400 free relay was freshman Kirstie Crook, senior Shannon Rempe, Welker and Crocker.

“They all swam really well,” Gerth said about the 200 relay team. “Their time put us in sixth in the state going into the state meet. We’ve got room for improvement. The 400 relay girls swam really well. Their time moved us into fourth in the state with room for improvement.”

Also swimming well for Parkway South was senior Mary McCain in 200 IM, freshman Jenna Wilkes in the 500 free and 100 fly, senior Melanie Wilkes in the 100 back, junior Taylor Regelsperger in the 100 breast, and freshman Kirstie Crook in the 200 free.

“Winning the conference title is a huge accomplishment for us,” Gerth said. “It’s great for the program because it makes it clear to anyone coming out for the team that they will be expected to perform which will make us stronger. It also shows the girls that their hard work and dedication does pay off. Lastly, it demonstrates that anything is possible if there is a common goal and everyone’s on board with and works toward accomplishing it.”

Lafayette’s sophomore Mae Riordan won the 200 free in 1:55.71 and the 500 free in 5:06.86. The 200 free prelim time of 1:55.67 was a personal best for Riordan and her 500 prelim time of 5:05.65 was a pool record, breaking the 2010 record of Ladue’s Maddie Wall.

“She had personal bests in both events,” Gabel said. “I thought she swam very well in the 200 free. I do think she can go faster at state. Her time in the 500 was good, too. We were looking at times in the conference and what we want to do at state.”

Freshman Claire Kirchhoefer won the 200 IM in 2:11.96. She also won the 100 breast.

“It was a personal best for her,” Gabel said. “For a freshman, she’s handling it all really well. She steps up in the big meets like she’s done all this before. She’s doing well for us.”

New state cuts were gained by Lafayette sophomore Lauren Hansen in the 200 Free (1:59.31) and the 100 back (1:02.88).

Several Lancers scored in the top three including, junior Laura Paskoff in the 50 and 100 free (both personal best times), senior Kelsey Kirchhoefer in the 100 Fly and 200 IM (second in the fly and third in the IM), and junior diver Kelly Shaw placed second overall.

Marquette coach Joe Schoedel said he was pleased with how his Mustangs performed in the conference meet.

“We were hoping for a second place finish, but our individual successes far overshadowed our team success,” Schoedel said. “I’m ecstatic about how well the girls swam. Out of the 32 individual swims, we had 30 personal bests. That’s an extraordinary success rate and it doesn’t get much better than that.”

Marquette won 200 Medley in 1:52.59. Relay members were sophomore Abby Watson, freshman Ashley Daniels, sophomore Jessi Goring, and junior Natasha Porporis.

“Winning by only 6 one-hundredths of a second made it the most exciting race of the evening,” Schoedel said. “They were only six-tenths of a second off the school record which was set last year. Two of the members from that record setting relay team graduated, so we didn’t think we’d be anywhere close. The best part is none of the girls on this relay are seniors.”

Watson won 100 back in 59.76. Schoedel said that was a great swim considering how the race began.

“She actually slipped on her start, so she has a lot of room to improve,” Schoedel said. “I’m impressed she still won, which means she is swimming strong, and will be a force this weekend at state.”

Schoedel pointed out other Marquette swimmers did well, too.

Natasha Porporis took second in the 200 IM with a personal best time of 2:12.55. Daniels took second in the 100 breast with a personal best time of 1:10.54. Freshman Raquel Porporis took second in the 500 free with a personal best time of 5:13.58.

In addition, senior Mattie Eversole, junior Sarah Barger, and sophomore Claire Krofft all got first time state cuts.

“Competing well at conference means momentum going into the state meet,” Schoedel said. “We’re peaking at the right time of the year.”