Area girls ready to compete in state swimming and diving championships

It’s safe to say Parkway West girls swimming coach Allison Zeller has fond memories of the state meet.

Last year, in her first season with the Longhorns, Zeller directed the squad to a state championship. While the Longhorns are not favored to repeat in the 37th annual state meet that begins Friday (Feb. 17) and ends Saturday at the Rec-Plex in St. Peters, Zeller is optimistic.

“I would like to see the girls swim personal best times and have at least two out of three relays make it back on Saturday,” Zeller said. “The state meet is my favorite time of the high school season. We would not prepare any differently for the meet being state champs or not.

“Our girls will be ready to swim fast and perform well. The ones who were a part of that state champion squad know how it feels to stand on that first podium and they will work hard to strive to get a podium place again this year.”

According to Zeller, Rock Bridge, Glendale are two state programs that will be in the runner along with Parkway North.

Parkway South coach Sara Gerth agreed.

“Rock Bridge is really strong this year and so is Glendale,” Gerth said. “Parkway North should also have a run at it.”

Parkway Central Kevin Mabie made his prediction and went with a St. Louis school.

“I think Parkway North is going to win,” Mabie said. “However, Rock Bridge will be good competition, and so will Glendale. We’re hoping for a top 10 finish.”

Parkway West will have 11 girls on the state squad. Zeller said they are ready to jump in and swim.

“The state meet is always fun because you know everyone is bringing their ‘A’ game,” Zeller said. “This is what we prepare for all year long, of course we are excited. I would be concerned if we were not excited going into Friday.”

Gerth said she is hoping  “for a top six finish at state.” The Patriots have had a fine season and are coming off winning the Suburban West Conference meet last week.

“State is a very different meet than any other meet during the season,” Zeller said. “We have a lot of girls qualified for state, many who could do really well there, but we’ll just have to see how it goes.

“Our relays could also be very successful. All the teams are going to be stepping it up, so we will also have to up our game. Our relays would have to place higher then they are seeded, and we would have to have a good number of individuals scoring both top 8 and top 16. I’m not sure Its very realistic to think that we would win, but we’ll certainly do our best.”

Gerth said her girls are ready for the competition.

“We are very excited to see what we can do at state this year,” Gerth said. “We have a very strong team, and a top 5 finish would be amazing. I’m excited to see what both my seniors and freshman can do, the seniors being experienced at this meet, and my freshman being newbies. It will be interesting to see how they all handle the pressure.”

Lafayette Todd Gabel believes his Lancers can finish in the top 5 this weekend.

“We were 13th last year but I think we’re stronger and little bit faster this year,” Gabel said. “If we swim like we did last week at conference and in Springfield, we should be a top-five team. “We won’t be holding anything back. The girls are very excited about swimming at state and seeing what they can do.”

Marquette coach Joe Schoedel said his girls are looking forward to a good week, too. He has 10 Mustangs swimming at state.

He said Abby Watson, who was third in the 100 backstroke last year, is Marquette’s “best shot at a state champion this year.”

Marquette last won state in 2000.

This year, Schoedel agreed with his fellow coaches that “Rockhurst, Glendale, and Parkway North are the favorites. I think Parkway North is St. Louis’ best shot at a champion.”

His girls will go out there and see what happens.

“Many of the girls have been looking at state rankings since about midseason to see their chances at placing at state, and which events they are strongest in,” Schoedel said. “This is the culmination of a season’s worth of work, and the girls are ready to swim fast.”

Mabie said his Colts are ready. He believes he has a possible state champ in junior Ally Neumann.

“Ally Neumann has a chance to win breaststroke,” Mabie said.

Parkway Central last won state in 1984. Now this year’s squad  will see how it measures up.

“It’s what we train for all year, so definitely we’re excited for some big swims to represent all our hard work,” Mabie said.

Here is a list of the teams and the girls who will be competing this weekend in alphabetial order:

Eureka:
Coach: Sharon Wasson
Swmmers: Freshman Gracie Bollinger, senior Ashley Bushnell, junior Ellie Figueroa, junior Kelsey Griffith, senior Katie Grimshaw, senior Sarah Haller, junior Sara Jensen, junior Stephanie Mueller, sophomore Emily Muggleton, junior Victoria Muggleton and senior Leslie Nicol.

Lafayette:
Coach: Todd Gabel
Swimmers: Senior Allison Gerling, sophomore Lauren Hansen, junior Taylor Holz; senior Nicole Hoog, senior Kelsey Kirchhoefer, freshman Claire Kirchhoeffer; sophomore Rebekah Morgan, junior Laura Paskoff, sophomore Mae Riordan, junior Kelly Shaw and sophomore Madeleine Wilmsen.

Marquette:
Coach: Joe Schoedel
Swimmers: Sophomore Madeline Albert, junior Molly Arnold, junior Sarah Barger, junior Jackie Biever, sophomore Joslyn Bunderson, junior Abby Connor, freshman Ashley Daniels, senior Mattie Eversole, sophomore Jessi Goring; sophomore Gabby Klienow, junior Claire Kraeling, sophomore Claire Krofft, sophomore Caroline Lesch, sophomore Ali Main, junior Natasha Porporis, freshman Raquel Porporis, junior Ellen Strathman and sophomore Abby Watson.

MICDS
Coach: Kristen Kaiser
Swimmers: Sophomore Alex Dunn, senior Hadley Edwards, freshman Kat Friese, senior Annie Goessling, senior Christine Jackson, freshman Megan Malloy, senior Kelly Marra, junor Masha Podokshik, sophomore Lily Reisinger, freshman Gigi Rill, junior Trey Ross, sophomore Courtney Trowbridge and senior Nealey Wallis.

Parkway Central
Coach: Kevin Mabie
Swimmers: Sophomore Allison Bain, freshman Taylor Burlis, junior Corey Conroy, sophomore Holly Eberlin, senior Katie Goddard, senior Mary Kendig, sophomore Kelilah Liu, junior Katie McKinstry, senior Megan McKinstry, sophomore Courtney Nall, junior Ally Neumann, senior Shannon Reader and sophomore Elaine Reichert.

Parkway North
Coach: Lindsey Ehret
Swimmers: Senior Clare Bassi, senior Courtney Clark, senior Natalie Gray, senior Lisa Lerman, junior Heather Lundstrom, freshman Julia Saunders, senior Dyana Schneider, senior Kara Smiley, senior Amanda Stadermann, junior Taylor Vinson, senior Taylor Voelker, senior Erin Weinstein, junior Kaitlin Zinselmeier.

Parkway South
Coach: Sara Gerth
Swimmers: Freshman Andrea Bauer, sophomore Samm Crocker, freshman Kirstie Crook, senior Natalie DeClue, freshman Christina Evers, junior  Savannah Feher, sophomore Stephanie Floyd, freshman Lauren Hetzler, senior Brynn Houska, junior Meghan Lake, senior Mary McCain, sophomore Meredith Morgan, junior Taylor Regelsperger, senior Shannon Rempe, junior Hannah Schulte, senior Madeline Trimble, senior Alissa Welker, freshman Jenna Wilkes and senior Melanie Wilkes.

Parkway West
Coach: Allison Zeller Swimmers: Freshman Natalie Folkins, senior Kristen Gabriel, senior Kate Gately, sophomore Francesca Giganti, junior Kaylie Livingston, freshman Nicole Maurer, senior Ellen Rasche, junior Ashley Robinson, senior Ashley Roh, junior Emily Ross, and freshman Chaney Skilling.

Principia
Coach: Brian Peticolas
Swimmer: Senior Dani McKenzie.

St. Joseph’s Academy
Coach: Khannie Dastgah
Swimmers: Sophomore Lauren Burke, sophomore Kathleen Doherty, junior Nicole Erbs, junior Joanie Garlich, junior Madeline Gilstrap, junior Meghan Glogoza, senior Julia Herbig, senior Lauren Jacobsmeyer, sophomore Rachel Krug, junior Sarah Krug, freshman Sam Lewis, senior Jenna Osterholt, sophomore Emily Pfortmiller, freshman Grayson Ram, freshman Ashley Reichert, sophomore Abbey Robinson, senior Mary Sharp, sophomore Grace Stiegemeyer, sophomore Hannah Swyers, senior Maggie Twardowski and senior Maggie Urschler.

Westminster Christian Academy
Coach: Kent Kehr
Swimmers: Junior Sarah Barker, freshman Megan Galvin, freshman Kaitlin Kittelson, senior Rebecca Krause, junior Ellie Straub, junior Amber Terschak, sophomore Leah Votava and sophomore Jordan Wolf.