Several area swimmers, divers have good chance to medal at state girls swim meet

Parkway North finished fourth last winter in the girls state swim meet and coach Bart Prosser is optimistic about his Vikings again.

The annual meet will be held at the Rec-Plex in St. Peters. Action begins Friday (Feb. 15) and concludes Saturday.

Prosser has just swimmer back from last year’s squad but she is one of the best. Senior Heather Lundstrom won two events at state last year. She will be swimming for her third consecutive state title in the 100 butterfly besides trying for her first one in the 500 freestyle.

It’s going to be another great state meet, Prosser said. The talent level keeps getting better and better.

“The field is very fast,” Prosser said. “There is some great young talent from all over the state. It is also great to see some of the veterans (seniors) that I think have had the ability to see swim make their runs for top swimmer in their events.”

Who are the favorites to dethrone Rock Bridge from the team title?

“That is always a tough question,” Prosser said. “Rock Bridge, Glendale, Parkway South, Parkway West, I would think that all of these teams will be high on the team point board.”

Lafayette coach Todd Gabel agreed.

“I think it’s a very competitive state meet,” said Gabel, whose Lancers were 17th last year. “We’re all pretty equal. Some teams are deeper than the rest of us.

¶   “I think Glendale, Blue Springs South, Parkway North has Heather back so that gives them a good chance. Parkway South is good, too. Just because we beat them in the conference meet doesn’t mean we can do better than them in state. It’s all how the girls perform.”

Parkway West coach Allison Zeller will be without Kate Gately, who won two events last year as a senior. The Longhorns finished 14th last year. Three girls are back from that team.

“We would love for all of our relays to make it back on Saturday,” said Zeller, whose Longhorns won the Suburban South Conference meet last week. “I am excited to see what this group of girls can accomplish.

“It should be a great state meet with a lot of close races. There are a lot of talented teams this year. It is wide open and I am looking forward to see what our girls can do against the competition.”

Parkway South coach Sara Gerth has about half of her team back from last year that finished 12th. However, the Patriots have picked up senior CeCe Etter, who didn’t swim for Parkway South last year.

“My goal this year is to be top 4 at state, but we will have to swim fast to do it,” Gerth said. “I think the state field is maybe a bit slower then last year. There were a lot of seniors in those top positions last year. But you never know with the state meet.

“People step up for it that you don’t expect to see, and that’s what makes it really fun. I really don’t see any favorites this year. It’s kind of up for grabs.”

Gabel has high hopes for his Lancers.

“We’d like to be in the top 10. We’d love to trophy (top 4),” Gabel said. “I don’t really know who’s out there. It’s a whole new meet at state. You’ve got to swim. There’s a lot of pressure. You have to swim it out and see how you end up.”

Among his Lancers, Gabel said he thinks sophomore Claire Kirchhoeffer “has a shot in the 100 breast.” Kirchoeffer is seeded first in the event.

“If Mae (Riordan) has a really good swim in the 500 free, she has a chance to win,” Gabel said. “She’ll be against Heather and CeCe so it’ll be interesting to see how everyone swims.”

For the Longhorns, Geller said her relay teams “are going to be very competitive. Francesca Giganti will be a top competitor in diving.”

Besides Lundstrom, Prosser said his Vikings have some chances to earn medals.

“We are very excited about our three relays and their chances of coming back as well as our sophomore sprinter Julia Saunders, who is seated well in both the 50 and the 100 free.”

Gerth said Etter and Samm Crocker “will be battling for top finishes in their respective events. Our 200 and 400 free relays will also be looking to win, but it will be tough. They will have to step up big time for the meet.”

Here are the local swimmers who have qualified for the state meet:

Eureka

Junior Madison Clausius, sophomore Emma Elwood, junior Ellie Figueroa, senior Kelsey Griffith, sophomore Gabby James, senior Sara Jensen, freshman LeiLani Mansy, freshman Sarah Mink, senior Stephanie Mueller, junior Emily Muggleton and junior

Katherine Shelton.

Kennedy

Freshman Samantha Molner.

Lafayette

Senior Gretchen Cox, sophomore Kayla Eckardt, senior Makenzie Hackman, junior Lauren Hansen, senior Taylor Holz, sophomore Claire Kirchhoeffer, freshman Katherine Lucken, junior Mollie Macrae, sophomore Erin Newcomer, senior Laura Paskoff, junior Mae Riordan, senior Kelly Shaw, senior Emily Slater and sophomore Olivia Vanlue.

Marquette

Senior Molly Arnold, senior Sarah Barger, senior Jackie Biever, junior Joslyn Bunderson, sophomore Maisie Burns, junior Jessi Goring, junior Claire Krofft, freshman Ellie Ludens, junior Ali Main, freshman Anna Main, freshman Emily Nelson, senior Natasha Porporis, sophomore Raquel Porporis, senior Ellen Strathman, freshman Allison Tichenor, junior Abby Watson and sophomore Annie Zigman.

MICDS

Junior Alex Dunn, sophomore Kat Friese, freshman Geneva Lee, sophomore Megan Malloy, senior Masha Podokshik, junior Lily Reisinger, sophomore Gigi Rill, senior Trey Ross, freshman Nicole Shearing and junior Courtney Trowbridge.

Parkway Central

Senior Rebecca Altman, junior Allison Bain, sophomore Taylor Burlis, senior Corey Conroy, freshman Jamie Goldberg, junior Kelilah Liu, senior Katie McKinstry, junior Rachel Morris, junior Courtney Nall, senior Ally Neumann, junior Elaine Reichert,senior Kari Stecher, junior Hannah Swyers, senior Amanda Truong and sophomore Hanna Whitehouse.

Parkway North

Freshman Katharine Doering, freshman Lucy Edele, freshman Allison Hagge, sophomore Stephanie Kim, sophomore Mariam Krikorian, sophomore Amanda Lopatin, junior Ellen Lundstrom, senior Heather Lundstrom, freshman Carlie Manczuk, sophomore Deanna Meyer, sophomore Ali Neuberger, freshman Allison Ney, sophomore Emily Nicholson, senior Maggie Roderick, sophomore Julia Saunders, senior Taylor Vinson, sophomore Marissa Voelker, freshman Elizabeth Weir and senior Kaitlin Zinselmeier.

Parkway South

Sophomore Andrea Bauer, junior Samm Crocker, sophomore Kirstie Crook, junior Anna DaSilva, senior CeCe Etter, sophomore Christina Evers, senior Savannah Feher, junior Stephanie Floyd, sophomore Lauren Hetzler, freshman Maddie Heutel, senior Jessica Klingler, senior Meghan Lake, junior Meredith Morgan, senior Ashley Nestor, senior Taylor Regelsperger, senior Paige Unger, and sophomore Jenna Wilkes.

Parkway West

Freshman Caroline Bias, sophomore Natalie Folkins, freshman Irene Frederick, junior Francesca Giganti, freshmanCarolyn Kammeyer, senior Kaylie Livingston, freshman Kristen Petersen, senior Ashley Robinson, senior Emily Ross, sophomore Chaney Skilling and junior Sarah Verhulst.

St. Joseph’s Academy

Junior Charlotte Cordova, senior Nicole Erbs, freshman Grace Fesler, senior Joanie Garlich, senior Madeline Gilstrap, junior Clare Hannick, junior Rachel Krug, senior Sarah Krug, sophomore Sam Lewis, freshman Kaleigh Meek, junior Colleen Mielcuszny, sophomore Grayson Ram, sophomore Ashley Reichert and junior Grace Stiegemeyer.

Westminster Christian Academy

Senior Sarah Barker, sophomore Megan Galvin, sophomore Kaitlin Kittelson, freshman Lauren Massot, senior Ellie Straub, senior Amber Terschak, freshman Kaitlin Terschak, junior Lauren Vanek and junior Leah Votava.