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STATE SWIMMING: Carthage’s Riley advances to championship finals in 2 events, Tigers advance in medley relay 

ST. PETERS, Mo. — Carthage High School senior Madison Riley advanced to the championship finals in two events on Thursday on the opening day of the MSHSAA Class 2 Girls Swimming and Diving Championships at the St. Peters Rec-Plex.

In Thursday’s prelims, the top 16 swimmers in each event advance to Friday’s finals, with the top eight moving on to the championship finals. 

Riley placed fifth in two events—the 100-yard butterfly in 57.2 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 53 seconds. With that, Riley has locked up state medalist honors in both events. 

Overall, the Tigers will be competing in three events on Friday.

Carthage’s 200 medley relay team of Aubree Santillan, Olivia Manning, Riley and Joey Hettinger finished 10th with a time of 1:53, securing a spot in the consolation finals. The Tigers were seeded 19th in the event but moved up to 10th with a solid performance in the prelims.

Carthage’s 200 freestyle relay team of Riley, Manning, Kamryn Dininger and Hettinger finished 24th, while the team of Santillan, Manning, Dininger and Jekatorine Arnold finished 29th in the 400 freestyle relay. 

Also on Thursday, Santillan finished 21st in the 100 backstroke and Manning was 21st in the 100 breaststroke.

The Class 2 finals are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Friday.

The Class 1 prelims, featuring swimmers from Webb City, Carl Junction and Thomas Jefferson, are scheduled to begin at 4:30 on Friday.

 

The Carthage Tigers began competition at the Class 2 state swim meet on Thursday in St. Peters. The Tigers advanced three entries to Friday’s finals. Courtesy photo.

BOYS HOOPS: Kickapoo builds early lead, pulls away late from Joplin

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Kickapoo found its rhythm beyond the arc early in the first half to build a lead the Chiefs would never relinquish in a 74-48 win over Joplin on Wednesday. 

Joplin (14-9) held an early lead before Kickapoo (16-7) found its footing, knocking down six 3-pointers in the first half to hold a 33-25 advantage at the intermission. The Eagles cut the lead to one possession midway through the third quarter only for the Chiefs to push the lead back to double digits to start the fourth before pulling away in the final eight minutes.

Joplin held a 7-1 lead early before the Chiefs went on a 17-6 run to close the opening period with an 18-13 advantage. Brayden Shorter highlighted the run for the Chiefs with three 3-pointers. 

Kickapoo got 3-balls from Shorter and Mason Robb out of the first break to push the lead to 10 for the first time, 24-14, with 6:05 on the clock. The lead hovered at that margin leading into halftime with Kickapoo up eight, 33-25.

Joplin cut the lead to one possession, 39-36, near the midway point of the third quarter on an inside score from Terrance Gibson. 

Kickapoo closed the third quarter on a 13-4 run to push the lead back to double digits, 53-40, to start the fourth quarter. 

The Chiefs extended their lead down the stretch of the final quarter.

Joplin is at Branson on Friday before returning home to host Ozark on Feb. 21.

GIRLS SWIMMING: Local squads set for state meet

The Joplin area will once again be well-represented at the MSHSAA Girls Swimming & Diving Championships.

Athletes from Carthage will be competing at the Class 2 state meet on Thursday and Friday, while Webb City, Carl Junction, Thomas Jefferson and Monett will be represented at the Class 1 event on Friday and Saturday at the St. Peters Rec-Plex.

Webb City qualified in nine events, while Carl Junction will compete in eight events and Carthage is entered in seven events.

Thomas Jefferson and Monett will compete in one event apiece.

Below is a look at the Joplin area’s state qualifiers.

 

CARTHAGE SET FOR CLASS 2 MEET

Carthage senior Madison Riley is seeded fifth in the 100-yard butterfly and seventh in the 100 freestyle.

Carthage junior Aubree Santillan is seeded 18th in the 100 backstroke, while freshman Olivia Manning is seeded 23rd in the 100 breaststroke.

The Tigers qualified for state in all three relays. 

Carthage’s 200 freestyle relay is seeded 16th, the 200 medley relay is seeded 19th and the 400 freestyle relay is seeded 26th. 

Thursday’s prelims begin at noon. Those who advance to the finals will compete again on Friday.

 

WEBB CITY, CARL JUNCTION TAKING LARGE GROUPS TO STATE

Webb City and Carl Junction are taking 11 girls apiece to the state meet.

The Cardinals have multiple entries in five of their nine events.

Webb City senior Sophia Whitesell is seeded seventh in the 200 IM and 11th in the 500 freestyle.

Webb City has three entrants in the 50 freestyle—senior Skylar Powell (seeded 13th), junior Avery Mitchell (21st) and sophomore Alix Davis (25th).

In the 100 freestyle, Davis is seeded 15th and Powell is seeded 19th.

Sophomore Camryn Klosterman is seeded 20th in the 200 IM and 24th in the 100 breaststroke, while freshman Norah Klosterman is seeded 26th in the 500 free and 29th in the 200 free. Senior Hally Philpot also qualified in the 100 breaststroke, where she’s seeded 27th.

The Cardinals are seeded seventh in the 400 freestyle relay, ninth in the 200 freestyle relay and 18th in the 200 medley relay.

Carl Junction junior Chloe Miller is seeded third in the 50 freestyle, with Skyler Sundy seeded seventh and Elyanna Dogotch seeded 30th in the same event.

Miller is seeded fourth in the 100 freestyle, with Dogotch seeded 29th. 

A senior, Sundy is seeded seventh in the 100 backstroke.

Madeleine Garoutte is seeded 20th in the 100 butterfly and 22nd in the 200 IM.

The Bulldogs are seeded sixth in the 200 freestyle relay, ninth in the 400 free relay and 10th in the 200 medley relay. 

Thomas Jefferson Independent School will be represented at the state meet by sophomore Natalie Carroll. Carroll qualified in the 100 breaststroke, where she’s seeded 21st.

Monett senior Macey Flynt qualified to compete in the 1-meter diving competition. 

The Class 1 prelims are scheduled to begin at 4:30 on Friday. The finals are slated to begin at 3 on Saturday afternoon.

 

STATE MEET INFORMATION: MSHSAA: Girls Swimming & Diving Championship Information Central