Carl Junction, Webb City and Carthage will be among the teams competing at this weekend’s Missouri Girls Swimming and Diving Championships at the St. Peters Rec-Plex.
The Class 2 event is Friday, while the Class 1 event is Saturday. The swimming events are scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. each day.
In a change due to the pandemic, only 24 athletes qualified in each event this winter.
In previous years, the top 32 swimmers in each event qualified for state.
A one-day meet is also a change from the past, as each class previously competed over two days, with prelims one day and finals the next.
As was the case during the boys fall season, each meet has been reduced to a one-day affair with timed finals only, and no spectators are allowed.
CLASS 1
CARL JUNCTION
The back-to-back Central Ozark Conference champion Carl Junction Bulldogs will have eight athletes competing at the Class 1 meet.
Representing the Bulldogs at state will be seniors Sophia Hensley and Emma Lacey, juniors Alanza Montez and Carsyn Smith, sophomores Madeleine Garoutte and Skyler Sundy and freshmen Chloe Miller and Abigail Wilson.
“The girls are so excited,” Carl Junction coach Stephanie Miller told Fox Sports Joplin’s Rob Forest during a radio interview on Thursday. “I’m just really excited because we’re a team. We’re going to miss our two seniors of course, but the future looks good.”
The Bulldogs are the top seed in the 200-yard medley relay with their time of 1:51 and Carl Junction is seeded second in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:41.92, which is not far behind Parkway West (1:40.29).
Carl Junction is seeded 10th in the 400 free relay.
“The relays are going to be amazing,” Miller said. “I think we can finish in the top-eight in all three of them.”
As far as individual events, Chloe Miller is seeded fourth in the 50 freestyle, while Lacey is seeded fifth in the 100 breaststroke and Sundy is the sixth seed in the 100 backstroke.
“Those three are really looking good for top eight,” Miller said. “We’re looking forward to everyone scoring points.”
Wilson is seeded 16th in the breaststroke, while Smith is seeded 21st in the backstroke.
WEBB CITY
The Cardinals have seven athletes heading to state.
Representing Webb City will be juniors Ella Holt and Makenzie Storm, sophomores Olivia Honey, Hally Philpot, Skylar Powell and Sophia Whitesell and freshman Avery Mitchell.
Webb City’s 400 freestyle relay team is seeded 19th and the team’s 200 free relay is seeded 24th.
Whitesell is seeded 14th in the 200 individual medley and 17th in the 500 freestyle, while Powell is seeded 19th in the 50 free.
REGIONAL SCHOOLS
Lamar, Nevada and Monett also have athletes competing in Class 1.
Lamar will be represented by seniors Meghan Watson and Kaitlyn Davis, while junior diver Laura Kimmell is Nevada’s lone qualifier.
Big 8 Conference champion Monett will be represented by seniors Faith Drewianka and Ashton Prine, juniors Abby Apostal and Gwen Lesue, sophomore Claire Nation and freshmen Ava Fritts and Emma Hunter.
CLASS 2
CARTHAGE
Carthage has six athletes qualified for Friday’s Class 2 event.
Representing Carthage will be senior Nadya Housh, juniors Hope Fultz and Cassidy Smith, sophomore Madison Riley and freshmen Ava Lacey and Aubree Santillan.
The Tigers are seeded 19th in the 200-yard freestyle relay and 23rd in the 400 freestyle relay.
Riley is seeded 11th in the 100 butterfly and 24th in the 100 backstroke, while Santillan is seeded 20th in the backstroke.
The Tigers, who finished second at the COC meet on Jan. 26, are the lone area squad competing in Class 2.
MORE INFORMATION:
2021 Girls Swimming & Diving Championship Information Central (mshsaa.org)
