Girls 2008 swimming preview
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By Shannon Heaton | Monday, September 15, 2008 |
Girls swimming and diving preview
Iowa
Returning individual state champions: Bethany Olson, Cedar Falls, Sr. (diving); Stephanie Koch, Ames, Sr. (200 and 500-yard freestyles); Danielle Harris, WDM Valley, Sr. (200 IM); Courtney Busch, Mason City, Jr. (100 backstroke); Emily Wiltsie, Mason City, Jr. (100 breaststroke).
Defending team champion: West Des Moines Valley.
Top local team finish: Pleasant Valley, 8th; Bettendorf, 9th.
Returning local individual placewinners: Alicia Goetz, Tipton, Sr. (9th, 50 freestyle); Caitlin Campbell, Bettendorf, So. (4th, 100 butterfly; 9th, 100 breaststroke).
Snapshot: Pleasant Valley and Bettendorf are ranked 10th and 11th in the state’s power point rankings, and the two teams will meet October 21 for what should be a powerful head-to-head matchup. Clinton just backed into the state’s top 20 teams (19th), and Muscatine fell outside the rankings (21st). With so much talent graduating last year, and the Bulldogs’ Campbell the only MAC swimmer to earn a top-10 individual state finish in 2007, several new stars should step in and fill the void. Look for, among others, PV’s Marissa Belk and Sarah Boyer, Clinton’s Larissa Wilden and West’s Paige Wolfe to be among those able to make their mark this fall.
Illinois
Returning individual state champions: Kate Shumway, New Trier, Sr. (200-yard freestyle); Olivia Scott, Aurora Rosary, Jr. (200 individual medley, 100 butterfly); Kelly Fayhee, Aurora Rosary, Sr. (500 freestyle).
Defending team champion: Aurora Rosary.
Top local team finish: United Township and Sterling Newman, 1 point.
Returning local state qualifiers: Alyssa Busch, Sr., United Township (12th in 100 backstroke; qualified in 200 IM); Mary Sue LeMay, Sr., Sterling Newman (12th in diving); Alexa Harris, Sr., Moline (200 IM & 100 backstroke); Ann Wolber, Sr., Sterling (50 and 100 freestyles); Kelly Napier, Jr., Galesburg (diving); Allison Yemm, Jr., Sterling (100 breaststroke); United Township 200 medley relay; Galesburg 200 freestyle relay; Sterling 400 freestyle relay.
Snapshot: Two-time state placewinner Busch returns for her final season in the pool for the Panthers, and she already is under a minute in her strongest event, the backstroke. Galesburg won the Western Big Six last year and will be a strong threat to do so again with Napier, the conference’s top returning diver, and stalwart swimmers Lauren Albert and Kathleen Varner. Moline isn’t as deep as in years past, but Harris and sprinter Shannon Doh will give the Maroons leadership. With Wolber and Yemm returning, the Golden Warriors should still be the sectional favorites again this year, and LeMay’s qualification for state finals last year might finally serve as proof – given the area’s history for being scored far too low at state – that western Illinois divers are indeed competitive.
Meets to watch this fall: Rock Island Invitational, September 13; Burlington Invitational, September 27; United Township Invitational, October 11; Galesburg Invitational, October 18; MAC/district meet, November 1; Iowa state meet, November 8; Western Big 6 meet at Quincy, November 8.
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