Central relays strong message

After watching her 200 freestyle relay team place eighth last year at the state meet, Central boys swimming coach Dayna Powell was not sure how well the squad would be able to come back without Andrew Moreton, who was lost to graduation.

Powell's concerns were put to rest as returning relay members Sam Maguire, Clay Schermann and Alex Heddle, all seniors, along with sophomore Jason Mercer, not only qualified for the state meet in the 200 free relay, but went on to qualify in the 200 medley and 400 free relays as well.

"What's surprising is just how far you can come in three and a half months," Powell said.

The relay members put their skills on display Monday at Central Municipal Pool as the Tigers claimed the second Show Me Conference meet with 506 points. Notre Dame was second with 320 points and Poplar Bluff finished with 199.

Central swept all three relay events, shaving nearly two seconds off its 200 medley qualifying time and setting two conference records.

Powell said she was impressed at the strong performances from her team, especially after having to wait through the weekend after the meet was postponed on Thursday.

"My concern coming in was we would lose our focus," she said. "I was really pleased. The boys really stepped up."

While the relay team of Maguire, Schermann, Heddle and Mercer was only together for the 200 medley in order to save the swimmers for individual events, their focus will now turn solely to the state meet, which begins Friday at St. Peters, Mo. The Tiger foursome has already recorded a quicker time than last year's all-state 200 free, so there are high hopes going in.

"We take pride in the 200 free," Schermann said. "Last year we got all-state, and we hope to repeat. Hopefully we'll be in the top four."

Each member of the team brings his own strengths, but all four are strong in the freestyle events. Heddle won the 100 free at conference, and Maguire and Schermann are both state-qualifiers in the 50 free. Schermann and Maguire each set conference records on Monday in individual events as well, winning the breaststroke and backstroke, respectively.

Maguire said the team's strong chemistry has really helped them excel.

"We've all grown up together, and we're all really good friends," he said.

With three seniors on the relay team, the state meet will be one last shot to go out on top after strong careers at Central.

"This is definitely the best way to end your swimming career in high school," Maguire said.

Even though Maguire and company shined at the conference meet, there were many other strong performances. Swimmers from both Central and Notre Dame cut big chunks of time off season-bests, and Notre Dame's John Fisher established a new conference record in the 100 butterfly.

"We had some boys really push it," Notre Dame coach Lenny Kuper said. "Since this was the last meet, they really wanted to go all out."

Team scores -- 1. Central 506, 2. Notre Dame 320, 3. Poplar Bluff 199

200 medley relay -- 1. Central 1:46.67 (Sam Maguire, Clay Schermann, Jason Mercer, Alex Heddle), 2. Notre Dame 1:50.01 (Josh Lester, John Fisher, John Stoverink, Stephen Hine), 3. Poplar Bluff 2:02.37

200 free -- 1. Hunter Givens (C) 1:59.40, 2. Drew Kiel (C) 2:07.28, 3. Joe Graves (ND) 2:11.14

200 IM -- 1. Maguire (C) 2:14.17, 2. Hine (ND) 2:18.36, 3. Frank Smith (PB) 2:21.17

50 free -- 1. Schermann (C) 23.66, 2. Heddle (C) 23.72, 3. Mercer (C) 24.67

100 butterfly -- 1. Fisher (ND) 58.50, 2. Smith (PB) 103:82, 3. Mercer (C) 1:03.87

100 free -- 1. Heddle (C) 54.28, 2. Daniel Austin (C) 55.80, 3. Chad McCormick (ND) 56.96

500 free -- 1. Givens (C) 5:34.53, 2. Kiel (C) 5:57.69, 3. Jake Meyer (C) 6:00.16

200 free relay -- 1. Central 1:36.97 (Schermann, Mercer, Givens, Anton Heemskerk), 2. Notre Dame 1:37.38 (Fisher, Hine, McCormick, Stoverink), 3. Poplar Bluff 1:51.55

100 back -- 1. Maguire (C) 1:01.51, 2. Lester (ND) 1:04.89, 3. Austin (C) 1:08.01

100 breast -- 1. Schermann (C) 1:07.75, 2. Stoverink (ND) 1:08.58, 3. Heemskerk (C) 1:09.08

400 free relay -- 1. Central 3:38.52 (Heddle, Givens, Austin, Maguire), 2. Notre Dame 3:44.19 (McCormick, Lester, Hine, Fisher), 3. Poplar Bluff 4:43.77