CHS ENTERS STATE WATERS

After all the success Cape Central's girls swimming team has had this spring, nothing could dampen coach Dayna Powell's spirits.

Nothing could keep her and her swimmers from being ready for the Missouri State Swim Championships at the Recplex in St. Peters this weekend.

Why, the roof could fall in and the Lady Tigers would still be up for this meet.

Oh wait. The roof did collapse -- but not Central's chances at posting its best-ever finish in the state tournament.

Despite Central's practice facility having no roof after high winds ripped it away during a severe thunderstorm on Monday, Powell said the Lady Tigers are in good shape heading into Friday and Saturday's competition.

"I think we'll be able to get in there and swim a little bit," said Powell Tuesday afternoon. "There are other places to swim, but they don't have blocks. At this point in the season, we're trying to fine-tune some things.

"I feel like this is one of the best teams I've ever taken to state. We've been sixth three times and we hope to finish in the top five this year. If we do our best and have our best swims, we'll have a chance to finish in the top five."

Central, which took sixth as a team last year, had three relays and four individuals qualify for state.

Jennifer Freeze, Jean Maguire, Mary Beth Owen and Grace Freeman will power the 200- and 400-yard relay teams, while Laura Canupp (backstroke), Kelley Green (breaststroke), Amanda McAllister (butterfly) and Jennifer Taylor (freestyle) will combine forces on the 200 medley relay team.

Individually, Freeze and Freeman -- a nine-time all-stater -- will compete in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle; sophomore Mary Beth Owen will swim in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly; Maguire will swim the 200 and 500 freestyle; and Sara Sprigg will compete in diving as the first Central female diver to qualify for state since 1993.

The Lady Tigers figure to have the best chance at taking state titles in the 200 and 400 relays and individually from Freeman and Owen. Owen has not been beaten in either of her two events and Freeman has been beaten just once in the 50.

"It's possible for both (Freeman and Owen) and both of our relay teams (to finish first), but we'll have to have the swims of our lives to do it. We're on a mission this week to have an unbelievable meet."

But for Central to place better than sixth, it will need some of its less-accomplished state qualifiers to have good days.

"Both Jean and Jennifer Freeze have a chance to make the second day and those are important points," Powell said.