EXPERIENCED TIGER SWIMMERS HOPING TO TREAD NEW WATERS

The best record Cape Girardeau Central High's boys swimming and diving team has posted is 8-4.

Although the Tigers will continue to compete against the best teams the state has to offer, coach Dayna Powell said the record mark could be met or surpassed this year.

Central has two returning all-state swimmers and five individual state meet qualifiers. The Tigers lost only one senior to graduation, and the team is the biggest ever -- 28 swimmers.

"We're probably looking to have one of our strongest teams," Powell said. "Returning five individual state qualifiers, and almost everyone from the team is back, we just have a little bit more depth, and we're really excited about the season."

Central will quickly see how it compares to St. Louis' best -- the Tigers open the season today at defending state champion Lafayette.

"The boys believe that we can beat most of the teams we swim," said Powell, "and at least give everybody else a pretty good fight. We feel like we swim some of the best schools in the St. Louis area."

Leading the returners are all-state juniors Matt Younghouse and Jason Owen. In last year's state meet, Younghouse placed fifth in the 500-meter freestyle race and 10th in the 200-meter freestyle. Owen finished sixth in the 100-meter backstroke.

Younghouse was an honorable mention all-state finisher in the 200-meter freestyle and Owen did the same in the 200-meter IM.

Also, juniors Ben Roeger (100 backstroke) and Eric Yount (50 freestyle) and senior Nick Sterrett (diving) were state meet qualifiers.

The team's only other senior is Rory Kipper. Juniors Nathan Skinner, Tim Chisman, Rob Tygett and Jason Marietta and sophomore Jamie Higgins should see a lot of action, Powell said.

Last season, the Tigers, who were plagued by illness, finished 16th in the state meet, the first time in seven years they were not in top 10.

Central's first home meet is Dec. 20 against DeSmet.