Field of 16 expected for Central meet

Central swimming coach Dayna Powell expects the largest field in the history of the City of Roses Invitational when the event kicks off Saturday at Central Municipal Pool.

A field of 16 schools, including schools from Springfield, Columbia and the St. Louis area, are expected to invade the bubble.

Diving will begin at 9 a.m. and swimming will start at 1 p.m.

"It looks to be the biggest meet we've ever had, and last year it was one of the fastest meets in the state," Powell said.

Defending champion Springfield Glendale is among the teams expected to attend. Springfield schools have been out all week due to recent winter storms, but Glendale, Springfield Central and Hillcrest are all expected to compete.

Central finished sixth last year, and Notre Dame was seventh. Tigers senior Hannah Kinder shared swimmer of the meet honors last season.

This will be the first big tournament of the year for many of the schools attending following the cancellation of last weekend's Parkway South event.

"Really, this will probably be the biggest event of the year [in the state] so far," Powell said. "We're looking forward to it."

The Tigers got their second state relay cut in the 200 freestyle relay at home on Tuesday. Central had qualified in the 400 freestyle relay earlier this season. Freshman Susan Beth Scott also made a state cut in the 500 freestyle on Tuesday. Scott is the only individual besides Kinder to earn a state cut thus far.

"I'm hoping we can pull together this weekend," Powell said. "We usually swim well at our own meet, and we'd like to qualify the other relay.

"We'd like to think we'd get a few more [individuals]. There's still a lot of opportunities."

Notre Dame has qualified its 400 freestyle relay and has individual state cuts from Lauren Castleman and Brittany Menz.

Overall, all but one of the top seven teams from last year is scheduled to be in this year's field. Timberland, Eureka and Lindbergh finished third through fifth, respectively. Newcomers to the meet include University City, Lutheran South and Ladue.

Webster Groves, MICDS, Parkway Central, Rockbridge, Columbia Hickman, Poplar Bluff and St. Vincent are also scheduled to compete.

"It should be some really good competition," Notre Dame coach Lenny Kuper said.