LADY BULLDOGS READY FOR INAUGURAL SEASON

Notre Dame High girls swimming coach Lenny Kuper realizes his first Lady Bulldogs team won't be a powerhouse, but he's hopeful of perhaps getting some competitors through to the state meet.

The Lady Bulldogs will open their inaugural season this weekend in the Marquette Relays, with action scheduled for Friday and Saturday in the St. Louis area. Notre Dame's first home meet will be March 22 against Cape Central.

"We're looking forward to the season," said Kuper. "Participation was good for our first boys team (this winter) and we've got 20 girls out, which I'm pretty pleased with.

"As with the boys, we have a very young girls team and it will be a learning experience for us, like it was with the boys. But I think we actually might be able to get a state qualifier or two, and maybe even a relay team."

Notre Dame's most experienced swimmer will be junior Lindsay Kuper, the coach's daughter. She has participated in age-group competition for about 10 years.

The Lady Bulldogs have only two seniors and one of them hasn't worked out yet. That's because Iris Elfrink is still playing with the Notre Dame basketball team that is ranked No. 1 in the state.

Notre Dame's other senior is Stefanie Compos, an exchange student from Brazil who has plenty of competitive experience.

Among other swimmers Kuper will be counting on are junior Bryanna Barrett; sophomores Ashley Reinagel, Ali Tyson and Erin Pfau; and freshmen Janelle Essner, Hannah Davis and Erin Mason. Most of them also have age-group experience.

Tyson and Pfau, like Elfrink, also play basketball and won't swim until their current season is over.