LADY TIGERS HOPING TO OVERCOME KEY INJURY

An injury to standout Mary Beth Owen might limit some of her team's early success, but Cape Girardeau Central High girls swimming coach Dayna Powell is still looking for a solid season.

The Lady Tigers, who open the 2001 campaign Tuesday at Parkway Central, will be without Owen for at least four weeks.

Owen, an eight-time all-stater who finished third in the 500 freestyle last year after placing third in two events as a sophomore, has a stress fracture in her leg that will allow her to train but not compete in meets for a while.

"Not having Mary Beth will make it tougher on us in some of our meets and it will be hard to make some state relay cuts without her," said Powell. "But knowing she'll eventually be back will be a boost for us."

Despite not having Owen for the first few weeks of the season, Powell said, "I think we're going to have another good year. We've got 45 (swimmers) out right now and that's the most we've ever had at this point. I'm excited to have this many who are even interested to be a part of the program, and we've got a very good group of seniors who have been with me for a long time."

That group of seniors is led by Owen, who qualified for state in two individual and two relay events last year.

Other seniors are Sarah Sprigg, Casey Brennan, Marci Kester and Becky Keller.

Sprigg, the Lady Tigers' only other returning individual state qualifier, has made the state cut in diving the past two years and Powell thinks she can became the first Central diver to ever score at the state meet.

"She has the potential and drive to do it," Powell said.

Brennan participated on Central's two state-qualifying relay teams last year.

Central's other returning state qualifier is sophomore Katie Maginel, who competed on a relay squad.

Keller, along with freshman Jackie Erlacker, joins Sprigg to form what Powell believes could be the school's best-ever diving group.

Among other swimmers Powell will be counting on for good things are junior Terra Herzberger and freshmen Cassie Kipper, April McDonald, and Katelyn Metje.

The Lady Tigers' first home meet will be March 17 against Ft. Zumwalt South.