STATE-BOUND CHS SWIMMERS HOPE BUBBLE DOESN'T BURST ON SUCCESSFUL SEASON

Cape Girardeau Central High's girls swim team has dealt with more than opposing swimmers the past five weeks.

Wind ripped the nylon bubble April 13 that covers the Central Pool. Since then the Lady Tigers have endured 5:15 a.m. practices at Southeast Missouri State University's Parker Pool, which doesn't have starting blocks.

But for four Central swimmers, none of that matters anymore. Grace Freeman, Jennifer Freeze, Jean Maguire and Mary Beth Owen will compete in the Missouri Class 4A state championships Friday and Saturday at The Natatorium in Springfield.

"I think this is the hardest-working girls team I've ever had," said Central coach Dayna Powell. "The girls have made the most of a bad situation."

Central will focus on its relays -- the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle. Columbia Hickman, a state power, is the only team that beat the 200 team this season.

Lafayette, which is expected to battle Marquette for the state title, is the only team that has beaten the 400 team. The 400 team's time is nine seconds under the time of Central's 400 team last season.

"That's very significant in a 3-minute, 40-second race," Powell said. "All the girls are the most excited about the relays. We'd like to see those relays give those big cities a good run."

If Central fares well in the relays, which are worth double the points, "we have a good chance to be in the top 10," Powell said. Central placed 13th as a team last season.

Central competed in The Natatorium three weeks ago. Powell said that might help her team.

"We're comfortable with the walls and the lane ropes and the blocks," she said.

Freeman, a junior, is a five-time all-state swimmer. She will anchor the relays and swim the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.

Two years ago Freeman was a part of Central's state champion 200 freestyle relay team, placed fourth in the 50 and took seventh in the 100. Last season she placed fifth in the 50 and sixth in the 100.

Owen, a freshman, is the team's other leader. She will swim the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke. Powell said Owen's time in the backstroke is among the fastest she has seen this season.

"Definitely Grace and Mary Beth are the two that are in the best positions going in," Powell said. "They both have a real good chance of scoring well."

Maguire, a sophomore, will swim the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly. Freeze, a junior, will swim only the relays.