Tigers will focus on team goals

The Central boys swimming team qualified a swimmer in nearly every individual event and all three relays at the state meet.

For the seven Tiger swimmers who will compete at the St. Peters Rec-Plex today and Saturday, team is all that matters. Jason Mercer and Peyton Waggener each sacrificed individual events in order to help the Tigers put their fastest lineup in each relay event in an attempt to rise in the team standings.

"Some people that got their individual [cuts] decided to sacrifice them to do relays so we can get our maximum points," Central senior Daniel Austin said. "They want to do better for the team."

Mercer, Waggener, Austin and Hunter Givens will make up the lineup for the 200-yard medley, 200 free and 400 free relays.

Central coach Dayna Powell said the swimmers gathered the weekend after the conference meet and devised their strategy for the state meet.

"We felt like we're putting our four fastest forward in these events," she said.

Relay events count for more points toward the team standing at the state meet. Central had two relays finish in the top 16 last year and finished with six points as a team.

Mercer said the relay members feel good about their chances at the state meet, which made sacrificing individual events an easy decision.

"I feel really good about our relays this year, especially the 200 medley and 200 free," Mercer said. "We placed top 16 last year and everyone's back."

At the state meet last year, Central's relays posted some season-bests in several events. The Tigers will need to come up with another big weekend this year in order to get in the top eight and medal.

"With this team, they want to have their best time, but they want the state points for Cape Central," Powell said. "We want to race the fastest guys there and get as close to them as we can. We think our relays can race right there with them."

The Tigers already have seen some of the top swimmers in the state during the regular season. Central competed in dual meets with both St. Louis University High School and Lafayette, teams that had all-state relay teams in the 200 free and 200 medley relays last year.

"We've swam every school we need to except Blue Springs, so we know going up there we're not the fastest team, but there shouldn't be anyone there that should surprise us," Powell said.

Central's relay teams have state experience factor going for them. Each relay member competed at the meet last year.

"I like that pool, it's nice to swim where you've already been," Mercer said. "It's good because we know what to expect time-wise."

Unlike last year, Central will have several swimmers competing in their final high school meet. Austin, Mercer, Kris Metje and Tanner Rust are all seniors making the trip.

"There's some pressure. This is our last high school meet," Mercer said. "We want to go out strong. We hope to come back with some medals."

Added Austin: "It's just the last thing you're going to do with swimming, probably the rest of your life. So you hope you go out on a good note."

Metje will be one of two Central swimmers competing in multiple individual events. Central junior Jake Meyer and Metje will compete in the 200 free and 500 free.

This will be the second straight year for Metje to compete in both events at the state meet. Meyer is making his first appearance at the state meet.

"Last year at state, I was watching it," Meyer said. "It's really exciting, there's a lot of energy. Last year, I was thinking I wanted to be here next year. It will be good to be in the water this year."

Meyer was the final member of the team to qualify for the state meet, making huge improvements in both the 200 and 500 free to qualify at the conference meet.

"It's really fun to see something like that happen to a person who's dedicated, committed and [who's] put the work in," Powell said of Meyer.

Also competing in individual events are Waggener (100 breast), Mercer (50 free) and Givens (100 free). Rust will compete in diving for the Tigers at the state meet. Waggener also qualified to compete in the 200 IM, and Mercer also made the state cut in the 100 butterfly.

"The team feels like this is our year," Meyer said. "We have a lot of strong seniors. I think this will be the best team we have for a while."