Two of Indiana's top programs tangle Thursday when Yorktown hosts Lawrence North in the 2010-11 season opener for both girls swimming and diving teams.
The Wildcats are ranked 18th in the state in the pre-season poll compiled by the Indiana High School Swim Coaches Association (IHSSCA). LN put on an impressive show in last February's State Meet, scoring 52 points to finish 13th. The Wildcats got their 200-yard medley relay team into the 'A' final (they got disqualified), the LN girls captured 8th place in the 200-yard freestyle relay, and their 400-yard freestyle relay team finished 11th. LN senior Julie Ogden was 2010 state runner-up in the 100-yard butterfly, and she's ranked #1 in that event among returnees for 2011.
LN is far from being a one-woman team this season, though. Sophomores Laura Weiss and Taryn Anderson joined Ogden on last season's sectional champion medley relay team. Junior Peyton Cunningham was sectional champion in the 50-yard freestyle and runner-up in the 100-yard freestyle; Weiss was sectional runner-up in the 200-yard IM; Anderson finished 3rd in the 100-yard freestyle at the sectional; sophomore Morgan Matsuoka finished 2nd in the 500-yard freestyle; senior Allison Crone joined Ogden and Cunningham on a 1st place
200-yard freestyle relay team; Anderson put up a runner-up finish in the 100-yard backstroke; Weiss was a sectional runner-up in the 100-yard breaststroke; and the Wildcats return half of their sectional champion
400-yard freestyle relay squad in Ogden and Cunningham.
The cupboard is far from bare at Yorktown this year, too. The Tiger girls start 2010-11 as the 22nd ranked team in the IHSSCA poll.
Junior All-American Larah Beaver finished 11th in the 100-yard backstroke at last season's State Meet following her sectional-record championship performance the week before. Beaver won the long course meters state championship in her signature event over the summer, and starts this season holding the #7 ranking in that event, along with the #12 ranking in the pre-season 100-yard freestyle.
Sophomores Caroline Grasso, Jessica Extine and Kersea Gable are also capable of top-level performances. That trio teamed with Beaver to compete in the 200-yard medley relay at the State Meet last year, and if they can stay healthy this season, those four Tigers will make a serious run at the YHS record of 1:49.91 set back in 2006. Only ten teams broke the 1:50 barrier at the 2010 State Meet, so such a time could also put the Tigers in position for a Top 10 finish at this seasons' big dance.
Extine has the talent to make a deep run in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly this year; Grasso's abilities make her a threat in both the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke; Gable is the program's best breaststroker. Senior Gabby LaVoie and juniors Sam Mahon, Kirsten Nickoli, Chappell Railey and Chelsea Watters scored points in the 2010 sectional, and they'll need to continue making solid contributions for Yorktown to succeed in dual meets.
Thursday's meet begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Yorktown High School pool. Come early, be loud and be proud.
GO TIGERS!
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