By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Even with no divers on their roster, the Carl Junction Lady Bulldogs were able to score enough points to pull away late Tuesday night and capture their first Central Ozark Conference Swimming Championship.
“Last year, I think we were third, so we’re pretty proud of this one,” Carl Junction coach Stephanie Miller said of the Lady Bulldogs, who totaled 296 points, finishing ahead of Webb City (232) and Nixa (198). “We’ve never had this big of a victory before.”
After six events, Carl Junction trailed Webb City 131-111. But, victories by the 200-freestyle relay team, Skyler Sundy in the 100 backstroke and Emma Lacey in the 100 breaststroke, as well as 13 more earning points, the Lady Bulldogs grabbed a comfortable lead heading into the final event (400 freestyle relay).
“We don’t have any divers, so that puts us behind and we have to make up double-time for that,” Miller said. “We knew coming in that we would have to do that. We’re really strong in the backstrokers, and the further the meet goes on the stronger we get, so it can be deceiving up front, but we know that.
“We have really good depth and we were scoring those ninth, 10th and 11th places. They add up and it paid off at the end.”
And, while that depth helped Carl Junction seal its first COC title, Miller said the spark came from an unlikely source.
“We just had some touch-outs by a sophomore, Alanza Montez, today, that impressed me,” Miller said. “She’s not my fastest swimmer, but today, she showed up unbelievably by a touch-out in the 100 free, and then she was on the 200-free relay that won. And, I really think that, for my team, that was the momentum we needed. For a sophomore to come out and do that, and not my fastest swimmer, I was really impressed with her today.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE MEET
The cross country and track athlete said she has been having fun learning and competing for the swim team this season.
“The only way really to do that was because of my team and, of course, my coach,” Montez said. “I honestly don’t know a better coach because she’s just always been there and she’s been an actual coach. So, I just have a lot to thank her for.”
Ozark had a multiple-event winner, as Claire George won the 50 freestyle (25.36), the 100 freestyle (55.25) and she was a member of the 200-medley relay-winning team (1:58.75).
Up next for the Lady Bulldogs is the Southwest Missouri Invitational at the Natatorium, and then the team will be looking at state relays, Miller said, even though her team hasn’t had a pool to train in on a consistent basis.
“We’ve been borrowing pools for the last three weeks, so it’s been tough on the kids,” Miller said. “But, we have a goal this year to place more at state, not just go to state, so hopefully we can see that as a possibility after tonight.”
Central Ozark Conference Swimming Championships
Team results
1. Carl Junction 296
2. Webb City 232
3. Nixa 198
4. Carthage 162
5. Ozark 161
6. Republic 113
7. Joplin 88
Event winners
200 medley relay – Ozark (Claire George, Brookelynn Bass, Ashley Mallonee, Emily Cobb), 1:58.75
200 freestyle – Karissa Metzger, Republic, 2:04.16
200 IM – Mady McCrea, Republic, 2:17.47
50 freestyle – Claire George, Ozark, 25.36
1-meter diving – Abigail Rock, Nixa, 366.30 points
100 butterfly – Madison Riley, Carthage, 1:01.78
100 freestyle – Claire George, Ozark, 55.25
500 freestyle – Sophia Whitesell, Webb City, 5:38.83
200 freestyle relay – Carl Junction, 1:45.45
100 backstroke – Skyler Sundy, Carl Junction, 1:01.80
100 breaststroke – Emma Lacey, Carl Junction, 1:10.07
400 freestyle relay – Nixa (Ellie Turnbull, Ellie Jett, Sloane Lawson, Payge Plank), 3:53.46
